Taihape continues to keep pace with the headliners on the Premier club rugby table although they have plenty to work on ahead of their big clash with Ruapehu on Saturday.
A 21-point scoring burst through the early stages of the second half at Spriggens Park proved enough to polish off an overmatched but nonetheless determined Marist, who while still at odds and ends restored a bit of pride after the previous weekend's mauling in Ohakune.
After cruising out to a 10-0 lead through neat and simple tries to busy wing Jaye Flaws and flanker Richard Batley, Taihape seemed to want the result without working for it, repeatedly losing possession at the breakdown in the shadow of Marist's posts.
When the home team earned some rare territory they made it count through a Sean Brown penalty, then a strong burst by No8 Bradley Graham was followed up by winger Scott Dowman scorching through without a hand being laid on him to score by the posts.
At 10-10 against the run of play by halftime, Taihape regained composure through industrious first-five Tom Wells, although he had a running battle with some of referee Kawana Tiehema's interpretations.
The visitor's player depth also took a toll as Wells instigated the bursts which led to tries by reserve forwards Daniel Te Huia and Matiu Teepa.
Climbing into their work, Taihape's Flaws and prop Richard Irons wrestled back possession from a Wells' chip kick, which was spread through the hands for No8 Dylan Maloney to score.
At 31-10 with 22 minutes left, it appeared another blowout could be on the cards, but a great run and chip kick by Marist winger Kent Rivers led to a tangle with Wells, earning the stunned Taihape playmaker a yellow card for obstruction. Now rudderless, his team struggled to clear their danger zone as Marist's pack drove at the line, then freed it up for Rivers to get his try.
A Luke Whale penalty gave both teams a breather after a long phase of helter-skelter passing and kicks, before Marist got to put a little more respectability back into the scoreline when prop Matt Weeks forced his way over.
At the same time in Marton and Taihape, two other underdogs also gave their more fancied opposition a hard fight and in the case of Utiku Old Boys, they matched the Highlanders in Super Rugby by finally snapping their drought with a 15-12 win at Memorial Park.
Clinging to a five point lead at the break, fortunes fluctuated at the Taihape ground, but the home side sneaked in after tries by midfielder Jason Coffey and Ollie Tarland.
Disappointed for the second week in a row, Ratana's second half tries came from prop Isaac Fonotoe and winger Kane Tamou.
Down in Marton, the home side's tenacious defence just could not hold out Pirates who scraped in a much needed victory from their 11-5 arm wrestle.
Marton were hanging on to their 5-0 advantage from a try by halfback Tyler Rogers-Holden, with Pirates clawing back into the reckoning from a drop goal by loose forward Manulua Lafi.
Heading into the final quarter, the visitors took the match away with a penalty by first-five Denning Tyrell and try to Nuku Nukuciri.