Prior to this, powerful NOBM No 8 Joseph Penitito had too much freedom and scored two spectacular tries.
Like Mufana, captain Andrew Gardner, who had stints at lock and No 8, was inspirational in the winning pack.
Along with Penitito, lock Tom Bywater and loosies Kaleb Whakataka and Pouvi Fatialofa were other valuable contributors to the visiting pack. Substitute halfback Boris Bouhraoua impressed with his energy levels.
-MAC 24 Pirate 3
MAC gave substitute first five-eighth Setu Kereti a winning 50th and ended Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports' unbeaten run with their Tamatea Park win.
It was a rare away win for MAC against Pirate and what made it more memorable for the visitors was the fact it was achieved despite centre Vai Kereti and former Magpies winger Penikolo Latu being sinbinned for tackle infringements. Prop Mason Kean, blindside flanker Paula Latu and captain and lock Everard Reid, a former Pirate player, were all prominent in the visiting pack. Halfback William Schuster and midfielders Vai Kereti and Jackson Waerea operated well in the MAC backline.
"We got outmuscled," Pirate manager Charles Reid said before identifying openside flanker Hamish Willis, and midfielders Hayden Hann and Jackson Neilson as the hosts' best.
Pirate's lengthy injury list among the frontrowers meant 46-year-old prop Johnny Morrison had to play 160 minutes on the day, a full game for the prems after one for the club's Town-Country grade game.
-Havelock 30 Central 23
Maddison Trophy holders Progressive Meats Havelock North got back on track after two losses, with their shaky win in Waipukurau.
"We still gave too much ball away with soft turnovers. We're lucky Shannan saved us with two tries," Havelock assistant coach Murdoch Paewai said referring to Magpies' winger Shannan Chase.
Second five-eighth Kalin Paewai and experienced prop Emmanuel Maui were others to shine for the villagers.
Northfuels Central have every right to be proud of their contribution to the entertaining spectacle. Locks Lance Baker and Ben Bennett joined No 8 Tomo Fogarty as the pick of the Central forwards. Winger Jackson Ellmers did well to score two tries.
-Tech 59 Tamatea 0
Former New Zealand motocross team representative Kieran Scheele, playing at fullback, scored one of Tech Group of Companies Napier Technical's nine tries in this Whitmore Park victory.
New Magpies prop Tolu Fahamokioa celebrated his debut for the Texans with a try and impressed with his scrummaging and mobility. First five-eighth Dylan Ramsay, who scored two tries and kicked three conversions, was an admirable substitute for the unavailable regular pivot Braxton Robinson.
Openside flanker Izzy Martin, in his first appearance for two years, also made manager Cyril Whitburn's MVP list. Tamatea coach Tane Cooper was impressed with his troops' first half as they trailed 14-0 at the interval. He said this could easily have been 14-10.
Hooker Ray Kenny was lively in the Tamatea pack. Halfback Wayne Nikora and first five-eighth Baden Barber were the pick of the visiting backs.
-Hastings 43 Clive 28
Ansin & Monteith Hastings Rugby and Sports stormed back during the final quarter to win this Farndon Park encounter.
With 20 minutes remaining the visitors trailed 28-12.
In his return from injury, lock Ben Parsons produced a player-of-the-match performance for Hastings.
Captain and flanker Ben Hamelink, prop Jason Long and substitute hooker Tivaini Fomai were also busy in the winning pack. Winger Mason Emerson and fullback Star Timu, who both scored two tries, were always a threat in the Hastings backline.
K9 Petfoods Clive bounced back well from the previous week's loss to Central.
Lock Sven Hogenesch toiled well in his 100th outing and was also sinbinned.
Openside flanker James Tango and Jonah Lowe, who had stints at fullback and centre, were once again key architects for Clive.
