Wanganui retained their lead at the head of the Mitre 10 Heartland Championship when beating King Country 22-10 at Wanganui on Saturday.
They are unbeaten after four games but were denied the four-try bonus point they had scored in their three earlier games to sit on 19 points.
Second-placed South Canterbury are on 17 points and were too good for Povery Bay scoring a 52-28 win with Junior Faavae scoring a hat-trick for the home team.
Buller stayed handy as well with a 48-0 win over West Coast in Westport. They are on 16 points on their own.
North Otago moved into fourth place on 15 points courtesy of their 48-8 win over East Coast. Wairarapa Bush are one behind after beating Thames Valley 28-18 but without being able to secure a bonus point.
Scorers were:
South Canterbury 52 (Junior Faavae 3, Cameron Bayley, Raitube Vasurakuta, Maxx Morris, Will Joines tries; Zac Southen 3 con; Willie Wright 2 con)
Poverty Bay 28 (Dan McIntyre, Ratu Daurua 2, Murray Hewson tries; Isaia Vuki 2 con)
HT: 28-6
Wanganui 22 (Te Rangatira Waitokia, Lindsay Horrocks, Ranato Tikoilosomone tries; Steve Crosbie con, Dan Whale pen)
King Country 10 (James Hemara try; Zayn Tipping con, pen)
HT: 0-20
Horowhenua Kapiti 26 (Rahiri Connor Johnson 2, Scott Cameron, Nathan Kendrick tries; Warwick Lahmert con)
Mid Canterbury 42 (Maleli Sau, Phil Watson, Jackson Donlan, Eric Duff, Richard Catherwood tries; Jarred Percival 5 con, pen)
HT: 0-18
Buller 48 (James Lash, Peni Nabainivalu, Josh Tuidriva 2, Craig Moore, Setefano Sauqaqa tries; Lash 6 con)
West Coast 0
HT: 16-0
East Coast 8 (Kareti Palmer try; Todd Doolan pen)
North Otago 48 (Simon Lilicama 2, Shae Tucker 3, Dan Towler tries; Josh Casey 5 con; Tyron Davies con)
HT: 2-8
Wairarapa Bush 28 (Stanley Wright, John Ika, Glen Walters tries; Tim Priest 3 con, pen; Andy Humberston pen)
Thames Valley 18 (Bryce Cowley, Ben Bonnar tries; Moss Doran 2 con; Jonnie Te Ruki-Chambers pen)
HT:16-10
~ PROVISIONAL TABLE ~
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