Third Division
Wairarapa-Bush were the big movers as they leapfrogged South Canterbury and Wanganui to the top of the standings.
The bulky Wairarapa-Bush pack relished the puggy surface at their home ground as they rumbled past Buller 25-0, and were only one of the four winning teams to claim a four-try
bonus point.
The two previously unbeaten sides, South Canterbury and Wanganui, were both tripped up at home, while bottom-placed Poverty Bay notched their first win of the season.
In Masterton, the Wairarapa-Bush pack took control early.
Their tight-five were outstanding, while inspirational captain and New Zealand Maori flanker Germaine Anaha made some telling tackles and strong runs before leaving the field injured soon after halftime.
Buller were disappointing after their 31-19 defeat of Horowhenua-Kapiti the previous weekend, with only captain Clarke Nelson and lock Jay Smith making an impression.
In Timaru, Horowhenua-Kapiti coach Peter Kemp's axing of six players saw his side recover from the previous weekend's loss to stop South Canterbury's unbeaten run in its tracks, 21-18.
In the first half Horowhenua-Kapiti had little possession, but with desperate defence they trailed by only 8-3 at the break and nailed the game with a John Clarke try 10 minutes from fulltime.
South Canterbury outscored the visitors three tries to two, but could not convert any of their tries.
In Wanganui, King Country used the wind intelligently in the first half on the way to beating the home side 23-20.
King Country scored twice in the final 10 minutes of the first half through Adam Hill and Kevin Weinberg, to give them a 20-0 lead at the break.
The game changed over a seven-minute period when tries by Scott Donald and Che Barlow saw Wanganui trail just 20-15 with 20 minutes remaining.
A Michael Blank penalty in the 63rd minute gave his side an eight-point buffer.
There were celebrations in Gisborne as Poverty Bay defended desperately to squeeze past West Coast 21-15 for their first victory of the season.
Poverty Bay led 8-0 at halftime and scored a scintillating try from the restart when second five-eighths Mosese Paunga ran 60m to dive over close to the goalposts.
But Poverty Bay spent most of the second half under pressure as West Coast first five-eighths Anthony Lawry kept the hosts inside their own half.
- NZPA
NPC points table
Third Division
Wairarapa-Bush were the big movers as they leapfrogged South Canterbury and Wanganui to the top of the standings.
The bulky Wairarapa-Bush pack relished the puggy surface at their home ground as they rumbled past Buller 25-0, and were only one of the four winning teams to claim a four-try
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