The Hawke's Bay Tui got their season back on track with a 21-points win over North Harbour Hibiscus in a Bunnings Warehouse Farah Palmer Cup women's rugby championship division rugby match in Napier on Saturday.
Down 15-17 and looking vulnerable when the visitors first took the lead after 24 minutes, the Tui stormed back to win 45-24 in good conditions at Tremain Field, Park Island.
The 7-tries-to-4 win came in complete contrast to its opening match at McLean Park a week earlier, when Hawke's Bay was beaten 46-31 by Northland Kauri, after leading 31-22 with 19 minutes to go.
Prepared by former Clive and Taradale Premier men's coach Blair Cross, the Tui with dynamic performances from veteran former skipper Gemma Woods, at flanker, and captain Krysten Cottrell, at first five-eighth, the Tui flourished all of the potential which had been indicated in the previous week's defeat and emerged a now not unlikely contender for honours at the end of the competition.
A particular feature, from both sides' perspective, was the last seven to eight minutes of the first half, as Hawke's Bay attacked the line but was repeatedly unable to get through the tough North Harbour defence.