In a National Provincial Championship (NPC) round of surprises, North Harbour added another on Sunday.
All Blacks Sevens star and Melbourne Storm recruit Moses Leo scored a hat-trick as Harbour handed Canterbury their equal-largest NPC defeat, 65-19, at North Harbour Stadium in Albany.
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The win kept Harbour in the hunt for the quarterfinals with one round remaining, moving level with eighth-placed Counties Manukau on 23 points, and put Canterbury (25 points) at risk of missing out.
It was all Harbour early, as Australian first-five Tane Edmed, prop Fatongia Paea and Leo all scored to make it 21-0 after 18 minutes.
Canterbury answered with a try for All Blacks squad call-up Chay Fihaki and a double from former All Black Dallas McLeod, bookending Leo's second try as the home team lead 29-19 at the break.
With their season on the line, Harbour played one of their best halves of the season, scoring five tries and 36 unanswered points to turn it into a rout.
Leo had his hat-trick in the 43rd minute, before Harbour added tries from flanker Jed Melvin, reserve halfback Tristyn Cook, fullback Shaun Stevenson and replacement hooker Bryn Gordon.
Harbour finish the regular season at the Southland Stags on Saturday (kick-off 4.35pm), while Canterbury host Waikato in Christchurch later in the day (kick-off 7.05pm).
Manawatu almost stunned Taranaki at Yarrows Stadium on Sunday, falling 33-31 to extend their winless streak in New Plymouth to 38 years.
The Turbos never led since late in the first half but twice pulled within two points when Taranaki appeared to have the win wrapped up.
Trailing in the shadows of halftime, Bulls captain Kaylum Boshier scored deep into injury-time to snatch the lead. Flanker Jayden Sa crossed for his second and fullback Obey Samate scored as Taranaki went up 28-12 after 50 minutes.
However, a pair of converted tries from Ataata Moeakiola and Elyjah Crosswell closed the gap to two, before Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens restored a seven-point lead. Sam Coles scored in the 71st minute but Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula missed a potential game-tying conversion.
Taranaki's final match could be a Ranfurly Shield challenge against Tasman on Sunday (kick-off 2.05pm), while Manawatu host Counties Manukau on Saturday (kick-off 2.05pm).
The Southland Stags gave Waikato a scare for a half at Rugby Park in Invercargill, before the Mooloos dominated the second in a 38-14 victory.
Down 14-0, Southland scored two tries - from fullback Rory van Vugt and hooker Jack Taylor - in the final 10 minutes to tie it up at the break.
Waikato got three tries from former All Blacks first-five Aaron Cruden, wing Quinn Tupaea and back-up playmaker D'Angelo Leiula as they scored 24 unanswered points in the second half.
The Mooloos, who needed just a bonus point to confirm their place in the quarterfinals, face Canterbury in Round 9, while the Stags welcome Harbour to the Deep South, both on Saturday.
North Harbour 65 (Tane Edmed, Fatongia Paea, Moses Leo 3, Jed Melvin, Tristyn Cook, Shaun Stevenson, Bryn Gordon tries; Tane Edmed 7 con, 2 pen) Canterbury 19 (Chay Fihaki, Dallas McLeod 2 tries; Shun Miyake 2 con). HT: 29-19
Taranaki 33 (Jayden Sa 2, Kaylum Boshier, Obey Samate, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens tries; Josh Jacomb 4 con) Manawatu 31 (Reece MacDonald, Ataata Moeakiola 2, Elyjah Crosswell, Sam Coles tries; Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula 3 con). HT: 14-12
Waikato 38 (Xavier Saifoloi, Aaron Cruden, Ollie Norris, Quinn Tupaea, D'Angelo Leiula tries; Aaron Cruden 3 con, D'Angelo Leiula 2 con, pen) Southland 14 (Rory van Vugt, Jack Taylor tries; Jason Robertson 2 con). HT: 14-14