Waikato trounced North Harbour 62-0 with Stacey Fluhler achieving a hat-trick and Makaia Rike-Te Kanawa scoring twice.
Counties Manukau recorded a 17-10 win over Bay of Plenty but are five points adrift and will be watching with interest when Waikato play Auckland in their top-of-the-table clash at Eden Park ahead of next weekend's Bledisloe Cup Test.
Northland's 77-3 bonus point win over Taranaki on Sunday lifted it to third place, on the same points as Counties Manukau but ahead on points differential.
It was a record-breaking performance in several respects in extending their highest winning performance in beating last weekend's 65-5 win over North Harbour, and improving its highest winning margin from 60 points in that game to 74 against Taranaki.
Portia Woodman scored six tries, not only breaking the record of most tries scored for the side, but also most points scored in a game. Her try haul beat the four tries scored by Tyler Nankiville against Counties Manukau two weeks ago, while her 30 points also surpassed the 20 Nankiville posted two weeks ago.
Auckland had the bye in the North pool this week while the South Pool did not play.
Counties Manukau 17 (Larissa Lima E Silva, Ruby Tui, Glory Aiono tries; Hazel Tubic con) Bay of Plenty 10 (Alena Saili 2 tries). HT: 10-5
North Harbour 0 Waikato 62 (Stacey Fluhler 3, Makaia Rike-Te Kanawa 2, Merania Paraone, Ashlee Gaby-Sutherland, Grace Houpapa-Barrett, Kelsey Teneti, Manaia Nuku tries; Chelsea Alley con; Tenika Willison 5 con). HT: 0-38
Northland 77 (Ngawaiora Davis 3, Aroha Savage, Tyler Nankiville, Portia Woodman 6, Tyla Nathan-Wong, Krystal Murray tries; Murray 6 con) Taranaki 3 (La Toya Mason pen). HT: 44-3