Bay of Plenty Steamers will have the chance to bring home the Ranfurly Shield after Hawke's Bay beat North Harbour 48-32 last night.

The Steamers who are set to take on Counties Manukau this afternoon in Pukekohe in their latest ITM Cup clash are Hawke's Bays next shield challenge.

The Steamers will be the next team to challenge for the Ranfurly Shield. Photo: Cameron Avery.

Hawke's Bay defended the Log o' Wood for the ninth time in a high-scoring national provincial championship clash, taking down North Harbour with a dominant second-half display.

The Magpies, without suspended Zac Guildford, maintained their 100 per cent record this season in the fourth-round clash, with skipper Brendon O'Connor a standout in a bonus point five-try victory at McLean Park.

O'Connor – in his 100th first-class match – was instrumental for the home side throughout, creating and scoring from the start as first five-eighth Ihaia West maintained his deadly form with the boot.

In a commanding performance, Ryan Tongia, Israel Dagg, Richard Buckman, Ash Dixon and Chris Eaton also got on the scoresheet, through a blend of early counter-attacking play and accuracy with the ball in hand.

But Harbour, who remain stranded at the wrong end of the NPC, will have left Napier ruing early missed opportunities, with their Australian No 10 Daniel Halangahu indifferent from the kicking tee.

The win marks over a year of Ranfurly Shield dominance for Hawke's Bay, who set the tone early on with two quick-fire West penalties, before a bulldozing O'Connor created room for winger Tongia to dive under the posts.

West duly converted to extend the Magpies' lead to 13-0 after ten minutes, before Harbour instantly replied with a well-worked try as Tevita Li battled over the line after a patient build-up.

But with Halangahu failing to convert, and then wasting two successive penalty kicks, eight points went missing from the tee for the visitors as the Ranfurly Shield holders made them pay.

Unwanted All Black Dagg – in playing his first game at McLean Park this year – dived into the corner to punish Harbour, as West, in stark contrast to Halangahu, once again converted from the tee.

At 20-5, Harbour refused to die down, however, keeping themselves in the game with a determined try by Michael Little – Halangahu this time converted and followed up with a penalty to pull the visitors to within five points.

But the missed first-half opportunities cost Harbour dearly minutes after the break, with Hawke's Bay rattling off three converted tries in 13 minutes.

Dagg and O'Connor combined well immediately after the restart, before West's play switching cross-field kick was clawed out of the air by Buckman to one-handedly score. Then O'Connor charged clear to cap off a barnstorming game for the inspirational skipper.

Hooker Dixon weaved his way over the line for the Magpies fifth try of the evening, before Jordan Manihera outgunned the home side to cut the deficit to 21 points.

A penalty try, which was converted by Matt McGahan, brought the game to 41-27.

Such risk-and-reward-style play from a desperate Harbour opened up the back door, and Hawke's Bay halfback Eaton broke free to seal the game in the 76th minute.

Li grabbed a late consolation try for North Harbour at the death.

The Steamers will take on Napier on September 19, but first have to concentrate on their match against Counties Manukau which is set to kick-off at 4.35pm today.