The game that creaked then nearly croaked

Hawkes Bay 26 Manawatu 10

This was a match that spent most of the time on the verge of croaking.

A few princely moments in the second half, however, rescued Hawkes Bay - and the spectators - as the home side eked out a 26-10 win over Manawatu in Napier.

Hawkes Bay and their home crowd would have sought an authoritative win to launch them into the second half of the new provincial competition.

Instead, they had to make do with small mercies that included a bonus point from the win.

Of the two sides, only Hawkes Bay would have been given a chance of winning top spot in repechage pool A - which includes Bay of Plenty and Counties-Manukau - and thus qualifying for the top eight finals.

A mistake-ridden first half, featuring a Manawatu scrum that back-pedalled with gusto, included only one scoring moment, a try on the half hour to Hawkes Bay halfback Danny Lee after a rolling maul.

Two Nathan Kemp-inspired attacks early in the second half led to a Manawatu penalty, and midway through the spell the Magpies only led by 12-10. The highlight at that point had been the Manawatu try, a long-range effort finished off by wing Leon Lubbe.

But a lineout drive brought Hawkes Bay captain Lua Lokotui a try, and replacement back Jacob Kennedy finished off a fine move to leave Manawatu out of the hunt.

So Hawkes Bay are on the board but they will need a vast improvement to threaten Bay of Plenty and Counties Manukau. They were hurt by the loss, through injury, of star centre Nathan Mauger before the match. His replacement, Justin Wilson, with boom schoolboy fullback Israel Dagg, showed glimpses of attacking class.

It was Dagg's keen anticipation which brought Hawkes Bay their second try, as he hunted down a grubber kick from Matt Berquist.

But Wilson lacked Mauger's power and authority, and those were ingredients in short supply.

Hawkes Bay 26 (D. Lee, I. Dagg, L. Lokotui, J. Kennedy tries; M. Berquist 2 con, A. Clarke con)
Manawatu 10 (L. Lubbe try, G. Smith con, pen).
HT: Hawkes Bay 7-0.