Taranaki can safely place the Ranfurly Shield under lock and key over the summer after surviving their first challenge by national provincial championship rivals Hawke's Bay today.
Taranaki completed their championship campaign with a 29-11 victory at New Plymouth, four days after lifting the shield off Southland.
The key to victory were their forwards, with workaholic flanker Scott Waldrom, Jarrad Hoeata and skipper Craig Clarke prominent, who imposed themselves physically to have the upperhand on their Hawke's Bay opposites .
Young first-five-eighth Beauden Barrett ensured the toil of his forwards was not squandered, too, by producing a flawless goalkicking display as he landed seven from seven for an individual haul of 19 points.
As is expected of challengers, Hawke's Bay began the match with a hiss and a roar as the forwards ploughed into their the work , but Taranaki slowly but surely gained the upperhand in the collision area to take control.
A third minute penalty by Hawke's Bay's Andrew Horrell was responded to by two penalties by Taranaki first five-eighth Beauden Barrett and the hosts started to shadow their rivals midway through the spell.
They built pressure through patient continuity and found reward after hooker Laurence Corlett then prop Shane Cleaver were both denied only by desperate defence on the line.
The breakthrough came in the 34th minute when a strong surge into the 22 by No 8 ended with left wing Frazier Climo cutting back against the traffic to score beside the goalposts.
It presented Barrett was an easy conversion before his third penalty from a handy angle left Taranaki ahead 16-3 at halftime.
Hawke's Bay again started strongly at the restart with Horrell's second penalty trimming the difference before the outcome was effectively settled when Taranaki second five-eighth Jayden Hayward scored a classy try from a clever grubber kick and regather.
They approached the three-quarter mark seemingly safe at 23-6 although Hawke's Bay raised their hopes when wing Richard Buckman added his lightweight frame to a ruck near the line before emerging with the ball to score.
Barrett immediately hit back with his fourth penalty then added another for good measure as Hawke's Bay's mistake rate and transgressions increased.
Hawke's Bay now have to quickly get over their disappointment as they prepare for the bottom seven championship final against Manawatu next weekend.
