It was the result New Zealand domestic rugby was crying out for. Ironically, Hawke's Bay's 8-6 Air NZ Cup win against Wellington in Napier would have sparked celebrations in the capital, even if only from a small group.

Officials at the New Zealand Rugby Union would have raised their glasses at the upset, because it was the sort of outcome missing from the entire 2006 season.

Critics who bemoaned the introduction last year of four promoted unions -- including Hawke's Bay -- to the revamped NPC pointed to predictable results as a major drawback.

On a weekend when six other games followed the script, a passionate Hawke's Bay broke the mould, grinding out victory in a match that will be memorable for the result rather than the spectacle at a wet McLean Park.

The conditions aided their heads-down forward pack who outmuscled bigger-name opponents and left the star-studded Wellington backline redundant.

The battle of the props epitomised the outcome.

Hawke's Bay tighthead Clint Newland knocked Wellington counterpart Neemia Tialata out of the game, literally, with a right-hand punch -- unsighted by the referee -- which left the giant All Black out cold and suffering possible concussion.

Later, loosehead Faka'naua Taumalolo delivered a verbal spray at Tialata's provincial and international teammate John Schwalger before crunching him in a crucial 5m scrum late in the game.

Hawke's Bay deserved better than the 0-0 halftime scoreline and they were 0-6 down before a penalty to first five-eighth Matt Berquist and driving try from No 8 George Naoupu sunk the hopes of a Wellington side who had dismantled Otago 68-7 just a week earlier.

F o llowing their 41-13 win over Southland, Hawke's Bay are one of four teams with two wins from two and they sit among the traditional giants of the domestic game and one place above a stung Wellington.

Auckland are narrow competition leaders from Canterbury after both romped to wins.

Canterbury's 52-13 hammering of Counties-Manukau in Pukekohe today was the most impressive of the season so far.

They were a class above the hosts, who prop up the bottom of the table, after scoring eight tries, two of them to flanker Johnny Leo'o.

Auckland saved their best until last in the 41-3 crushing of Bay of Plenty at Mt Maunganui on Friday, with three tries in the final 10 minutes blowing the scoreline to flattering levels.

A highlight was the impressive return to first class play of All Blacks lock Ali Williams after nearly two months sidelined with a broken jaw.

Rounding out the top four are third-placed Waikato, who suffered the worst conditions of the weekend at Hamilton in their 22-11 arm wrestle against Southland.

Perhaps chastened by what had happened at Napier an hour earlier, the defending champions tightened the screws in the second half after the scores were locked 6-6.

The late introduction of All Blacks loose forward Sione Lauaki was the catalyst for their only try, to fullback Dwayne Sweeney.

The Ranfurly Shield will remain in North Harbour's clutches after they saw off the stiffest challenge of their short reign so far as holders to beat Taranaki 19-13.

The challengers dominated the last quarter, hammering away at the line but it would have been an injustice had the shield changed hands as North Harbour -- led superbly by No 8 Nick Williams -- dominated for long periods.

Otago recovered from their opening-weekend nightmare with a hard fought 23-20 defeat of Northland in Dunedin.

It wasn't vintage stuff but four competition points were like gold dust for the southerners.

Tasman opened the round on Thursday with an easy 33-10 dousing of the hapless Manawatu.