Wellington sides have ensured a good representation in the quarter-finals of the fours at the men's nationals in the capital today.
But big names Rowan Brassey, Terry Scott and Gary Lawson still loom large and it may yet be a tall order for the title to stay in Wellington.
Wayne Mather, of
Tawa, and Waikanae's Brian Gibson booked their respective teams a place in the last eight by beating visiting sides in contrasting styles.
Silverstream's Mark Noble joined them by winning a local derby against Tawa's Ted Richardson, 26-16.
Mather was always ahead in accounting for Onehunga's Nick Grgicevich, 23-18.
But Gibson just edged out the 1998 champion four under Andre Smith after a ding-dong battle.
Gibson's early advantage evaporated when he dropped five, three and two from the 16th end, to go from 19-12 up to 19-22 down.
But Smith in turn conceded a costly six on the 22nd to be 23-27 behind, and could make up only a single on each of the remaining ends to fall short at 26-27.
Noble and Gibson meet in the quarter-finals, ensuring at least one semifinalist from the Wellington region.
But Mather's dubious reward is a match against the favoured Lawson four, comfortable 29-10 winners over Havelock's Ken Paget.
In the bottom half of the draw, Terry Scott, of Dunedin, squeezed past Petar Sain's Carlton side 21-19, and will now play Ray Hunt, of Beckenham, who beat Naenae's Terry Lynch 24-15.
The defending champion Avondale four under Brassey beat David File, of Gisborne, 26-12, in a match which did not live up to its billing.
Brassey now meets the Te Rangi, Invercargill, club four under Dave Burgess, after Burgess beat Wilton's Howard Ivory 21-19.
Quarter-final action starts at 8.30am today, with the semifinals in the afternoon.
The final will be played tomorrow at 9am.
