Joint defending champions Harbour emerged victorious in a tight encounter with Taieri at Watson Park this afternoon.
The Hawks won 27-17 in a game with plenty of controversy. There were two penalty tries awarded and a lot of whistle.
The game hung in the balance until the final moments. But the Hawks drove across the line through reserve hooker Austin Atiga to seal the victory.
Southern scored three long-range tries to beat Zingari-Richmond 23-7 at Montecillo. The win lifts the Magpies to the top of the standings.
Dunedin rebounded with a solid 43-15 win against Alhambra-Union at the North Ground, and Kaikorai beat a bumbling University outfit 27-20 at Logan Park.