That's that then: home advantage applied in the Mangonui semifinals on Saturday with Kaitaia recovering a narrow halftime deficit to finish Ngaru Roa's remarkable debut in the competition this season; defeated but definitely not dishonoured.
Over in Taipa, Eastern resisted the expected fierce offensive from champions Te Rarawa to progress to the season finale on Arnold Rae Park next Saturday with the Bell Shield, the Mangonui senior club rugby championship, up for grabs.
Kaitaia 21 Ngaru Roa 10 (ht 8-10): The major semifinal pitched new kids on the block against the 2010 champions who have dominated this year's competition with an iron fist. The match took place at Arnold Rae Park in moderate conditions with a northerly breeze favouring Ngaru Roa in the first half. First blood however to Kaitaia, with a Dennis Cook Savage try and a Jordan Karena penalty.
Ngaru Roa came storming back right on halftime after turning the ball over, launching a counter-attack allowing Ambrose Adams to cross the line (a bit of bad luck for Kaitaia with the ref and touchies failing to note Herbert's foot crossing the sideline before he threw the ball infield). Adams converted to add to an earlier penalty.
Kaitaia came out after the break fired up and their big forward pack went to work. Karena kicked the home team back in front 11-10 then converted Hazely Windleborn's try, and added a dropkick to settle the dispute once and for all. Kaitaia coach Joe Pomare said his side's ability to remain composed under pressure, superior fitness and having the depth and impact players on the bench all contributed to securing a finals berth.
"First time this year I've been a bit nervous. All the other teams you can prepare for ... I know we had them a week ago, I reckon they learned more off us than we did off them. Our boys play better in the last 15 minutes than anyone."
Pomare has won the Bell a number of times in a celebrated playing career but it was the first time he's been in the Mangonui final as a coach.
"When I took the job, [there were] a couple of things I wanted to change right away, committee got behind me. Everyone's on your side. A lot of good planning, a lot of good support."
As for facing Eastern in the final next week, Pomare responded without hesitation: "[We are] looking forward to it."
Kaitaia standouts on Saturday included Karena, No.7 Evan Ashley and centre Shane Vinac.
Ngaru Roa coach Tony Cook said the mood within the team wasn't despondent despite the defeat and said it was mind boggling to consider how close the Stallions had come to making a Mangonui final in their first season.
"Huge game, we would have liked to have a win but don't take anything away from Kaitaia. Their forwards know how good their backs are, their backs know how good their forwards are. We had our chances, in saying that, Kaitaia and Eastern in the final, they have been one and two all season. We are happy where we ended up.
"It's been an awesome journey. It's been mean. When I think of the total situation, I didn't mind what happened.
"For a lot of teams this is the end of the season, we are just starting. All of the stuff we have done. We have ticked all the boxes and then some."
Far North rugby supporters can expect a season in review feature on Ngaru Roa in the near future.
Meanwhile, Cook noted the side were preparing to play in a Hokianga round and there was also the North Hokianga vs South Hokianga rep clash coming up. Details re both were still being organised.
Back at Arnold Rae on Saturday, Cook said two players to stand out in a complete team effort were Sean Herbert ("he's just been our outstanding player all year") in the backs, and Mickey Murray in the forwards. The side also acknowledged supporters, the wives and partners, this year. Ngaru Roa have four players trialling in the Northland under-20s: Stan Dunn, Johnny Mafaleo, Connor Whitley Sua and Hokianga Morunga.
And as usual, Cook fielded questions from the media about the length of the season and whether it was too short. He admitted he was happy there had only been two rounds instead of three, thus allowing players to watch their kids in JMB rugby, or others to return their focus to work priorities.
Eastern 11 Te Rarawa 9 (ht 3-9): Eastern progress to meet Kaitaia after beating arch west coast rivals at Taipa on Saturday.
Mike Jurlina said it was a huge day all round, on and off the field, with a mighty game, massive crowd and an aftermatch packed to the rafters.
"The boys trained up a storm on Thursday and the motivation to beat Rarawa is never in short supply especially come the finals. The wind played a big part and down 9-6 mid second half we kept the pressure up knowing we had to crack them in the forwards if we were going to win. The try finally came and we even looked like getting another but they aren't the defending champs for nothing and threw everything they had back at us.
"But defence wins games and that's what got us home in the end. It was a brutal encounter and our whole squad made the victory possible, so considering our slow start this season we're rapt to be playing in the final at Arnold Rae park next Saturday."
Eastern try by John Butler with Josh Robson kicking two penalties.
To be fair, apart from having points deducted earlier in the year, most would say it wasn't the same Te Rarawa team which have dominated the Mangonui senior club competition for the past five seasons, winning four championships during that reign of terror. Te Rarawa captain Thomas Rogers wasn't too despondent, noting the visitors played well, took a "ton of supporters" with them. Everyone was still in good spirits after the game, and stayed to enjoy a few cold ones in the Eastern clubrooms afterwards. All Te Rarawa's points by Lance Matiu, while the POTD award went to the whole team.
Motukohu default to Aupouri: It may come as a surprise considering their results this year but Motukohu have been struggling all season; the killer blow seemingly came from the assumption the final round victory had gained them a top four berth.
An Aupouri player on Saturday confirmed his side will field a full squad to challenge Ngati Kuri - who went through from defaulted to Awanui Waipapakauri - in the bottom four finals this Saturday, to be played on Arnold Rae Park as a curtainraiser to the Battle for the Bell.