Hawke's Bay beat Auckland 17-12 in ITM Cup

Bryce Heem's inability to keep hold of a wayward Ihaia West penalty in Auckland's try zone gave Hawke's Bay the chance to score their second try of the game " enough for the Championship leaders to condemn their Premiership opponents to a second defeat of 2015's competition.

West was the star of the show, scoring 12 of his side's points, although Auckland, whose points came courtesy of four Simon Hinckley penalties, will rue further errors in the closing stages, which denied them the chance to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

A knock-on killed a promising maul with five minutes to go, while a lineout on the Hawke's Bay five-metre line after the hooter was botched and stolen by the Napier club, who held on for an 11th-consecutive Ranfurly Shield defence.