Canterbury seared into Hawke's Bay with a brand of rugby other teams will struggle to match for accuracy and abrasiveness across the ITM Cup.

The Magpies are on their way to the Championship final after dispatching North Harbour to retain the Log o' Wood in Napier last night.

Guildford was cited for the offence during last week's clash between the Magpies and Counties Manukau in Pukekohe.

After a dominant 2014 campaign, the Turbos toppled Hawke's Bay 32-24 in the Championship final in front of a boisterous home crowd in Palmerston North tonight.

The Magpies are into their third ITM Cup Championship final in four seasons, though nothing came easy for them in this gnarly first semifinal.

Hawke’s Bay retained the Ranfurly Shield with the draw but only courtesy of a last minute dropped goal from Ihaia West who, straight out in front and with a penalty advantage looming, took aim and fired to make it 20-20.

North Harbour made enough of the early impact but Hawke’s Bay showed why they are the Ranfurly Shield holders by fighting back late in their ITM Cup Championship match at Albany last night.