Fullback Ruben Love has scored a try double, as Wellington continue their unbeaten run through the NPC season with a 56-25 victory over Counties Manukau at the capital.
With their nearest rivals falling around them, the Lions are now the only undefeated side in the competition, with six wins from as many outings, as they roll through their schedule. They are now on a 14-game winning streak, dating back to last season.
Counties lead early, with first-five Riley Hohepa kicking a penalty, but their hosts piled on the next 18 points, including Love's opening try, to lead 32-8 at halftime. Love's second came late and in similar fashion to his first, as he stepped a defender and dived over in the corner.
First-five Aidan Morgan kicked 17 points, before he was subbed off in the 64th minute.
Over the past week, both Taranaki and Hawke's Bay have lost their unbeaten records, suffering consecutive losses each to spoil their perfect starts to their campaigns.
The Bulls fell 29-28 to Canterbury at Christchurch, with first-five Jayson Potroz missing a late conversion that might have saved them.
The red-and-blacks led by as many as 18 points midway through the second half, but were reduced to 13 men for a few minutes, when Chay Fihaki and Reed Prinsep were both shown yellow cards.
Canterbury also lost their unbeaten start, when they fell to the Lions last week, but are still the only team with just a solitary defeat.
Wellington 56 (Love 2, Preston, Proctor, Saumaki, Kirifi & Hauiti-Parapara tries; Morgan 4 conversions & 3 penalties, Clarke 2 conversions) Counties Manukau 25 (Moananu, Malimali, Daniela & Nanai-Seturo tries; Hohepa penalty, Alatinua conversion)
Canterbury 29 (Harford, Punivai, Harmon, Poihipi tries; Harford 3 conversions & penalty) Taranaki 28 (Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Riccitelli, Tikoisolomone & Perofeta tries; Potroz 2 penalties & conversion)
North Harbour 39 (Grant, Mafileo, Stevenson, Morgan-Puterangi, Niuia & Inisi tries; Koller 3 conversions & penalty) Waikato 17 (Coombes-Fabling, Norris & Ralph tries; Cruden conversion)
