They say a draw in rugby is like kissing your sister but Kamo were over the moon when a late Tyler Lansdown try saw them rescue a 27-all draw against playoff rivals Marist at Kensington Park.
The draw was enough to earn them a title lifeline, sending them through to face round robin champions Wellsford next week as the fourth semifinalist - one point ahead of a disappointed Marist, who will have to wait another year for a title shot.
Marist had a couple of chances to take the game in the dying moments but two penalty attempts by Mariu Grace, who had kicked well earlier, were astray.
Kamo scored most of their points through their forwards with their big, mobile pack shading their Marist opposites for most of the game. Marist on the other hand scored most of their points either out wide or up through the centres where they enjoyed an advantage.
There was nothing between them and they were locked together at 14-all at the break.
Steve Baker and Reuben Wright were standouts for Kamo while converted loosie Isaac O'Grady was excellent both with ball in hand and in defence. Lansdown drew praise from coach John Miller for his performance.
"He really did the job out there for us today, he directed the backline well under pressure ... and when their scrum disintegrated with about five to go, he was on hand to grab an intercept and dot down," he said.
Kamo will have a nervous wait until they find out how their injured players fare during the week. Dan Mason, Luke Boylen and Kurt Benny all limped from the field during the match and they are already nursing injuries and can ill afford more.
The draw opened up the unlikely possibility that Hora Hora could pip both Kamo and Marist and qualify in fourth spot but they couldn't beat Wellsford at Centennial Park, with the home side winning 19-15.
Mid Northern made sure of a home semifinal by scoring a bonus point win over Old Boys. The home side shot out to an early lead at 12-0 but Mid Northern's vastly improved second-half performance saw them ease away to a 33-20 win.
They will play Mid Western at Hukerenui next week thanks to a superior point's differential, despite the Maungakaramea based side thumping Otamatea 45-14.
Hikurangi and the Western Sharks played out an entertaining 38-all draw, which would have pleased neither coach but in keeping with the theme of draws - a kiss from your sister is better than a punch in the nose from your brother, particularly at the end of a long, tough and largely unsuccessful season.
Mid Northern will host Wellsford in the premier reserve grade semifinal after they emphatically beat Old Boys 55-14. The other semifinal will be hosted by the Western Sharks in Dargaville, with Kamo their guests next weekend.