Big wins as two foes clear out

It hasn't taken long for the contenders to distance themselves from the pretenders in the NPC second division.

Four rounds into the season and reigning champions Hawkes Bay and perennial challengers Nelson Bays have already cleared out from the pack.

They both recorded big wins on Saturday to stamp their authority on the division, with Hawkes Bay thumping Marlborough 41-9 and Nelson Bays scoring eight tries to see off Mid-Canterbury 55-15.

The bonus-point victories lifted both teams to 18 points, seven clear of Manawatu and eight ahead of divisional newcomers North Otago and a doughty Thames Valley outfit.

North Otago underlined their credentials by running Manawatu close in Palmerston North before going down 25-20.

Thames Valley knuckled down to earn a 12-6 win over East Coast in difficult conditions in Ruatoria.

Hawkes Bay produced their most convincing win of the season to send Marlborough away from Napier third to bottom in the table after just one win from three matches.

Hawkes Bay's dominance was such that they secured their bonus point for four tries with 20 minutes remaining, thanks largely to their bigger forwards, who outmuscled their opponents and scored four of their five tries.

Fullback Tim Manawatu backed that up by landing seven of his nine attempts at goal in slippery conditions for a 16-point haul.

Marlborough's backs stuck to their task throughout, defending well against the odds and showing enterprise on the few occasions they received the ball.

The scoreline arguably flattered Nelson Bays in Ashburton after they scored 21 of their points in the final 10 minutes as Mid-Canterbury's resistance faded.

There had been frenetic action early on as Nelson Bays led 17-12 after just 13 minutes, and they pocketed their bonus-point fourth try in the 20th minute before turning around 31-15 ahead.

The second half was closely fought until the closing 10 minutes when Nelson Bays were rewarded for their persistence with more tries to Aaron Kimura, Cullum Taylor and Mark Milne.

Manawatu breathed life back into their campaign by accounting for North Otago, and scored four tries to get a much-needed maximum five competition points.

North Otago, who have adapted well after earning promotion last season, bombed an opportunity to achieve a third win when they knocked the ball on close to the tryline in the dying moments.

Manawatu led 13-10 at the interval before two tries in 15 minutes after the break stretched their advantage to 25-10.

North Otago showed their tenacity to score two second-half tries of their own before their comeback fell short of the desired outcome.

Thames Valley fullback Michael Griffin accounted for all his side's points via four penalties in Ruatoria.

- NZPA

NPC points table