Tasman have posted their fourth straight victory of the National Provincial Championship (NPC) season, while Auckland have suffered their fourth loss.
The Mako collected a bonus point as they defeated Bay of Plenty 34-15 at Blenheim's Lansdowne Park on Saturday night, while there were also wins for Counties Manukau, Taranaki and Waikato earlier in the day.
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Wing Jack Gray scored two second-half tries as Tasman surged clear in the pouring rain, joining Ranfurly Shield Hawke's Bay with four victories and a perfect record at the top of the NPC standings.
Leading 17-8 at halftime, Tasman added to their tally with a William Butler penalty, then Gray scored his first, unmarked in the right corner.
He was denied a try when he failed to ground a cross-field kick in the in-goal in the 62nd minute but got his double minutes later when he cut through the defensive line with ease to slide over near the posts for a 34-8 lead.
The Steamers got a consolation try from fullback Cole Forbes in the 70th minute but it was too little too late as they fell to their second straight loss.
Earlier, the Mako shot to a 14-0 lead after 15 minutes with tries from wing Timoci Tavatavanawai and hooker Max Hicks. Kaleb Trask and William Havili, who was later sin-binned, traded penalties, before former All Black Emoni Narawa scored for BOP.
Next week, Tasman will challenge for the Ranfurly Shield against Hawke's Bay on Saturday (kick-off 7.05pm), while Bay of Plenty will attempt to end their losing streak at home against Manawatu on Friday (kick-off 7.05pm).
Wing Daniel Sinkinson scored a hat-trick as Waikato kept the Gulls winless with a 39-21 victory at Hamilton's FMG Stadium Waikato.
Sinkinson scored tries in the third and 20th minutes as Waikato took a 17-0 lead after 20 minutes. Flanker Anton Segner got one back for Auckland, before former All Blacks first-five Aaron Cruden, who had 17 points in the match, and wing Aki Tuivailala scored to put the Mooloos up 32-7 at the break.
Auckland pulled within 11 points after 60 minutes following tries from wing Nigel Ah Wong and hooker Millennium Sanerivi, before Sinkinson went over for his third with a 50m intercept try in the 77th minute.
Waikato continue their 'Storm Week' schedule on Wednesday night in Hamilton against Northland (kick-off 7.05pm), while Auckland will search for their first victory in the Battle of the Bridge clash with North Harbour on Saturday (kick-off 2.05pm).
Ill-discipline cost Otago as Taranaki scored two late tries to clinch a 22-18 victory at New Plymouth's Yarrows Stadium.
The Southerners led 18-12 in the 50th minute after a Saula Ma'u try but flanker Will Tucker was yellow-carded in the 57th minute, leading to wing Jacob Ratumaitavuki's try, before hooker Ricky Riccitelli's match-winner in the 68th minute.
In the first half, wing Jona Nareki scored the only try for Otago, while Josh Jacomb and Cameron Millar booted two penalties each, with Otago leading 11-6 at the break.
In Round 5, Taranaki remain at home to face Waikato on Sunday (kick-off 2.05pm), while Otago head home to Dunedin to face South Island rivals Canterbury on Saturday (kick-off 4.35pm).
A 78th-minute try from outside back Simon-Peter Toleafoa sealed a 36-33 victory for Counties Manukau over North Harbour at North Harbour Stadium.
The Steelers led 31-14 after 45 minutes after a Jonathan Taumateine try but allowed three tries and 19 unanswered points from wings Sofai Maka and Kade Banks and lock Cameron Christie for a 33-31 lead.
In the first 40, wing Etene Nanai-Seturo scored a double to stake Counties Manukau to a 14-0 lead after 15 minutes. Harbour answered with converted tries to Bryn Hall and Cameron Suafoa but AJ Alatimu and Adam Brash combined to put the visitors up 24-14 at halftime.
Next week, Counties Manukau host Northland in Pukekohe on Sunday (kick-off 4.35pm), while North Harbour face Auckland at Eden Park on Saturday (kick-off 2.05pm).
Tasman 34 (Timoci Tavatavanawai, Max Hicks, Jack Gray 2 tries; William Havili 4 con, pen, William Butler pen) Bay of Plenty 15 (Emoni Narawa, Cole Forbes tries; Kaleb Trask pen, Lachlan Cashmore con). HT: 17-8
Waikato 39 (Daniel Sinkinson 3, Aaron Cruden, Aki Tuivailala tries; Aaron Cruden 3 con, 2 pen, Tepaea Cook-Savage con) Auckland 21 (Anton Segner, Nigel Ah Wong, Millennium Sanerivi tries; Zarn Sullivan 3 con). HT: 32-7
Taranaki 22 (Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Ricky Riccitelli tries; Josh Jacomb 4 pen) Otago 18 (Jona Nareki, Saula Ma'u tries; Cameron Millar con, 2 pen). HT: 6-11
Counties Manukau 36 (Etene Nanai-Seturo 2, Adam Brash, Jonathan Taumateine, Simon-Peter Toleafoa tries; AJ Alatimu 3 con, pen, Riley Hohepa con) North Harbour 33 (Bryn Hall, Cameron Suafoa, Sofai Maka, Kade Banks, Cameron Christie tries; Tane Edmed 4 con). HT: 24-14
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