A hat-trick to hooker Kurt Eklund, and a double to lock Naitoa Ah Kuoi powered Bay of Plenty to a 48-34 victory over North Harbour, boosting the Steamers' quarter-final hopes.
In a high-scoring thriller that saw 10 tries shared between the two sides, Bay of Plenty emerged victorious at North Harbour Stadium, and moved third in the Odds conference.
Bay of Plenty sit two points behind second-placed Hawke's Bay, albeit having played one game less.
North Harbour meanwhile remain fourth in the NPC's Evens Conference with three wins and four defeats this year, with a five-point lead over Tasman in fifth.
Meanwhile, in Saturday's late game, Manawatū's wait for their first victory in 2022 will continue for another week at least, beaten 41-26 by Counties Manukau.
The Steamers ran in six tries, with doubles to Peniasi Malimali and Jared Page, to go level on points with Otago in the Odds Conference, four points shy of Wellington in fourth spot, and the race for a quarter-final.
Despite their defeat, Manawatū were still fruitful on attack, and scored five tries through Siua Maile, Logan Henry, Veikoso Poloniati, Ed Fidow and Potu Leavasa.
As the only winless side in the Evens Conference, and one of two teams yet to record a victory this year alongside Southland, Manawatū remain bottom, with no chance of securing a quarter-final spot.
Bay of Plenty 48 (Eklund 3, Ah Kuoi 2, Finau tries; Hawera 3, Trask 3 conversions; Trask 2 penalties) North Harbour 34 (Gatland, Tolai, Telea, Suafoa tries; Gatland 4 conversions; Gatland 2 penalties)
Counties Manukau 41 (Malimali 2, Page 2, Alatimu, Roigard tries; Hohepa 4 conversions; Hohepa penalty) Manawatū 33 (Maile, Henry, Poloniati, Fidow, Leavasa tries; Cameron 3, Clarke conversions)