Hawke's Bay have started their Mitre 10 Cup season with a 31-13 win over Manawatu in terrible conditions in Palmerston North.
The visitors used the rain soaked conditions to their advantage - scoring four of their five tries off driving mauls.
They were clinical in the wet, and took their chances when the hosts dropped plenty of ball.
The Turbos opened the scoring in the opening couple of minutes after Otere Black put up a cross field kick and after some great hands from their back line, second-five Hamish Northcott scored.
Then the Magpies scored two first half tries thanks to their well-oiled rolling maul, Brendon O'Connor and Ash Dixon scoring.
A penalty from fullback Sam Malcolm locked the scores at 10-10 at half time.
Which was as good as it got for the Turbos as the Magpies ran in three-straight second half tries through Dixon, Pouri Rakete-Stones and Folau Fakatava to claim the victory and kick their 2019 season off well.
Hawkes bay will travel down the road to take on Wellington next week and the Turbos will host the impressive Taranaki side.
