The pressure in the Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby team's quest to avoid relegation from the Mitre 10 Cup Premiership has intensified.
The bottom-of-the-table Magpies gifted their closest rivals on the points table, the Tasman Makos, a bonus point 36-29 win at Napier's McLean Park tonight. It wasn't the performance members of the 1960s Ranfurly Shield era Magpies who were among the crowd celebrating the 50th anniversary of their shield win against Waikato deserved.
The Makos dominated the first 15 minutes with some superh handling and powerful busts from the likes of flankers Tevita Koloamatangi and captain Shane Christie and second five-eighth David Havili. It was a Havili break which led to winger Tima Faingaanuku's try.
First five-eighth Marty Banks, who had earlier kicked a penalty, added the conversion and the Makos had an early 10-0 lead. The Magpies kept in touch with a try to flanker Trent Boswell-Wakefield in the 15th minute after excellent build up work from first five-eighth Ihaia West and winger Jonah Lowe.
More weak defence from the hosts allowed Makos No 8 Peter Samu to score in the 20th minute. Banks added the extras.