South Canterbury, on 29 points, leads by three points from Whanganui with Thames Valley one point back on 25 with two rounds to be played before the Meads and Lochore Cup semifinals.
South Canterbury beat Poverty Bay 60-7 and Whanganui beat Buller 83-7 in home wins on Saturday while Thames Valley travelled to Oamaru to beat North Otago 26-21.
Whanaganui’s 83 points is the highest in their 130-year history, eclipsing their previous highest of 81 achieved in 1993 and 1994.
Hanan Districts partners Mid Canterbury, who beat Horowhenua Kapiti 15-13, and North Otago share fourth position on 18 points.
Bunnings Heartland results, round six:
Thames Valley 26 (Tayne Tupaea, Cameron Dromgool, Sam McCahon 2 tries; Todd Doolan 3 con) North Otago 21 (Ratu Logavatu, Ben McCarthy, Hayden Tisdall tries; McCarthy 3 con). HT: 12-7
Whanganui 83 (Aleki Vakarorogo 4, Semi Vodosese 2, Josia Bogileka, Samu Kubunavanua, Timoso Serawalu, Jack Yarrall, Ezra Malo, Josh Lane, Dane Whale tries; Ethan Robinson 8 con) Buller 7 (Jesse Pitman-Joass try; Jack Parker con). HT: 45-7
King Country 32 (Josh Balmer, Carlos Bellass, Karney Dunster, Quinn Collard, Charlie Henare tries; Collard 2 con, pen) East Coast 21 (Carlos Kemp, Richard Green tries; Kemp con, 3 pen). HT: 22-0
Horowhenua Kapiti 13 (Louis Northcott, Trent Reti tries; Keaton Kawana pen) Mid Canterbury 15 (Jonetani Vasuakuta, Tyler Blackburn tries; Nathan McCloy con pen).
West Coast 30 (Jacob Lowe 3, Joseph Scott, Troy Tauwhare, Elliot Smith tries) Wairarapa Bush 42 (Jack Loader, Charles Mataitai, James Goodger 2, Tafa Tafa tries; Aidan Champion 3 con, 2 pen; Tipene Haira con, pen). HT: 15-29
South Canterbury 60 (Loni Toumohuni 3, Liueli Simote, Tomasi Bakaca, Lisiate Folau, Siu Kakala, Matthew Taula Fili, Kelivini Leatigaga tries; Will Wright 6 con, pen) Poverty Bay 7 (Adrian Wyrill try; Kelvin Smith con).