An incredible team performance helped Paroa to an impressive 60-12 victory at Lawson Park on Saturday.

Playing in front of their staunch fans, the home side scored 10 tries to come out victors by 48 points against Whakatāne Marist.

As expected, captain Kurt Baker led the way again with an impressive hat-trick.

Despite playing flanker, the former outside back still has plenty of pace and one of his tries included racing through a gap and around a defender to score. Another who scored one of their 10 tries was impressive first five Mason Raynes, who continues to shine and marshal the troops well.

The first half was outstanding, with Paroa scoring six tries, followed by another four in the second half.

It is a defeat that will hurt Marist, as they looked to be finding form at the right time.

They toiled hard and were rewarded with tries to Ro Cava Devo and Joeil Waqabaca.

Baker was exceptional for Paroa alongside the hard-working Ben Moir, while Jack Clark cleared the ball quickly and sniped well when needed.

Cava Devo and Sitiveni Uitalia were the best for the visitors, who just couldn’t find their rhythm.

At Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Whangaparaoa, TVC kept their hunt for a top-four spot open with a hard-fought 36-19 win over Poroporo.

For the visitors, it was a good performance, with many people playing out of position.

TVC managed six tries, all to different players – Manaia Nyman, Verdon Bartlett, Kahutia Te Rangi Kenworthy, Tareha Walker, Hirini Delamere and Mikaere Apaapa.

TVC are starting to build connections nicely and the likes of Nyman, Treymaine Butler, Tutere Waenga, Micky Huriwaka, Bless Perese-Elliot, Vernon Bartlett, Moaning Te Moana and others all have Heartland Championship experience with East Coast, so they will be hard to beat in the coming weeks.

Table-toppers Te Teko were given the chance to refresh a few battered and bruised bodies after Tāneatua were forced to default because of a lack of front row options.

It gave them five competition points and kept their perfect season going.

In the senior reserve games, Edgecumbe maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a 30-17 triumph over Paroa B at Lawson Park.

It was a physical game played in good spirits.

Edgecumbe had plenty of injuries heading into the clash, so had to rely on some different personnel but managed to put it together on the paddock.

Coach Craig Sinkinson said it was a good tussle between the teams.

“It was close until the last quarter, a few impact players ignited our forward play and we managed to get some field position and hang onto the ball to create some pressure which eventually led to some points.”

“It was a very pleasing performance across the squad with plenty of good hard work put in physically and mentally.

“Still plenty for us to work on, but there’s a good feeling within the team about how things are tracking.”

Matatā managed to sneak home 20-19 in a thriller against Te Teko B in front of good home crowd at Richmond Park, while it was a tough day for Poroporo B, who fell to a 62-0 defeat to Waimana at the Waimana Domain.

This weekend sees Te Teko B host Paroa B in what will be a thrilling match, while Edgecumbe travel 15 minutes down the road to face Poroporo B at Poroporo Park.

Matatā and Waimana have the bye.

The EBOP Premier grade sees Rūātoki fresh off the bye face TVC in what will be a cracking contest and likely to decide who finishes fourth.

The unbeaten Te Teko go up against second placed Paroa in what is set to be the clash of the season so far at Dunderdale Park, with Paora keen to get one back on the yellow-and-blacks.

In the final game, Poroporo play host to Whakatāne Marist and will be aiming to pick up their second win of the season.