Canterbury have sent a warning to their National Provincial Championship rivals, pounding Wellington 43-10 to maintain their winning start to the new season.
Crusaders No.8 Cullen Grace grabbed a second-half try double to help his team draw clear with 35 unanswered points, after trailling early at Christchurch.
The visitors snatched a lead with a try to winger Pepesana Patafilo, converted by first-five Jackson Garden-Bachop, whose penalty on the half hour gave his side a 10-8 advantage - but that was the last time the Lions troubled the scoreboard.
With halftime approaching, George Bridge scored a try converted by Fergus Burke and the rout was on. Ahead 15-10 at the break, Canterbury ran in tries to centre Dallas McLeod, two to Grace and a cheeky intercept from replacement halfback Willi Heinz to complete the victory.
Wellington's cause was not helped inside the final 10 minutes, when former All Blacks halfback TJ Perenara was yellow-carded for cynically playing the ball on the ground in a tackle, with Grace and Heinz exploiting that advantage for their closing tries.
The nine-time champions were beaten by eventual winners Waikato in last season's premiership semi-finals, but have their 2022 campaign off to an ideal start, after a big win over Manawatū in their opener.
After their draw with Hawke's Bay last week, Waikato also remained unbeaten with a 16-10 comeback over Northland. Hooker Rhys Marshall had the Mooloos' only try, with Damian McKenzie's boot providing the difference.
But beaten 2021 finalists Tasman - premiership winners the previous two seasons - dropped to their first defeat, falling 25-19 to Otago, with first-five Cameron Miller slotting five penalties for the home side.
Canterbury 43 (Grace 2, Bell, Bridge, McLeod & Heinz tries; Burke 5 conversions & penalty) Wellington 10 (Patafilo try; Garden-Bachop conversion & penalty)
Otago 25 (Umaga-Jensen, Nu'u tries; Millar 5 penalties) Tasman 19 (MacDonald, Tavatavanawai tries; Parata 3 penalties)
Waikato 16 (Marshall try; McKenzie conversion & 3 penalties) Northland 10 (Moorby try; Reihana conversion & penalty)
