Gutsy loosies Rocky Pohatu and James Tango again emptied the tanks for Clive. Heperi Harrison, who had stints at second five-eighth and halfback was the best of Northe's backs.
Pirate 26 Tech 16
Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports took the outright lead in the competition with this bonus point victory at Whitmore Park.
Second five-eighth Jackson Neilson captured player-of-the-match honours with several powerful breaks and some superb defensive work. The visiting forward pack adapted well to the miserable conditions with prop Kelsey Miller a key architect in a dominant scrum and openside flanker Hamish Willis prominent in the tussle for the loose ball.
"Considering who we were missing it was a brave effort from our team," Tech Group of Companies Napier Technical co-coach Steve Woods said referring to his five players in the Magpies team for Thursday's Ranfurly Shield defence.
"We know we are still in the hunt for the semifinals but we will need maximum points in the next three games," Woods added.
Powerful No 8 Semiperive Semeane, openside flanker Angus Benson and winger Jordan Faia all made the Tech MVP list.
Havelock 12 NOBM 0
The other unbeaten team, Progressive Meats Havelock North, gave their experienced loosie, Luke Ottley, a winning 150th appearance with this Park Island victory.
The villagers had to wait until the 60th minute to open the scoring. Halfback Isaac Paewai was again classy in all aspects of play while first five-eighth J'ndre Liebenberg's defensive work was as admirable as it was the previous week. Openside flanker Zane Rangi had a huge workrate.
"We felt confident at halftime. But we didn't capitalise on our opportunities including a couple of missed penalty kicks while Havelock made the most of their opportunities," Hawke's Bay Insurances Limited Napier Old Boys Marist manager Mike Smith said.
Winger David Benson was full of enthusiasm in an NOBM backline well controlled by halfback Boris Bouhraoua and first five-eighth Johnny Lauano. Dynamic No 8 Pouvi Fatialofa was the pick of the NOBM forwards.
Hastings 19 MAC 15
"We left our run too late," MAC head coach Anthony Morley lamented after this Farndon Park loss.
His troops did well to claw their way back from 19-3 down but handling errors let them down. They attempted to push passes when they shouldn't have in the difficult conditions.
Ansin & Monteith Hastings Rugby and Sports co-coach Karl Jones was happy with his team's first 60 minutes but pointed out the hosts "fell away" during the final quarter. Fullback Star Timu was the pick of Jones backs and No 8-hooker Tivaini Fomai and lock Ben Parsons were inspirational in the winning pack.
Morley was again impressed with his loosehead prop Mason Kean's scrummaging and form in general play. Halfback Colin Hokianga, first five-eighth Tom Iosefo and centre-fullback Lewis Marshall all operated well in the visiting backline.
Taradale 58 Tamatea 0
Former prolific try scorer Josh Mahoni made his first appearance of the season for Carters Frame and Truss Taradale in this Bill Mathewson Park romp.
Mahoni, who scored 26 tries in 2009, celebrated his return to premier play with one of the visitor's 10 tries. Lock Elijah Martin and prop Mike McLachlan provided plenty of grunt in the Mighty Maroons' engine room.
Winger Dan McIntyre was always a threat on attack and deserved his two tries, while flankers Tiwai Tomoana and Ivan Bellamy, and hooker Te Maangi Hamlin, shone in the Tamatea forward pack.
