Green Island scored three tries in 20 minutes to beat Alhambra-Union 29-28.
The win snapped a 24-game losing streak and who would have thought Green Island would be just outside the top four after two rounds.
Taieri produced a masterful defensive display and took every chance which came its way to upset University A 27-10.
Kori Rupene scored two crucial tries to help clinch the win.
Southern trailed Zingari-Richmond 24-14 at halftime but Highlander Tei Walden scored three second-half tries as his side rallied to win 50-29.
Kaikorai held off Dunedin to win 34-32, while Harbour dispatched Pirates 45-24.
Taieri 27
University 10
Tenacity and some wonderful defence won the day for Taieri.
The Eels did not always find themselves going forward against a strong University A pack at Logan Park.
But that said, the visitors certainly held their line.
Taieri kept the defending champions scoreless in the second spell and tries to Kori Rupene either side of the break proved the difference.
The impressive 27-10 victory could have been larger had blustery conditions not made place kicking so tricky.
Arguably, the students had the better of the opening 40 minutes.
Fletcher Smith opened the scoring with an early penalty and his side had control of the tempo.
Taieri's first try had an element of luck.
One of the Eels got a boot to some loose ball and it popped up beautifully for winger Mitchell Scott.
University A replied through Josh Dickson.
Prop Callum Hardie made a nice offload to Smith who passed inside to Kaide Whiting, who was cut down early.
He fed to Dickson who scored under the posts.
Taieri responded by battering away at University's line and eventually Rupene got across on the stroke of halftime.
The score was locked 10-10 but Rupene scored again shortly after the break.
University A appeared to lose concentration after that and Taieri took advantage.
It was able to drive over from a lineout near the try line and even burgle a pushover try.
Taieri had some fresh legs on but University A had been dominant in the scrum up until that point, so that really was a mental lapse.
Green Island 29
Alhambra-Union 28
Green Island used some of Houdini's magic to score three converted tries in the last 20 minutes to beat Alhambra-Union 29-28 at Miller Park and break a 24-game losing streak.
The winning try came in injury time when the Green Island backs and forwards unleashed repeated phase attacks inside the Alhambra-Union 22m before replacement loose forward Simon Tupu used his strength to crash over the line.
First five-eighth Alex Barnsley landed his third conversion to win the game.
Alhambra-Union led 15-5 at the break and was in the box seat when wing John Tapueluluheu scored his side's third try to lead 25-8.
But the stout Green Island defence and power of its scrum allowed Green Island to come back into the game.
Prop Richard Te Nahu and blindside flanker Jackson Hemopo were powerhouses in the pack and strong running fullback Jack Wilson and midfield back Taisei Hayashi were the pick of the backs.
Green Island used the strong easterly wind to its advantage in the second spell with long punts deep into Alhambra-Union territory.
Alhambra-Union was prepared to attack from all parts of the paddock and the backs were dangerous with slick passing.
Fullback Jona Nareki and second five-eighth Tevita Inoke ran aggressively.
Luke Whitelock and Ty Pelasio dominated the lineout, as the Alhambra-Union pack took four takes off Green Island throws.
Kaikorai 34
Dunedin 32
Dunedin blundered.
Kaikorai pounced.
Yet it all started so well for the visitors at Bishopscourt.
Dunedin scored inside three minutes when Gareth Evans darted down the blindside and scored in the corner.
Kaikorai replied through a Tony Ensor penalty but soon found itself hard on defence again.
Then, winger Rob Jordan came up with an intercept and scampered 80m to score.
Dunedin made another error soon after.
There was some confusion and the defence let the ball bounce.
That was the invitation Ensor needed.
He emerged with the ball and scored.
But the teams went to the break level thanks to Henry Scott. He scored out wide following some nice play by Dunedin.
The teams traded penalties to get the second spell under way before burly Kaikorai prop Jonah Aiona crashed over following a lineout drive.
Centre Danny van der Voort was perhaps the best of the backs on display and he scored to put Kaikorai ahead 34-20.
Late tries to Tim Tolovae and Henry Scott created a second life.
And Dunedin had about four minutes at the end to come up with some points to steal the win.
But it was unable to control the ball and the match slipped away.
Promising Dunedin lock Harry Dodds had a fine game, while Scott showed some nice touches.
He bumped off two or three tackles to score his second try.
For Kaikorai, van der Voort was the standout.
Loosie Blair Tweed and lock Willie Miller worked hard.
Southern 50
Zingari-Richmond 29
Southern overcame a spirited Zingari-Richmond side at Montecillo, with first five-eighth Tei Walden bagging a second-half hat-trick and captain Adam Knight a brace.
The signs were evident early on for Southern as it leapt out to a 14-0 lead inside the first six minutes, with tries to prop Shaun Stodart and No 8 Mika Mafi. But the home side bounced back to score four unanswered tries and take a 24-14 lead into the break.
Steve Roberts got Zingari-Richmond's scoring under way in the ninth minute and a few moments later Highlander Greg Pleasants-Tait complemented some superb forward play to assist in drawing the scores level.
The Colours dominated play in the second quarter and had the measure of Southern in the forward exchanges.
Wing Chris McNoe scored the first of two tries, and Chris Bell showed a turn of speed to run 60m down the left-hand touch to score in the corner.
Southern regrouped to dominate most facets of play in the second half, Walden directing play well with some superb ball delivered by the pack, and wing Ryan Tongia proving elusive.
But no praise could be too high for the commitment shown by the Southern forward pack in turning the game back in its favour throughout the second spell.
Harbour 45
Pirates 24
Harbour took about 60 minutes to grind Pirates down at Watson Park.
It used its big forward pack to bash the ball up and eventually the gaps started opening up.
Pirates defence held for about three quarters of the game before fatigue set in.
The home side opened the scoring with a penalty, but the game took a while to settle into a pattern. Centre Aleki Morris made a half break and Sekonaia Pole got the ball on the 22m and sprinted around under the posts to score the game's opening try.
Winger Jerome Harimate scored three minutes later in the corner after some sustained pressure.
Will Scorgie pegged the score back with an intercept try for Pirates and his side went into the break trailing 19-10.
Harbour struck first in the second spell with Morris going over after another nice build-up. But you cannot keep Pirates loosie Josh Clark out of the action for long. After four or five phases, he burst through the line and scored close to the posts.
Pirates were spent, though, and Harbour dominated the next 15 minutes, scoring three tries to clear out and eventually win 45-24.
Charles Elton and Hale T-Pole had strong games for Harbour, while Harimate was hard to pin down.
Pirates first five-eighth Craig Sneddon had the last say. Scorgie swooped on some loose ball and flicked it up to Sneddon who raced away to dot down under the sticks.
