Defending the Bill Osborne Taonga at home in Taupō, King Country were dominant throughout their clash with Ngāti Porou East Coast. Taharoa Takuira-Mita scored a first-half hat-trick, helping the home side to a 38-0 lead at the break. A much more even second spell saw two tries apiece, but King Country locked in a 52-10 victory.
Poverty Bay secured their first win of the season and did so in style with a 68-31 victory over West Coast at home. Scoring at a point a minute in the early exchanges, Poverty Bay held a 27-19 lead at half-time before running in seven second-half tries. Paoraian Manuel-Harman, Taine Aupouri and Henry Saker all scored doubles in the win.
While West Coast couldn’t get the win for centurion Sean McClure, he kicked a conversion to close out the match and mark the occasion.
Horowhenua Kāpiti celebrated two centurions on Saturday, and a win over Thames Valley added to the occasion. David McErlean and Aaron Lahmert both ran out for their 100th match for Horowhenua Kāpiti, the latter crossing for a five-pointer in his milestone game. The home side led 31-7 at the break, and while Thames Valley put up more of a fight in the second spell, they couldn't turn around the deficit as Horowhenua Kāpiti won 57-26.
Quinn Collard's 16-point haul for Thames Valley took him past 100 points for the season, the first player to reach the mark in 2026.
Other centurion celebrations were dampened by defeat. Whanganui were unable to get the win in Dane Whale's 100th appearance for the union, with visitors Mid Canterbury bouncing back from last week's loss to score five tries in a 34-22 win.
Buller hosted Wairarapa Bush in a tight contest, the home side holding a narrow 13-6 lead at the break. They extended their lead early in the second spell, but the Bush hit back, and a late try to Gracyn Evans saw the visitors steal the win 25-21 and keep their play-off hopes alive.
North Otago were too strong for neighbours South Canterbury, winning their away match 43-28 in Timaru. Mataitini Feke scored a double in a win that locked in the a number of local silverware for the visitors.