Southern just scraped in, and now has the same points at the top of the table with Taieri and Harbour, both of which had comfortable wins.
University A came back well to beat Alhambra Union, while Zingari Richmond held off an improving Green Island team.
Southern 17
Kaikorai 13
Kaikorai came within a whisker of beating Southern at Bathgate Park.
Southern had won by more than 50 points when the sides met in the first round but it was a different story on Saturday, as the game could have gone either way.
The home team started well and scored two nice tries in the first half hour. Its big loose forwards were making easy gains in the middle of the field and the Kaikorai defence wilted under the attack.
Blindside flanker Adam Knight was prominent while halfback Josh Walden kept the attack going.
But the Kaikorai defence muscled up in the tackle and Southern became a little predictable in its attack.
Replacement back Mitchell Purvis scored on a nice angled run with 10 minutes left to close up the match. Kaikorai poured on to attack in the dying stages and threw everything at the line.
It was held up over the line by the Southern defenders and referee Blair York blew fulltime.
Matt Te Tana kicked well for Kaikorai and used the wind well in the second half, while up front for Kaikorai, loose forwards Nathan Hull and Jared Goodson got through plenty of work.
Knight played well for Southern, as did lock Tim Ferguson, while Bryce Hosie was lively out the back.
Harbour 34
Dunedin 10
The home side made no race of the contest against Dunedin at Watson Park.
Harbour was up 17-3 at the break and never gave Dunedin a sniff during the match.
Its big forwards won the battle up front while the Harbour backs ran hard and straight to score some nice tries.
It was the ideal way for hooker Peter Mirrielees to bring up his 150th game as captain for Harbour.
The Harbour loose forwards linked nicely and the backs made the most of the ball they received. Young fullback Logan Allen showed some nice touches and finished off a sweeping movement in the second half.
Hale T-Pole was effective in the lineout and halfback Tala Fagasoaia showed some nice touches.
Dunedin loose forwards Hame Tome and Matt Vaai tried hard but the side was in reverse gear most of the afternoon.
Dunedin is lacking some key players and will be looking over its shoulder at the chasing pack.
Promising back Sio Tomkinson made his long awaited debut at this level, playing 20 minutes for the home team in the second half.
University A 31
Alhambra Union 16
University A staged a second half revival to run away with the game at the North Ground.
Alhambra Union was up 11-7 at the break and looked to have a good chance, but the visiting side, with its forward pack in particular, took over the game in the second half.
The University forwards dominated the set pieces and were lively in the loose, winning the breakdown and getting their hands on the ball.
Dillon Hunt, just back from New Zealand Colts duty, had an impressive match on the flank, while veteran Jeremy Aldworth, playing hooker, was all over the park.
The University backs made the most of the opportunities on offer and Alhambra Union never got much ball in the second half.
It was a slow beginning from the students and Alhambra Union looked to be in with a genuine shout at halftime.
Midfield back Shae Tucker was lively for University while up front, along with Hunt and Aldworth, lock Hamish Walker got through some plenty of work.
No8 Lance Barbarich, lock Ryan Dawson and halfback Caleb Gray impressed for the home side.
Taieri 59
Pirates 13
Flanker Willis Scott used his strength to score two of Taieri's nine tries when Pirates was outclassed at Hancock Park.
He was a key player in Taieri's support and continuity play that was a feature of the game.
Taieri overcame the strong southerly wind with short passing. There was always a man in place to keep the attack alive.
Key players in the backline were midfielders Shannon Young and Ben Miller, who were able to break the line and set up tries.
First five eighth Josh Casey scored 15 points and became the first player to reach 150 points this winter. He ended the day on 157 points and needs only another 104 to beat the record of 260 points that Daniel Soper (Dunedin) scored in 1997.
The other key players for Taieri were No8 Charlie O'Connell and lock Kurt Webster.
Taieri scored five tries in the first half to lead 33-13 at the break and added four more tries in the second half.
Pirates was competitive in the tight with a strong scrum spearheaded by prop Hisa Sasagi. No8 Josh Clark made eight clean takes at the front of the lineout and Scott Emmerson was a solid halfback.
Zingari Richmond 28
Green Island 17
Zingari Richmond's bench made an impact and turned the game back in its favour to retain the Hellyer Memorial Trophy at Montecillo.
Zingari enjoyed a wealth of territory and possession in the opening stages and, celebrating winger Shaun Driver's 50th game, took full advantage of a strong southerly wind to leap to an 8 0 lead after just five minutes.
But despite losing captain Jackson Hemopo to the bin, Green Island took the game back, defending and counterattacking like demons.
Both sides were guilty of turning the ball over and conceding too many penalties, and the scorers were not troubled again until the closing stages of the first half, when Masiu Akauloa dived over handy to the posts for Zingari.
This flicked a switch for Green Island, as it replied with a well worked try to Fapene Popoali'i.
Soon after, Zingari Richmond lost Blair Tweed to the bin and, in his 100th premier game for Green Island, James Spooner scored a try to hand the Grizzlies a 17-15 lead.
The Zingari bench was quickly cleared and positional changes made, leading to two late tries as the Colours avoided becoming the first side to succumb to a re emerging Green Island team.
