Saturday's top of the table clash between the South Pacific Raiders and the Hawks proved size does not matter, with the smaller Hawks team a convincing winner.
The league staged the third-round match between teams one and two on the ladder at Moller Park, and the clash was no disappointment.
The game showed that at the upper end of the ladder, at least, some quality play can come from the Dunedin competition.
The Raiders, one of the more successful teams in the past few years, had a distinct size advantage, and were probably favourite for the game.
That appeared to have been borne out when the Raiders scored first but, from that point, it was a Hawks onslaught.
The team used its fitness and speed to run the Raiders ragged and was committed in its goal-line defence. The Raiders, on the other hand, could not find their structure, even when possession came their way.
Hawks second-rower Jeremy McKee dominant in defence.
Hooker Karne Parata controlled play well, also defending strongly, something Hawks coach Ra Kahukiwa said had an important role in the win.
Fitness, eagerness and attitude were the key to the 40- 18 win, Kahukiwa said after the fulltime whistle.
In an earlier game at Logan Park, South City Dragonz continued their winning way, beating University 52-30.
While the students are struggling this season, they can take something from the game, in particular a new-found ability to score tries.
Down 26-8 at half-time, University managed to string together four tries early in the second half, coming back to within a try before the Dragonz scored from an intercept, then dotted down for a couple more near the end to seal their win.
In the ultimate derby match, Pirates TE went on a try-scoring spree, putting Pirates MT to the sword with a 62 -14 win.
