One down, two to go.
The Hawke's Bay Magpies kept the hopes of avoiding relegation from the Mitre 10 Cup Premiership alive and regained the Kel Tremain Memorial Trophy with a gutsy 30-21 win against the Manawatu Turbos in Palmerston North tonight. The Magpies have to win their remaining games against Waikato and Bay of Plenty to retain Premiership status.
The Magpies conceded four penalties during the first 12 minutes. Turbos pivot Otere Black slotted two of them, the first in the eighth minute from 26 metres, and the second in the 12th minute to give the hosts a 6-0 lead.
Penalties continued to haunt the Magpies. They were 8-2 down on the count when Hawke's Bay age group product and Turbos hooker Travis Taylor scored the first try in the 27th minute from a lineout drive. The Magpies defence, with halfback Chris Eaton, was admirable until then.
Magpies prop Tolu Fahamokioa was unlucky to have a try disallowed in the 30th minute when television match official Chris Jansen could not sight the ball over the tryline. The Magpies turned down an easy three points in the 31st minute and fumbled the ball behind a scrum which was shoved backwards.
However Magpies first five-eighth Ihaia West succeeded with a handy penalty in the 37th minute. The Turbos 11-3 halftime lead was a fair reflection of the first stanza.
Two more penalties from West, one from 41 metres, had the Magpies trailing 11-9 after 47 minutes.
Hard working Magpies lock Mark Abbott scored the first try for the visitors in the 51st minute and with West's conversion the Magpies were ahead 16-11.
More Turbos forwards pressure saw Taylor score his second try. Black missed the conversion attempt.
West maintained his 100 per cent success rate with a 57th minute penalty from 40 metres out on a wide angle and the visitors led 19-16. Another West penalty in the 63rd minute and an intercept try from centre Robbie Fruean three minutes later had the Magpies ahead 27-16.
A 70th minute try from Taylor's replacement and fellow Bay age group product Tim Cadwallader had the Turbos within range again.
It was appropriate West should deny the Turbos a bonus point with his 76th minute penalty. He finished with seven successes from eight attempts.
The match was played on a soggy Central Energy Trust Arena ground after regular heavy downpours during the final hour before kickoff. More rain came when Tasman referee Michael Lash blew the first whistle.
Scorers:
Manawatu 21 (Travis Taylor 2 tries; Otere Black 2 pens ), Hawke's Bay 30 (Mark Abbott, Robbie Fruean tries; Ihaia West 6 pens, con). HT: 11-3.