Marist, Wanderers and Nelson all flexed their muscles away from home, with comfortable victories in Nelson Bays division one rugby competition on Saturday.
Whakatu Hotel Marist kept an under-strength Star and Garter Waimea Old Boys scoreless at Jubilee Park, winning 48-0.
Galbraith Nelson maintained their momentum by downing Freeman Roofing Stoke 47-11. Taylors Wanderers eased past Kahurangi 40-22.
Waimea Old Boys were missing key players across the park, especially in the backline, and Marist winger Adam Dunn took full advantage to score three times.
Usual Marist No 10 James Hawkey proved an effective distributor from the midfield for Marist and Dunn was ruthlessly efficient when he was given any space.
Kahurangi put in a strong first half effort to be right in the contest with Wanderers at the break.
The hosts trailed just 18-15, but with Wanderers starting frontline players on the bench after their Tasman Trophy final defeat to Nelson, they overpowered them in the second half.
Similarly, Nelson only led Stoke 14-6 at the main break of their game before Nelson powered away in the second half. Seven Nelson players scored tries in the rout.
In the division two games, a late penalty to Blair Roach gave Nelson a 16-15 win over Stoke, Waimea Old Boys held on to beat a fast-finishing Marist 27-17. Collingwood cruised past Tapawera/Murchison 46-0. Huia scored a comfortable 46-19 win over Wanderers and Riwaka downed Takaka 29-3.
