Hawke's Bay put on a show in their second successful Ranfurly Shield defence of the National Provincial Championship (NPC) season.
The Magpies ran in nine tries, including doubles from Lincoln McClutchie, Ben O'Donnell and Sam Smith, in a 55-30 victory over Northland at Napier's McLean Park on Friday night to open Round 3.
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The Taniwha probably had visions of lifting the Log o' Wood after 25 minutes when second-five Tevita Latu went over after a questionable off-load for a 16-7 lead, after Rivez Reihana had earlier booted three penalties to go up 9-0.
But the home side immediately hit back with three tries in a match-defining period before halftime when they piled on 19 points.
Then McClutchie took over, slicing through the defensive line to score in the 28th minute, then providing the cross-field kick for a diving wing O'Donnell to score his first in the right corner to take the lead for good.
On the stroke of halftime, wing Neria Fomai cut through from the edge of a ruck, setting up flanker Sam Smith under the posts and a 26-16 lead.
McClutchie opened the second-half scoring three minutes after the break, with Northland captain and hooker Matt Moulds hitting back minutes later from a 5m lineout move.
O'Donnell, from a Folau Fakatava cross-kick, and Smith, after a Fakatava penalty quick-tap and break, got their second tries in a five-minute span to essentially secure the Shield and bonus-point win, up 45-23 in the 57th minute.
Taniwha halfback Sam Nock got one back for the visitors, however, the Magpies finished strong, with reserve hooker Tyrone Thompson and replacement outside back Mat Protheroe, a former Welsh international, crossing the line to bring up the half-century.
Hawke's Bay's next Shield defence comes on Saturday, September 7 (kick-off 7.05pm), while their next match is against neighbours Manawatu next Sunday (kick-off 4.35pm). Northland start their 'Storm Week' at home against Southland on Friday (kick-off 7.05pm).
Hawke's Bay 55 (Jacob Devery, Lincoln McClutchie 2, Ben O'Donnell 2, Sam Smith 2, Tyrone Thompson, Mat Protheroe tries; Lincoln McClutchie 5 con) Northland 30 (Tevita Latu, Matt Moulds, Sam Nock tries; Rivez Reihana 3 con, 3 pen). HT: 26-16
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