A Daniel Sinkinson hat-trick, and a 24-point haul from Taha Kemara has seen defending champions Waikato thrash Southland to stay unbeaten in the national provincial championship.
With the game tied at 14-all at halftime, the hosts surged to a 54-24 victory in front of the Mooloo faithful at Hamilton's FMG Stadium.
Prop Rob Cobb crossed for the game's first try, after a break from halfback Cortez Ratima up the middle gave Waikato good field position.
Five minutes later, the hosts were in again, with winger Sinkinson grabbing his first of his three tries, after winning the race to the try-line for his own kick ahead.
But Southland dominated the second quarter, with two tries to lock up the scores at the break.
Halfback Jay Renton crossed, after a sensational behind-the-back offload by lock Caleb Aperahama, as Waikato saw Mitch Jacobson yellow-carded for collapsing Southland's maul.
The visitors made the extra-man advantage count, with replacement prop Morgan Mitchell benefiting from repeated dominant mauls.
Southland took the lead for the first time minutes into the second half, with Robbie Robinson slotting the penalty kick, but their lead was short-lived, as Waikato feasted on poor defence from Southland, scoring six tries in the last 32 minutes.
Tana Tuhakaraina crossed for the go-ahead score, before first-five Kemara recorded his first of two tries, with Tepaea Cook-Savage chief orchestrator with a sublime break.
Replacement Damian McKenzie tip-toed brilliantly along the sideline to send Sinkinson over for his second, after a clever grubber kick by Kemara.
Southland lost centre Viliami Fine to the sin bin for a head-high tackle, which saw Waikato continue to pile on the misery on a short-handed defence.
McKenzie grabbed a try, before turning creator and linking with Sinkinson yet again to grab his hat-trick.
Southland replacement Jack McLeod gained some reprieve for the visitors, after brushing off a couple of tackles to score their first and only try of the second half.
But Waikato had the last say, as Kemara crossed for his second try to cap off a brilliant individual and team performance.
Waikato 54 (Sinkinson 3, Kermara 2, Cobb, Tuhakaraina, McKenzie tries; Kemara 7 conversions) Southland 24 (Renton, Mitchell, McLeod tries: Robinson 2 conversions & penalty, McLeod conversion)