The Lochore Cup finalists of 2013 are sitting in the prime positions of the Meads Cup playoffs, as South Canterbury and Buller continued their impressive start to 2014 with big victories away from home on Saturday.
South Canterbury travelled across Arthur's Pass to hand out a heavy 49-15 defeat to West Coast in Greymouth, while Buller proved their victory over North Otago the previous week was no aberration, destroying East Coast 62-6 in Ruatoria.
Both teams' ascension to the top of the table was helped by the fact the two likely strong contenders, Mid Canterbury and Wairarapa Bush, met at Masterton's Memorial Park where they fought to a 23-23 stalemate.
At Rugby Park in Greymouth, Maile l'Ongi scored two tries for South Canterbury while Paula Fifta continued his point-scoring ways from the previous week's win over Wanganui by adding 24 points from a try, five conversions and three penalties.
Buller racked up seven tries for none in reply in Ruatoria as Iliesa Ravudra grabbed a hat-trick while his team ran away with the game in the second half, putting on 44 unanswered points in the biggest scoreline in the past two seasons.