Pick any superlative you like: Gunnedah's 35-19 win over Pirates at a bitterly cold Ken Chillingworth Oval on Saturday - where squalling rain gave way to a spectacular rainbow and a sun-bathed ground - was arresting.

Gunnedah had the reigning four-time premiers under pressure from the outset. And when No 9 Ben Maunder darted over from a ruck on Pirates' tryline to open the scoring, they established a lead they never surrendered.

In fact, they were never troubled.

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The Red Devils scored five tries to three, including a penalty try for a scrum infringement midway through the second half that extended the margin to 28-7.

Their second win over Pirates in as many matches this season moved them to the top of the table, leapfrogging Narrabri after they lost 15-10 to the Brumbies in Scone on Saturday.

It was Gunnedah's third straight win, as they build ominous momentum with three rounds remaining before the finals.

Maunder, a former Blue Boar in his first season at Gunnedah, said it was one of the side's best performances of the year.

"We've got a lot of tough games ahead of us, so it was a good place to start," he said, adding: "That scoreboard's pretty good, and I thought out forwards were all over them all day; a great platform for us backs."

The Red Devils led 14-0 when No 13 Junior Nasilivata scoped the ball off the turf and raced seven metres to score unhindered. Fullback James Perrett added the extras.

At the time, Pirates centre Damien Reti was in the sin bin for a high shot.

Three minute later, Gunnedah went further ahead when they carved up Pirates down the middle and Perrett offloaded for winger Darrell Morrison to streak away. Perrett converted: 21-0 at half-time.

Pirates had to score next, and they did that when stand-in No 2 Barton Leach crashed over from close range in the 50th minute and Andrew Moodie added the extras to make it 21-7.

But Gunnedah were then awarded a penalty try for a scrum infringement after having Pirates under sustained pressure, which was soon followed by Perrett's 70m intercept try. He converted from in front: 35-7.

Shut the gate.

The home side scored two late tries via winger Ollie Wright and Moodie.

Pirates, who have lost three of their past four matches, slumped to fourth on the ladder after Walcha beat Moree 30-14 on Saturday.

Maunder said: "We've been trying to train all week to come out firing, and I thought we did that today."

Gunnedah 35 (B Maunder, J Nasilivata, D Morrison, J Perret tries, pen try; Perrett 4 con) d Pirates 19 (B Leach, O Wright, A Moodie tries; Moodie 2 con).

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