Instead, the Hawke’s Bay side took flight and began to take over the game through the middle part of the first half. With tries to Lolagi Visinia and Tom Parsons, both converted by Lincoln McClutchie, the visitors stormed into the lead on the verge of halftime but went in one point down after a late Jacomb penalty goal.
It wasn’t a terrible position for the visitors to be in given they had won five of the six games in which they trailed at halftime this year, but a sparkling try to Taranaki halfback Adam Lennox extended the lead of the hosts.
It was one of several well-worked tries in the game, as Rona popped a lovely pass on his inside for Jacomb, who linked up with Perofeta. The fullback bobbled the pass at first, but shot into space when he did reel it in, before finding Rona, who moved the ball on to Lennox to score under the sticks.
It was a try that allowed the majority of the sellout 13,500-strong crowd to breathe a bit easier - albeit momentarily.
It took Hawke’s Bay just four minutes to hit back, working their way up the pitch with intent before showing patience in an attacking position and ultimately finding Geoff Cridge out wide to plant the ball down.
Leading by just three after the missed conversion, Taranaki looked to extend their lead from the tee, but Perofeta missed two shots at goal which allowed the Magpies to stay within an unconverted try of the win.
And they had their chances down the stretch too, peppering the Taranaki try line inside the final 10 minutes.
The hosts would not be beaten, though, and after a Parsons knock-on allowed them to clear the danger, Taranaki were able to close out the win; the crowd storming the pitch to celebrate.
Taranaki 22 (Meihana Gindlay, Daniel Rona, Adam Lennox tries; Josh Jacomb 2 cons, pen)
Hawke’s Bay 19 (Lolagi Visinia, Tom Parsons, Geoff Cridge tries; Lincoln McClutchie 2 cons)
HT: 15-14.
