Bad blood threatened to boil over at times before Western Bay snuck home over Rotorua in a thrilling Attrill Cup decider at Fergusson Park on Sunday.
Rotorua batted first, with skipper Jason Trembath doing plenty of damage in typically brutal fashion on his way to a fine 111 to pace his side to a competitive total of 233/4.
Former Counties Manukau representative Vaughan Blanchard proved a thorn in the Western Bay's side by adding 80, especially since the Mount and Te Puke players were adamant they had dismissed him via a sizeable edge.
Josh Dwight backed up his five-wicket bag from the previous day to take 3/39 in an innings that set up a fitting conclusion to the quadrangular tournament.
The Rotorua bowlers held the early momentum in the response, including a miraculous catch from Alistair Blackett, to have Western Bay in trouble. At one stage the run rate ballooned out to nine runs an over before Ben Musgrave (62) and Blair Parlane (55) fought back.