Steelform Wanganui remain head of the Mitre 10 Heartland Championship table and their young winger Te Rangatira Waitokia has rocketed to the top of the tryscorers chart after a profitable 52-30 fifth round victory over Poverty Bay on Saturday.
Taking a slightly depleted squad to Gisborne, coach Jason Caskey had told his side to prepare for all-out desperate attack from the hosts, who have never beaten Wanganui in Heartland and reinforced their lineup, including development officer and 19-test All Black Rico Gear making a comeback.
"Poverty Bay, up here, very hard to keep them to 20-30 points. You just have to make sure you score more," Caskey said.
Despite losing yet another outside back when centre Cameron Crowley was injured early on, then going try-for-try with Poverty Bay in the first half, Wanganui executed strongly through the middle stages of the second stanza to pull away for the bonus point win.
Waitokia had been spotlighted before the match as a likely game breaker in open play, much like Stephen Perofeta was last year against the same team.
The 19-year-old delivered on every count with a rare four-try performance, taking his season tally to nine tries in five games.
He scored twice in each half, which included a memorable moment when he left the veteran Gear clutching at straws.
"One of them, a set play move, like [against] West Coast, off the lineout," said Caskey.
"I said, 'you'd be pretty happy with that - you stood up an ex-All Black'."
Captain Peter Rowe said despite Waitokia's run away success, he was most impressed the teenager continues to handle it with maturity.
"He's a good kid, he's pretty grounded, it's just about taking those opportunities.
"But I don't think he'll get a big head. He's sensible."
Another to tick the boxes, playing inside of Waitokia, was new Taranaki import Blake Hohaia, who had joined the injury-hit backline when reserve Kaveni Dabonaise was a last minute-withdrawal.
"Cam [Crowley] lasted five minutes and blew out his knee," said Caskey.
"Blake, we were going giving him 30 minutes to have a look at him, and he ended up playing 70."
Wanganui also took the gamble on having workhorse Gavin Thornbury come off in the final quarter, with Campbell Hart having to shoulder the burden as the sole remaining specialist lock.
Caskey said the team still managed to win most of their own ball, and the risk was worth it given Hart is not available this weekend, while Sam Madams should hopefully be back from injury and the giant Thornbury could not keep pushing his luck by playing whistle to whistle every week.
"He's a young guy and keen as mustard to be on the field for the full 80 minutes, but we've got nobody in behind."
Hart powered through tacklers to score Wanganui's final try and make the game safe in the dying minutes.
While Crowley is likely gone for the campaign, Caskey has winger Simon Dibben down as a maybe to make his comeback from injury, while Michael Nabuliwaqe returned to score Wanganui's opening try on Saturday.
However, Nabuliwaqe still looked a little short of a gallop as Poverty Bay fullback Dan McIntyre was able to get outside him from a set play to score the home team's second try.
"[Backline injuries] doesn't worry us anymore because it's expected. No surprise, it's been that sort of year," said Caskey.
Wanganui had a tough start as they were penalised shortly after kickoff and Poverty Bay kicked for the corner, piling on the pressure at ruck time until No8 Siosiua Moala, brother of All Black George, dived through a gap next to the posts to lead after two minutes.
The visitors replied with Nabuiliwaqe's converted try, but McIntyre got around the winger five minutes later for 14-8.
Waitokia opened his account in the 30th minute, and two minutes before the break he was in again for his team to finally hit the lead.
Wanganui now poured it on as halfback Lindsay Horrocks scored for the second week in a row, and then Waitokia scored stunning back-to-back tries to sweep his team to 44-14.
But Poverty Bay would not lie down as big prop Jody Allen - a nine-year veteran with Hawkes Bay and North Harbour who has returned to his home union - went on a rampage to score in kickable range.
"Forty metres out, he ran over the top of our guys, just stepping out the way," said Caskey.
"Our guys were not too keen to put their shoulder on the line."
With Thornbury subbed, Poverty Bay lock Jacob Cook scored in the 65th minute to leave Wanganui nervous at 44-30.
However, just as with King Country, the visitors stayed composed as first-five Steve Crosbie took a penalty kick to extend them back to a two converted-tries advantage, and then Hart went down the blindside to drag the final defender over the line for the match winner.
Given Poverty Bay were fighting to stay in touch with the top eight, Rowe said they knew the home side would not die wondering.
"You're just making sure, it only has to be one [point ahead].
"They took a bit of cracking, they really took it to us, they were reasonably physical.
"They attack from anywhere, they never seen to be dead.
"We enjoyed our time, it just felt like there's been a lot of pressure on ourselves before this week."
Rowe also wanted to thank the Air Chathams Wanganui Under 18 squad, who gave vocal support after playing the curtainraiser and clapped the team on and off the field.
"To us old guys, it means a lot."
Wanganui 52 (Te Rangatira Waitokia 4, Michael Nabuliwaqe, Lindsay Horrocks, Campbell Hart tries; Steve Crosbie pen, 4 con) bt Poverty Bay 30 (Siosiua Moala, Dan McIntyre, Jody Allen, Jacob Cook tries; Isaia Vuki 3 con). HT: 20-14.