Defending champions Nelson Bays will defend their title in next weekend's final after convincingly beating Hawke's Bay 43-16 in Napier this afternoon.

The young Hawke's Bay side were not helped by their own indiscipline, Clint Newland and skipper Reece Robinson being sin-binned in the first half before prop Newland was sent off in the second half for stomping on an opponent.But they were up against a very experienced and accomplished Bays side which was always in control once they had settled down after the home side's initial onslaught. The play of their forwards was superb, the back row trio of De Goldi, Ching and Holdaway always putting Hawke's Bay under pressure in the loose , and locks Bowden and Marfell were not too far behind.In fly half Warren Johnston they possess an individual of vast experience and with considerable tactical awareness, his personal tally of 23 points keeping the scoreboard ticking over.

Hawke's Bay enjoyed a good opening quarter, scorng tries through Hamilton in the second minute and Mata'uiau in the 15th.But playing with a significant breeze at their backs they did not capitalise, far too often kicking possession away rather than keeping ball in hand and building their own attacking momentum.For Nelson Bays , skipper Mytton replied with a 20th minute try, they were boosted by the justifiable award of a penalty try and there was the ever-reliable boot of Johnston.By the interval Nelson had established a healthy 23-13 lead and had decisively seized the initiative, their forwards well in control, controlling the pace of the game and dominating at tackle, ruck and maul.

The second half was one-way traffic, Hawke's Bay managing a solitary penalty to three Nelson tries , a conversion and penalty.Playing with 14 men did not help, but in the end the young Hawke's Bay side was not good enough to cope with a side which will be difficult to overcome in the final.

Nelson Bays' opponents will be either Bay of Plenty or King Country, who play their semi final in Tauranga on Sunday afternoon.

Scorers :

Hawke's Bay : 16

Tries : Hamilton, Mata'uiau. Penalty : Leighton. Dropped goal : Leighton.

Nelson Bays : 43

Tries : Mytton, De Goldi, Johnston, Wallace, penalty try. Conversions : Johnston (3). Penalties : Johnston : (4)