So much for a tightly contested top-of-the-table clash between Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay.

The Steamers thumped the Magpies 51-24 on the back of a Chase Tiatia clinic in Tauranga on Saturday afternoon, earning Battle of the Bays bragging rights for the time being.

In handing Hawke's Bay their first loss of the season, they also denied them from locking up the top-seed in the championship section of the Mitre 10 Cup with two rounds to play.

Because Bay of Plenty's comprehensive bonus point thumping has dragged them within three points of their fierce rivals as the crunch part of the season looms.

Joe Ravouvou scored two of Bay of Plenty's first half tries against Hawke's Bay on Saturday afternoon.

Don't be surprised if these sides clash again in the final next month, when promotion to the premiership will be on the line.

The now 6-3 Steamers (31 competition points) were sublime in front of their fans on Saturday, effectively winning the game on the back of a rampant first half.

Hawke's Bay did run in four second half tries to record a bonus point and get within 12 points with a dozen minutes to play, but Kaleb Trask kicked a penalty, and Tiatia finished off his hat-trick, to kill the Magpies off.

Replacement Tevita Mafileo dived over at the death for good measure, raising the half ton with his team's eighth try of the day.

A year after the Magpies scored a last-ditch try to record a one-point win, Bay of Plenty rocked the visitors with 31 first-half points on the back of a blistering attacking performance.

Bay of Plenty's Emoni Narawa attempts to evade Hawkes Bay's Mason Emerson in Tauranga on Saturday afternoon.

Big wing Joe Ravouvou had two tries to his name before the clock had ticked past 10 minutes, the second of which came on the back of a superb off-load by Tiatia.

It was just one of many plays Hurricanes outside back Tiatia made playing at second-five eighth, as he continued his form from a standout Super Rugby season.

In addition to his three tries and early off-load assist, he setup loose forward Mitch Karpik's 35th minute try, when he scooped up a Hawke's Bay blunder and hoofed the ball down field.

It finished with Karpik diving on the ball 80 metres from the point Tiatia kicked it, leaving the bewildered Magpies under their sticks for the fifth time.

Turning with the wind at their back in the second half, the Magpies finally got on the board in the 47th minute courtesy of Danny Toala, who took advantage of a rare sight - Tiatia missing a tackle.

But Tiatia made up for his mistake just minutes later, when he stepped through a sluggish defensive line and bolted 20 metres to score his second.

Bay of Plenty 51 (Joe Ravouvou 2, Kaleb Trask, Chase Tiatia 3, Mitch Karpik, Tevita Mafileo tries; Trask 4 con, pen) Hawke's Bay 24 (Danny Toala, Geoffrey Cridge, Ollie Sapsford, Marino Mikaele Tu'u tries; Lincoln McClutchie 2 con). HT: 31-0.

Robert van Royen/STUFF