North Otago, Whanganui and South Canterbury are setting the early pace in the Bunnings Heartland championship two weeks into the competition.
But the upset of the round belonged to Ngāti Porou East Coast who travelled to Ashburton and beat the home side 36-34 to get their first victory over the Hammers since 2012
North Otago ramped to a 71-10 win over Buller in Oamaru while neighbours South Canterbury travelled to Levin to claim a 53-20 win over Horowhenua Kapiti.
Whanganui were too strong for neighbours King Country and took a 41-3 win.
It was much closer for Poverty Bay who beat Wairarapa Bush 30-26 in Gisborne and Thames Valley who beat West Coast 36-26 in Te Aroha.
Bunnings Heartland Championship, Round Two results:
Horowhenua Kapiti 20 (Joel Winterburn, Ryan Shelford tries; Jack Tatu-Robinson 2 con, 2 pen)
South Canterbury 53 (Tomasi Bikaca 3, Siu Kamala, Zac Saunders 2, Kalavini Leatigaga, Lisate Folau, Matt Fili tries; Sam Briggs 4 con).
HT: 13-31
Mid Canterbury 34 (Shepherd Mhembere, Nathan McCloy, Raitube Vasurakuta, Nasi Manu tries; N McCloy 4 con, 2 pen)
Ngāti Porou East Coast 36 (Unknown, Unknown, Joe Wadman 2, Sam Parkes tries; Carlos Kemp 4 con, pen).
HT: 17-31
North Otago 71 (Hayden Todd, Mataitini Feke, Mone Samate, Kelepi Funaki 2, Seta Koroitamana, Manulua Taiti, Hayden Tisdall, Junior Fakatoufifita 2 tries; Kicking details not available)
Buller 10 (Michael Stringer try; Jack Parker con, pen).
HT: 45-3
Poverty Bay 30 (Jesse Kapene, Te Peehi Fairlee, Ruan du Plooy tries; Moses Christie 3 con, 3 pen)
Wairarapa Bush 26 (Jack Loader, Tupou Lea’aemanu 2 , Aseri Waqa ; Aidan Champion 3 con).
HT: 13-19
Thames Valley 36 (Sam McCahon, Nui Muriwai, Calum Wood, Cam Dromgool, Blake Hill tries; Todd Doolan 3 con)
West Coast 26 (Shayne Anderson, Daniel Foord, Amenatave Tukana, Troy Tauwhare tries; Ben Wyness 3 con).
HT: 19-7
