Hawke's Bay have earned their first win in this year's ITM Cup with a come-from-behind 37-30 victory against Counties-Manukau in a cross-over match in Napier.
It was the Magpies' third game in eight days and they looked to be in a bit of trouble when the Steelers got out to a 20-6 advantage midway through the first half thanks to quickfire tries to Tim Nanai-Williams and August Pulu.
But the sin binning of Counties prop Simon Lemalu and a try to Hika Elliot meant the visitors only led 23-22 at half-time.
A brilliant individual try by Sherwin Stowers early in the second half left the Magpies chasing the game again but five-pointers to Tua Saseve and Daniel Waenga, who also added 27 points with the boot, and some desperate defending in the closing minutes was enough to get Hawke's Bay across the line.
The Magpies got on the wrong side of referee Richard Kelly in the opening exchanges and were quickly down 6-0 as Baden Kerr slotted two simple penalties for the visitors.
First five-eighth Waenga knocked one over for the home side but two tries in five minutes looked to have put the Steelers in control as the Magpies struggled to contain the visitors' pacey back line.
Chip kicks over the Magpies defence were working well for Counties but it was a good run by Kerr, who ghosted between Adam Bradey and Johan Schoonbee, that set up Nanai-Williams for the opening try.
Waenga reduced the deficit with his second penalty before a deft Nanai-Williams cross-field chip kick opened up the Magpies defence. Reynold Lee-Lo gathered but was hauled down 10 metres out. The ball was spun left and it was simply a matter of numbers as Pulu dived over.
Kerr's conversion gave the Steelers a healthy 20-6 lead but it was soon whittled away as ill-discipline allowed Waenga to keep Hawke's Bay in the hunt with a series of penalties.
After warning both sides about repeated infringements at the breakdown, Kelly's patience ran out in the 34th minute and Lemalu was sent to the sin bin.
It was the break Hawke's Bay needed and they got to within a point of Counties when Elliot was driven over the line on the stroke of half-time and Waenga added the extras.
The Steelers started the second half strongly with Nanai-Williams particularly dangerous with ball in hand. But they could not turn their dominance into points as first Pulu then Ronald Raaymakers lost the ball close to the line.
Counties' third try eventually came in the 49th minute and it was conjured out of nothing by some Stowers brilliance. The left winger got a pop pass from Pulu under pressure and his electrifying pace and footwork saw him thread his way through the Hawke's Bay players to score by the post. Kerr was again on target with the conversion.
Waenga's sixth penalty of the game got Hawke's Bay back to within five points and they were on level terms in the 59th minute when Saseve finished off in the corner. Waenga couldn't add the conversion which would have put his side in front.
The home side were then denied a try in the 68th minute when Ihaia West was adjudged to have put his foot in touch. But the young back had kicked the ball ahead before going out of play and racing into the in-goal area to force it down.
It didn't matter in the end as Waenga darted over with nine minutes to go and they hung on grimly to seal the win.
Hawke's Bay 37 (H.Elliot, D.Waenga, T.Saseve tries; Waenga 2 cons, 6 pens) Counties-Manukau 30 (A.Pulu, S.Stowers, T.Nanai-Williams tries; B.Kerr 3 cons, 3 pens) HT: 22-23
