A strong second half has propelled Hawke's Bay to their fourth straight win to open the National Provincial Championship (NPC) season.
Second-half tries from wing Noria Fomai and reserve halfback Samuel Wye saw the Magpies overtake Canterbury for a 27-21 victory at Christchurch's Apollo Projects Stadium on Wednesday night.
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With backs scoring all four of their tries - and all six in the match - Hawke's Bay collected their fourth bonus point of the season, moving ahead of Bay of Plenty at the top of the NPC standings.
The Ranfurly Shield holders trailed 18-13 after Canterbury wing Kurtis Macdonald crossed in the left corner in the 45th minute, on the end of the line after a dozen-plus one-off running from the forwards.
Hawke's Bay wasted no time replying, with a contested Lincoln McClutchie cross-kick bouncing fortuitously into the path of Fomai, with fullback Hayden Godfrey adding the extras to take the lead.
After James White booted a 70th-minute penalty to regain the lead for the home side, a snipe from the base of a ruck from wing Freedom Vaha'akolo, set up Wye for the match-winning score behind the posts in the 72nd minute.
In the first half, Hawke's Bay answered an early James White penalty with tries from Vaha'akolo and second-five Danny Toala for a 10-3 lead after 19 minutes.
A skip-pass from Toala sent Vaha'akolo in at the right corner, before Toala took a knocked-down Canterbury attacking kick by flanker Josh Gimblett 70m the other way to dive over at the same spot.
After the visitors were held up over the line from a 5m lineout drive in the 23rd minute, Canterbury wing Isaac Hutchinson scored to level it up inside the half-hour, picking off a pass as Hawke's Bay attempted to attack from inside their own 22.
Both teams complete their 'Storm Week' schedules on Sunday, with the Magpies away from home again, facing neighbours Manawatu in Palmerston North (kick-off 4.35pm) and Canterbury hosting Wellington in Rangiora (kick-off 2.05pm).
Hawke's Bay 27 (Freedom Vaha'akolo, Danny Toala, Noria Fomai, Samuel Wye tries; Lincoln McClutchie pen, Hayden Godfrey 2 con) Canterbury 21 (Isaac Hutchinson, Kurtis Macdonald tries; James White con, 3 pen). HT: 13-13