Magpies gain Premiership status

Hawke's Bay ensured they will play in the Premiership division next year, after the Magpies scored a nail-biting 35-30 win over Manawatu in the NPC Championship Final in Palmerston North on Sunday.

The Magpies withstood a late challenge from the Turbos, after mistakenly kicking the ball out believing time was up.

Hawke's Bay took the lead early in the match and never relinquished it, Andrew Horrell kicking six from seven to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

While promotion to the top flight may prove to be meaningless, after reports surfaced that the two-tier competition format will be abandoned, it's done nothing to dull Hawke's Bay celebrations.

Despite having seven players on World Cup duty and trio Hika Elliot, Mike Coman and Tu Umaga-Marshall all out injured, the Magpies were in full flight from the start and outscored the home side by four tries to three.

It was not the result the Turbos wanted for departing coach Dave Rennie – and it also ended their perfect run at FMG Stadium this season - but Hawke's Bay were well worth the win as they scored some excellent tries and scrambled desperately in the final few minutes to hang on for the win.

The scorers:

For Manawatu:
Tries: Tietjens, Bryant, Fitzgerald
Cons: Cruden 3
Pens: Cruden 3

For Hawke's Bay:
Tries: Saseve, Buckman, Nemani, Sinoti
Cons: Horrell 3
Pens: Horrell 3

Teams:

Manawatu: 15 Craig Clare, 14 Aseli Tikoirotuma, 13 Lewis Marshall, 12 Francis Bryant, 11 Tomasi Cama, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 James Oliver, 7 Doug Tietjens, 6 Nick Crosswell, 5 Michael Fitzgerald, 4 Reece Robinson, 3 Ma'afu Fia, 2 Rob Foreman, 1 Grant Polson Grant.
Replacements: 16 Bryn Templeman, 17 Jared Brock, 18 Fraser Stone, 19 Callum Gibbins, 20 Isaac Thompson, 21 Casey Stone, 22 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 23 David Te Moana.

Hawke's Bay: 15 Mark Jackman, 14 Richard Buckman, 13 Tua Saseve, 12 Andrew Horrell, 11 Gillies Kaka, 10 Daniel Kirkpatrick, 9 Chris Eaton, 8 Karl Lowe, 7 Adam Bradey, 6 Trent Boswell-Wakefield, 5 Bryn Evans (captain), 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Hikairo Forbes, 1 Kas Lealamanua.
Replacements: 16 Danny Logan, 17 Brendon Edmonds, 18 Maselino Paulino, 19 Hugh Reed, 20 Isaac Paewai, 21 Sinoti Sinoti, 22 Tino Nemani, 23 Jody Allen.

Referee: Glen Jackson
Assistant referees: Mike Fraser, Richard Kelly
TMO: David Walsh