Edmunds burrows over in the 73rd minute to bring his side to a half-century. Minutes later, Veainu caps a sensational performance with a hat-trick on the stroke of full time. Job well done by the home-side who secured seven tries in all and convincingly dispensed with a disinterested looking North Harbour outfit. Thanks for joining us, Coverage of the day's second ITM cup match coming up next!
Veainu crosses twice in two minutes, making for a less than complimentary scoreline. Guildford sparks the the first one with a chip kick ahead; Veainu collects at full tilt before touching down for a well earned score. Two minutes later, he's in again - West splits the defence with some excellent footwork and tears towards the line, before feeding Veainu for the try. North Harbour looking weary and resigned..
Hawkes Bay on the verge of running riot here in McLean Park - Mathewson sets up the try with a beautifully executed up-and-under from his own twenty-two. The ball bounces favourably for his team-mate Zach Guildford who collects and bolts down-field for his third try of the season.
Elrick kicks off with the wind at his back, but again Hawkes Bay strike first - they earn a penalty deep in opposition territory when an over-eager visitor is caught out offside.
The referee blows up play on the stroke of half time, awarding a penalty to a grateful home-side. Elrick sends it over and claws back three points for his side - HALF TIME. After a shaky start, the visitors have found their rhythm and have dominated their opponents for large periods. They head for the changing rooms with a deserving 11 point lead. NH however are lucky to trail by just eleven, after a ragged performance in the first forty. They'll need to secure some points early in the second if they're to have any chance of stealing a win.
Another blow to the home-side - and again Veainu provides the inspiration, scything through the defensive line before slipping the ball to Trinity Spooner-Neera on his inside. The ball exchanges hands twice more before settling in the sizeable paws of lock-forward Michael Allardice, who dots down in the corner. West pulls the conversion wide of the uprights.
West punctuates the second quarter with a penalty kick in the thirty fifth minute (another breakdown infringement, this time from a comfortable position). The flags go up and the gap continues to grow.
Little to report in the last ten minutes. The game's tempo has slowed somewhat since the first quarter, with possession shifting regularly. Both sides getting turns in each other's twenty-twos, but failing to secure points.
Hawkes earn a penalty out wide when NH infringe at ruck-time. West steps up and guides it over from a difficult position, extending the lead to six. Mathewson returns from the blood-bin as the ball sails over.
Poor defending from both sides results in try number two - Telusa Veainu brushes aside a North Harbour challenge and tears downfield. He gains fifty metres before drawing the final defender and feeding Horrell in the centre. Try, and West converts.