Waikato have claimed bragging rights over Chiefs-franchise rivals Bay of Plenty and continued their late-season surge in the Mitre 10 Cup championship.
The Mooloos were clinical in the 54-21 bonus-point dispatch of their neighbours in Rotorua, extending their recent winning streak to four games, after losing the opening three games of their provincial campaign against premiership opponents.
The result has the Hamiltonians firmly atop a tight championship table.
Lock James Tucker opened the scoring for Waikato in the ninth minute, as he fought through a crowd of would-be tacklers to stretch across the try-line.
Hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho was the beneficiary of a classic lineout/maul close to the Bay of Plenty line, before Tucker broke the defence and found flanker Mitchell Jacobson steaming up in support, taking the score to 21-0. All three tries were converted by first-five Fletcher Smith.
The Steamers narrowed the margin momentarily before half-time, when Hugh Blake burrowed over under the posts.
But immediately after the restart, Jacobsen got a hand to Jason Robertson's clearing kick and centre Quinn Tupaea chased the loose ball down to restore Waikato's advantage.
When Baden Wardlaw was yellow-carded in the 49th minute, the Bay were exposed defensively and could not resist another lineout drive, with Taukei'aho snatching his second try of the night.
Tupaea secured his own double and fullback Matt Lansdown also crossed for Waikato, while Bay crossed for a couple of late tries to Bailey Simonsson and Kane Leaupepe to restore some respectability.
Smith would finish the night with seven successful conversions from eight attempts.
"We weren't perfect tonight, but there were some really good patches there," reflected Waikato captain Dwayne Sweeney. "It's starting to look like a Mooloo pack of old - that's where the game's won and lost.
"It's always been that way, the backs are getting good quality ball and it's easy to find space when you're getting service like that."
Waikato host winless Southland next Saturday in their second defence of the Ranfurly Shield, while Bay of Plenty host Manawatu on Wednesday.
Waikato 54 (Samisoni Taukei'aho 2, Quinn Tupaea 2, James Tucker, Mitchell Jacobson, Matt Lansdown & Sekope Lopeti tries; Fletcher Smith seven conversions) Bay of Plenty 21 (Kane Leaupepe, Hugh Blake & Bailey Simonsson tries; Kaleb Trask 2 & Jason Robertson conversions)
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