Hawke's Bay overpower Northland to win title

Northland halfback Will Grant scores in the first half but could not help his side win the Mitre 10 Championship final in Napier tonight. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today

Northland gave their heart and soul but came up short in the Mitre 10 Championship final, falling to Hawke's Bay 36-24 in Napier tonight.

The Magpies won the title for the third time, while it was the Taniwha's first final in 24 years after coming close in recent years.

It was a tit-for-tat battle in the opening half as both sides scored three tries a piece to head to the sheds 17-all, but Hawke's Bay turned on the heat in the last quarter in front of a decent crowd.

Northland struggled to get out of their own half, while the opposition resorted to their traditional ball-in-hand play and hammered away at the Northland line - and it paid dividends.

Led by their inspirational skipper Ash Dixon and scrumhalf Folau Fakatava, the home side forced Northland into mistakes as the game wore on and were unlucky that two tries were disallowed.

Northland had earlier got off to a flying start, courtesy of a string of early mistakes by Hawke's Bay inside their 22m line, and scored the first try through prop Luatanagi Li who barged over under the sticks.

Hawke's Bay replied three minutes later through wing Jonah Lowe when he gathered a kick in behind the Northland defensive line by Stacey Ili.

Centre Neria Fomai scored the host's second try, before halfback Will Grant levelled the scores after receiving an inside pass from Rene Ranger close to the tryline.

It looked as if Northland would lead at halftime, but wing Lolagi Visinia scored in the corner off a lineout move.

Northland sent in Scott Gregory, Ross Wright, Matt Matich and Kane Jacobson not long after halftime, but Hawke's Bay had too much presence and too much presence of mind.

The Mitre 10 Premiership final between Auckland and Tasman is at Eden Park tomorrow.