Ngongotaha beat a determined Forestlands side 24-18 at Puketawhero Park at the weekend.
Both sides showed guts and determination in a battle which saw the lead change three times throughout the match.
Ngongotaha were the first to score with second rower Morgan King charging over for a try which Luke Taylor converted.
But Forestlands levelled shortly after thanks to try to centre Baldy Neho converted by Axle Kingi.
The visitors were in again soon after when Shaun Soloman scooted over to take the lead 12-6. However, as has been the case most of the season for Forestlands took their foot of the accelerator to let Ngongotaha dummy half Raureti Grace bust through several feeble tackling attempts to score near the posts for his halfback Scotty Thompson to convert.
The sides went into the break at 12-12 but it was Ngongotaha's Rawiri Holmes who ran in two tries which sealed Forestlands' fate.
Although Forestlands' Rani Te Hiko scored a try to bring his side within four points of Ngongotaha, Taylor would kick a penalty to take the lead out to a six-point buffer.
Ngongotaha coach, Dominic James said he was proud of his side's effort in the match and said anything could happen during the semifinals.
The other three teams to go through are Pacific who will be feeling confident after thrashing Pikiao 50-16 and Taupo Phoenix who had the bye at the weekend.
In the reserves match Pacific lost to Pikiao 40-22, Turangi beat Taupo 42-26, Tauhara were hammered by Mangakino 86-4 and Putaruru beat Reporoa 46-22.
Scorers; Ngongotaha 24 (M King, R Grace, R Holmes 2 tries; L Taylor 1 con, S Thompson 2 cons, 1 pen) Forestlands 18 (B Neho, S Soloman, R Te Hiko tries; A Kingi 3 cons) Halftime: 12-12.
