The Tasman Mako stayed perfect, while Auckland remained winless after Saturday's National Provincial Championship (NPC) action.
The Mako monstered Counties Manukau in the second half in a 48-3 victory at Pukekohe's Navigation Homes Stadium, while Canterbury toppled Auckland 27-21 at Eden Park and Taranaki topped Southland 39-24 in Invercargill.
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Tasman joined Hawke's Bay and Bay of Plenty at 3-0-0 at the head of the standings, with their second bonus-point win.
Veteran hooker Quentin MacDonald scored two tries, while wings Timoci Tavatavanawai and Kyren Taumoefolau, centre Levi Aumua, lock Quinten Strange and fullback Macca Springer also dotted down as the visitors took over in the second half.
Up just 10-3 at the break, former Maori All Black MacDonald scored in the 43rd and 47th minutes, both times from 5m lineout drives, to open up a 21-point lead.
Aumua crossed in the 50th minute from long-range after Springer cut through the defensive line near midfield, then Strange, Springer and Taumoefolau piled on in the final 10 minutes as rain fell.
Counties Manukau had a try disallowed for a forward pass in the 68th minute, then Strange finished off a move in the left corner after William Havili broke through, Springer scored after Taumoefolau skinned his man near midfield, and Taumoefolau finished off a Jack Gray line-break.
Next week, Tasman host currently unbeaten Bay of Plenty at Blenheim's Lansdowne Park on Saturday (kick-off 7.05pm), while Counties Manukau will chase their first win at North Harbour on Saturday (kick-off 2.05pm).
First-five James White booted five penalties and a conversion for 17 points as Canterbury handed Auckland their third straight loss.
White kicked the Cantabs to a 6-0 lead after 18 minutes, before former Wallabies first-five Christian Leali'ifano went over in the 35th minute, with Xavi Taele adding the extras to go ahead.
It was short-lived, though as second-five Jone Rova answered with Canterbury's first try a minute later, sending the Red and Blacks into the sheds up 11-7. White's third penalty put the visitors up seven, only for wing Nigel Ah Wong and Taele's conversion tied it up in the 47th minute.
After a miss, White nailed his fourth penalty, before prop Daniel Lienert-Brown crashed over, with Canterbury leading 24-14 in the 59th minute.
Auckland halfback Kemara Hauiti-Parapara closed the gap to three minutes later, with White's fifth three-pointer ending the scoring in the 67th minute.
Canterbury continue their 'Storm Week' against Hawke's Bay in Christchurch on Wednesday night (kick-off 7.05pm), while Auckland will attempt to end their losing streak in Round 4 against Waikato in Hamilton on Saturday (kick-off 4.35pm).
The back-end of the first proved decisive for Taranaki as they took maximum points against the Stags.
Tied 10-10 after 20 minutes, the Bulls ran in three tries - to halfback Adam Lennox, lock Tom Franklin and wing Kini Naholo - and 19 unanswered points in the run-in to halftime, something the home side never recovered from.
Southland scored first in the second half through reserve outside back Faletoi Peni but Taranaki had an immediate answer to reserve Josh Setu. The visitors lost Jackson Morgan in the 70th minute for repeated infringements, with flanker Dylan Nel going over to earn the Stags a bonus point.
Earlier, Taranaki took the lead in the second minute through a Josh Jacomb penalty but Southland captain Sean Withy hit back a minute later. Taranaki hooker Ricky Riccitelli and Stags fullback Jake Strachan traded tries as the teams exchanged the lead.
In Round 4, the Bulls head back to New Plymouth to face Otago on Saturday (kick-off 2.35pm), while the Stags make the longest road trip in the NPC, from Invercargill to Whangarei, to battle Northland on Friday (kick-off 7.05pm).
Tasman 48 (Timoci Tavatavanawai, Quentin MacDonald 2, Levi Aumua, Quinten Strange, Macca Springer, Kyren Taumoefolau tries; William Havili 4 con, pen, Campbell Parata con). Counties Manukau 3 (AJ Alatimu pen). HT: 10-3
Canterbury 27 (Jone Rova, Daniel Lienert-Brown tries; James White con, 5 pen) Auckland 21 (Christian Leali'ifano, Nigel Ah Wong, Kemara Hauiti-Parapara tries; Xavi Taele 3 con). HT: 11-7
Taranaki 39 (Ricky Riccitelli, Adam Lennox, Tom Franklin, Kini Naholo, Josh Setu tries; Josh Jacomb 4 con, 2 pen) Southland 24 (Sean Withy, Jack Strachan, Faletoi Peni, Dylan Nel tries; Byron Smith 2 con). HT: 29-10
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