Openside flanker and 2008 Olympic Games swimmer Willy Benson impressed for the visitors in his first starting XV appearance of the season.
Tighthead prop Jarvy Aoake and consistent No8 Matt Gardiner were others to shine for NOBM who blew their five-point lead on the points table and are now first equal with Benson's former club MAC.
Clive 33 Pirate 22
Prop Nathan Bruce was yellow carded with five minutes remaining in his 200th appearance for K9 Petfoods Clive as they won this Farndon Park encounter.
"Carl [referee Jowsey] apologised as he showed Nathan the card but it was definitely a punishable offence," Clive head coach Blair Cross said referring to Bruce's professional foul in the red zone. At the same time Cross had every right to be proud of the manner his below-strength team closed the gap on the two teams ahead of his on the table. Halfback Daniel Montaperto produced a player-of-the-match performance for the riversiders. Fullback Jacob Lowe and Duff Penitito, who had stints at centre and left winger, also made Cross' MVP list. Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports manager Charles Reid his team's forward pack which was led admirably by the father-and-son propping duo of Johnny and Sean Morrison and No8 Aaron McPhee and flanker Pouvi Fatialofa functioned well but his injury-hit backline performed well below par.
MAC 79 Tamatea 10
Tamatea head coach Adam McDonald had a simple message for his players after this drubbing at Flaxmere's Ron Giorgi Park.
"Turn up to training or we will continue to get thrashed like this," he told the post-game huddle.
Captain Henare Harris told his players they are being upstaged by the club's reserve grade team when it comes to turnouts at trainings. "Do we want another winless season like last year's?" Harris asked.
McDonald later revealed he only had 10 players at Thursday night's training so he didn't name a team for Saturday's match until Saturday. Hooker Johnny Mullany shone with his never-say-die approach for the visitors.
Fullback Tom Iosefo and winger Filimoni Asolua both scored hat-tricks for MAC.
Centre Lewis Marshall displayed the benefits of his first class experience while blindside flanker Paula Latu, prop Vasa Taivale and lock Manase Uaesele, until red carded for retaliation, were inspirational in the pack.
Taradale 23 Central 14
Magpies Chris Eaton and Billy Ropiha had their first outings of the season for defending champions Carters Frame and Truss Taradale in this home win.
Eaton had stints at halfback and first five-eighth while Ropiha, who also returned from injury, as well as All Black Sevens squad training commitments, played at second five-eighth.
Halfback Karl Hewitt and first five-eighth Uta Tupuola, who nailed all five of his attempts at goal, were also valuable contributors to the winning backline.
Promising No8 Jacob Baker provided plenty of grunt to the winning pack. Northfuels Central conceded two tries in the first 10 minutes but their defence was rock solid after this. Loosies Tomo Fogarty and George McPherson were tireless defenders. Captain and centre Kody Lancaster and winger Anthony Maaka were dangerous attackers for the visitors.
Tech 23 Hastings 20
Ansin & Monteith Hastings Rugby and Sports head coach Aaron Bartlett claimed to be puzzled by several of the referee's decisions including the need for 12 minutes of extra time during this Elwood Park loss. "Tech won with a try during the last 10 seconds. We put in a good effort including a better second half but Tech fed off a couple of our mistakes," Bartlett added.
Loosies Levi Guildford and Asa Ene led the Tech Group of Companies Napier Technical pack by example. Second five-eighth Ted Walters and new first five-eighth Kelvin Smith operated well in the winning backline. Lock Ben Parsons and hooker Ben Chadwick joined first five-eighth Jayden Rihia as the best of the hosts.
