Manawatū did enough to earn an NPC Championship home semi-final, despite a 40-31 defeat to Premiership leaders Hawke's Bay in Palmerston North.
Despite trailing 17-12 at halftime, Hawke's Bay scored four second-half tries and 28 unanswered points to run away with the victory and retain the Kel Tremain Trophy.
A hat-trick to midfielder-turned-winger Ollie Sapsford was the standout showing from Hawke's Bay, while second-five Kienan Higgins chipped in with a double as part of the Magpies' highlights reel.
A try on the siren to former All Black Nehe Milner-Skudder would prove to be vital for the Turbos though, giving Manawatū a vital bonus point to secure second place in the Championship ahead of Otago.
In a slow start to the first half, Shamus Hurley-Langton opened the scoring for Manawatū, less than a minute after securing a crucial turnover that prevented Hawke's Bay from crossing over for a try of their own.
Hawke's Bay hit back through Sapsford's first of the night, only for Manawatū to retake the initiative through lock Liam Mitchell, on the receiving end of a generous intercept - thrown by halfback Ereatara Enari.
Leading at halftime, Manawatū added to their lead in the second half, as two former All Blacks combined when Milner-Skudder was put through after some clever work from first-five Brett Cameron.
Ahead 24-12 though, Manawatū crumbled against the attacking force of the Premiership leaders.
Sapsford's second try, combined with another to replacement front-rower Pouri Rakete-Stones, saw Hawke's Bay eek in front 26-24, before Higgins' double had the Magpies bring up 40 points.
Needing only a point from the encounter to seal that home semi-final, Milner-Skudder's second try got the job done, as the Turbos' fullback finished off an attacking play down the left wing, aided by Ed Fidow and Jason Emery.
The bonus-point victory sends Hawke's Bay even further ahead at the top of the Premiership, now having finished their competitive regular season, facing Northland in a non-competitive match next Saturday.
Manawatū will have the next week off, and can wait to see which of Otago, Northland or Southland they'll face in the Championship semi-final in two weeks.
