At Anderson Park, in Cromwell, the home side got its first win of the season in a 20-17 boilover against defending champion Maniototo.
A plan to keep the ball in hand and run the ageing Maniototo forward pack around worked, as a 10-8 halftime lead to the visitors was quickly erased.
Earlier, big Cromwell prop Paul Tate got his side on the board with a try and Callum Dimond followed it up with the first of his five penalty goals.
Tries to Charles Crutchly and Tony Kearney gave the visitors the two-point lead at the break
After halftime, Dimond kept his head with another penalty, before Maniototo edged ahead with its third try, this time to Scott Sharpin.
But repeated infringements, Dimond's accurate boot and a huge man-of-the-match performance from Tate ensured a Cromwell celebration at the fulltime whistle.
