Hawke's Bay produced a workmanlike performance to hold off Southland and record a solid 29-18 victory in their National Provincial Championship match in Napier on Tuesday.

Southland dominated the set phases and were able to win plenty of possession in good areas of the field but their finishing and execution in the strike zone let them down as Hawke's Bay took their oppotunities better to record an impressive win.

Flyhalf Andrew Horrell was solid off the kicking tee as he regularly punished Southland's indiscipline at the breakdown. A moment of magic from wing Tu Umaga-Marshall put Chris Eaton in for a try and gave Hawke's Bay a lead that they never relinquished.

Tries to Robbie Robinson and John Hardie brought Southland close but a late long-range penalty from Horrell put the game beyond the visitors and Hawke's Bay were able to hold on to their lead to record an encouraging win.

The scorers:

For Hawke's Bay:
Tries: Eaton, Horrell
Cons: Horrell 2
Pens: Horrell 5

For Southland:
Tries: Robinson, Hardie
Con: Robinson
Pens: Robinson 2