Waikato 30 Hawke's Bay 22
Waikato took a baby step away from the foot of the table, which could become a giant leap if they can maintain last night's form.
The uncertainty that has gripped them at times this season was never on view. This was a confident, assured performance that suggested the players are
now in tune with their new coach and at ease with what he wants.
What Chris Gibbes obviously wants is simple rugby, performed well. That's what was delivered by Waikato. They played their rugby in the right places and were clinical in all the right areas.
They kept the error count down and played with a bit of passion; a bit of thunder that rattled the Bay.
The visitors were a little ragged. But Andrew Horrell, a virtual unknown at this level, jumped into the Magpies' No 10 jersey and made a big impact.
He stood out as one of the few individuals in black and white to be on top of his game. Israel Dagg and Zac Guildford didn't play badly but nor did they have the usual zip and thrust that their team-mates feed off.
Coach Peter Russell was quick to say that it had been a tough week for both young men who have been the subject of much speculation, having received offers to join the Crusaders next season.
Russell was a little disappointed the matter was making headline news but did offer some input: "They have to make decisions that are right for them and it's not about the coin. The money will come and, if they are in it for that, then they are in the wrong sport."
Without the go-forward and the stability up front, Hawke's Bay were forced into playing too deep and, other than a couple of tries late in the first half, weren't able to conjure much.
They will look back and wonder why that was because there was opportunity to more effectively exploit Waikato's difficulties at the lineout.
Hawke's Bay weren't hanging around to see what would happen - instead they were charging through in anticipation of their opponents tapping off the top and their anticipation was frequently well rewarded.
It made life tough for Brendon Leonard, which was far from ideal given the little halfback was hoping to eke out some form.
Still he'd rather have been playing than not and it's hard not to believe there was a missed opportunity by having Stephen Donald in the stands.
Not that the Waikato backline desperately needed Donald. Some of their work was exceptionally good. The build-up to their first try was a classic example of why timing is everything and deadly when supported with straight running.
A fairly innocuous foray into Hawke's Bay territory was turned into a try by the way the Waikato backs drew and passed with Save Tokula providing the magic with some fast hands.
Soseni Anesi then drew the last man to put Henry Speight over for a try that had wow factor. As did their third midway through the half when again neat, crisp handling worked Anesi free on the left and the hosts were 24-0 up without a peep from Hawke's Bay.
They finally woke up after half an hour when Sam Gidden's neat grubber found Lawrence in acres of space and then Horrell was able to coast over from 40 metres when he collected a lineout overthrow.
Mark Jackman's try on 74 minutes made the last five minutes tense for the home crowd but defeat was never really on the cards.
Waikato 30 (H. Speight, S. Tokula, S. Anesi tries; C. Bruce 3 cons, 3 pens) Hawke's Bay 22 (Z. Guildford, A. Horrell, M. Jackman tries; S. Giddens 2 cons, pen).
