Wellington have successfully repelled their first NPC challengers for the Ranfurly Shield of the season, overwhelming Southland 39-17 at Lower Hutt.
After easily handling heartland bids from Horowhenua-Kapiti (68-7) and South Canterbury (67-21) last month, the Lions were never seriously tested by the southern raiders, quickly opening a double-figure advantage with a try to winger Pepesana Patafilo in the 16th minute.
They were reduced to 14 men, when flanker Dominic Ropeti was offside at a ruck, and the Stags capitalised with a converted try to replacement loose forward Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa to open their account.
Restored to their full quota, Wellington immediately imposed their superiority with a close-range effort from lock Caleb Delany for a 17-7 lead at halftime.
After the restart, consecutive tries to midfielder Riley Higgins, Ropeti and winger Connor Garden-Bachop swelled the advantage to 34-7, before the visitors salvaged some respect through flanker Leroy Ferguson and winger Gabriel Hamer-Webb.
The result also stretched Wellington's winning start to their NPC title defence, joining Hawke's Bay and Taranaki unbeaten through three. They face a sterner test on Wednesday, when they host Tasman for another Shield defence.
Canterbury have joined the three-for-three collective with an emphatic 68-26 win over Manawatū at Christchurch.
Halfback Mitch Drummond, winger Manasa Mataele and midfielder Rameka Poihipi all scored try doubles, while first-five Fergus Burke had a try and six conversions for 17 points.
Halfback Jordi Viljoen scored first for the Turbos, but the red-and-blacks scored four unanswered converted trie to lead 28-5 at halftime and had the luxury of rolling former internationals Luke Romano, Ryan Crotty and Willi Heinz off the bench in the second half.
Tasman have tuned up for their Ranfurly Shield challenge with their first defeat of the season, shocked 30-5 by previously winless Northland at Whangārei.
Stacked with Super Rugby talent, the two-time champions were surprisingly never in the contest, falling behind early and never mounting a viable comeback.
Winger Heremaia Murray scored a try double - one either side of halftime - as the Taniwha outscored their rivals 17-0 after the break.
Meanwhile, Auckland have taken 'Battle of the Bridge' honours against North Harbour with a 43-21 romp at Takapuna.
First-five Zarn Sullivan grabbed a try double and converted five of their six tries for a personal haul of 23 points. Auckland have two wins from their three outings.
Wellington 39 (Patafilo, Delany, Higgins, Ropeti, Garden-Bachop & Southall tries; Clarke penalty & 3 conversions) Southland 17 (Tupou Ta'eiloa, Ferguson & Hamer-Webb tries; Dyer convrsion)
Auckland 43 (Sullivan 2, Thomas, Lam, Plummer & Tangitau tries; Sullivan 5 conversions & penalty) North Harbour 21 (Morgan-Puterangi 2 & Sititi tries; Koller 2 penalties)
Canterbury 68 (Drummond 2, Mataele 2, Poihipi 2, Burke, Murray, Kellow & Fihaki tries; Burke 6 conversions, Harford 3 conversions) Manawatū 26 (Viljoen, Momsen, Brown & Tuputupu tries; Cameron 2 conversions, Ravula conversion)
Northland 32 (Murray 2, Hallam-Eames & Moulds tries; Reihana 2 penalties & 2 conversions, Hawkins conversion) Tasman 5 (MacDonald try)
