A dramatic 22-22 draw last night left Hawke's Bay in the box seat to earn promotion to the ITM Cup Premiership.
The Magpies' bid received a major boost after earning a share of the spoils against fellow front-runners Wellington, a result sealed with almost the final play of the game.
The Magpies trailed for the majority of the match but Robbie Fruean scored a 79th-minute try to stun the sparse home crowd before Ihaia West's sideline conversion couldn't quite find the right amount of curve.
But the first five would have found consolation in the competition standings, with Hawke's Bay maintaining their three-point lead over the Lions with two rounds to play. Top spot will be secured with positive results against Southland and Waikato, and the Magpies must be desperate to lock up home advantage throughout the playoffs after falling in last year's final on the road against Manawatu.
A rematch against Wellington would be a nerve-shredding affair based on tonight's evidence, with two points each probably the outcome both sides deserved. The visitors enjoyed much more of the ball but Wellington proved more dangerous in their limited opportunities.
The Lions' parsimonious defence looked like it would leave Hawke's Bay frustrated and with just a pair of tries to show for their concerted efforts but a vital turnover soon led to an overlap on the right that allowed Fruean to cross.
Wellington would have been left dirty with the last-minute lapse, having soaked up plenty of pressure to allow an attack filled with game-breakers to make their mark. Vaea Fifita once again sparked his side with ball in hand, laying on his side's first try before scoring the third, while Reg Goodes grabbed the second from a well-worked lineout drive.
Hawke's Bay were nowhere near as clinical as their opponents and chance after chance went begging -- until the dying moments of the match.
Wellington 22 (Woodward, Goodes, Fifita tries; Woodward 2 cons, pen) Hawke's Bay 22 (Eaton, O'Connor, Fruean tries; West 2 cons, pen) HT: 15-7
