The New Zealand Heartland XV could not lift one final time as a physical Hawke's Bay won their final match of the Jock Hobbs Memorial Under 19 tournament 26-16 in Taupo on Saturday.
After a good start into the wind due to the accurate boot of fullback Brad Griffith (Wairarapa Bush), Heartland led 9-0 although they never penetrated Hawke's Bay's 10m area.
But Hawkes Bay had some big front rowers and strong ball carriers on the fringes, with Heartland struggling to break the line.
Whanganui players Hamish Bennett at lock and Chris Breuer at blindside flanker took some hard contact on their carries, although Breuer made himself hard to put down.
Captain Dylan Bowater was rested after a head knock in the Wednesday loss to Southland, with halfback Nathaniel Smith (King Country) taking over the reins.