Horowhenua Kapiti gave it a right old crack.
That much was expected. What was not expected was that they were just four points adrift with 15 minutes to play against Hawkes Bay on McLean Park last night in their 10th Ranfurly Shield challenge.
Take a bow, captain Antony Fox and his band of merry men from the small province near the foot of the North Island. Dane Coles was among thousands barracking for them. It was the country's 18th ranked union against the ninth, but in truth it was amateur versus professional.
The first spell was not just about fire and brimstone on the tackle and little else from the challengers. Yes, Horowhenua Kapiti ripped into the breakdown, disrupting much of the Magpies' ball, but they also made good play with their continuity and some penetration from NZ Heartland XV fullback Michael Tambour and centre Perry Hayman. The latter was also handy off the tee, slotting three penalties and a conversion, and hard to stop on the first tackle.
Hawke's Bay, with a raft of first-choice players unavailable, took a long time to warm to their work. No 8 Joseph Penetito again carried strongly, scoring two tries, while fellow loose forward Tony Lamborn finished a sterling break by wing Mason Emerson.
The score was 12-9 until Penetito's second on the stroke of halftime. The expected second half points avalanche never really materialised until late in the game.
Hawke's Bay's next defence is against Mid Canterbury next Thursday in Napier.
Hawke's Bay 50 (Joseph Penetito 2, Tony Lamborn, Shannan Chase, Tom Stanley, Mark Braidwood tries; Tyrone Elkington-MacDonald 4 con, 4 pen) Horowhenua Kapiti 16 (Sam Gardner try; Perry Hayman con, 3 pen) HT: 17-9
