Three teams lost but still qualified for the Hawke's Bay premier men's club cricket limited-overs competition after the final round-robin games at the weekend.
Top qualifiers Innovative Napier Technical Old Boys CC, who play Heretaunga Building Society Cornwall CC at Nelson Park on Saturday, crashed to their third loss in round 10 of the MJF Mike Shrimpton Memorial Cup competition.
Luke Wright top scored with 70 for victorious hosts You Travel Taradale CC side.
It was a bitter-sweet end to the campaign for the Luke Kenworthy-captained Maroons who missed out on fourth place, by two points, to Cornwall.
NTOB, the New Zealand Club champions who defend their crown in Auckland early next month, didn't help their cause in gifting 25 extras, including 16 wides, although they will be a different side on Saturday with their players returning from Pay Excellence Hawke's Bay senior men's representative duties after they lost the Hawke Cup, in their first defence, to Hamilton in Napier on Sunday.
Bottom-placed The Station Napier Old Boys' Marist CC beat Ruahine Motors Central Hawke's Bay CC by six wickets at Nelson Park on Saturday.
It was NOBM's second win in the format and they were out of the running in the playoffs.
Former Black Cap Mathew Sinclair featured with the bat (50 not out) and the ball (3-25) for the victors who also had beaten NTOB in the Property Brokers-sponsored competition.
Opening seamer Sunil Kumar claimed a five-wicket bag 5-34.
Reynard Health Supplies Havelock North CC, who travel to Forest Gate Domain, Ongaonga, to face CHB in the semifinal, beat Cornwall by 61 runs in the Hastings derby.
Both sides also exchanged gifts — the villagers handed over 36 extras, including 23 wides and five no balls, while the hosts obliged with 14 wides and two no balls.
RESULTS
At Cornwall Park, Hastings: Reynard Health Supplies Havelock North CC 36/9 in 50 overs (Jono Whitley 58, Ben Fair 38, Harry Young 35; Willem Ludick 2-17) bt Heretaunga Building Society Cornwall CC 175 all out in 38.2 overs (Jono Hall 50; Pete Marffy 3-49, Rhythm Sharma 2-17, Jared Priest 2-36, William Clark 2-50) by 61 runs.
At Nelson Park, Napier: Ruahine Motors Central Hawke's Bay CC 150/9 in 33.2 overs (Aneurin Norman 53, Robbie Schaw 35; Sunil Kumar 5-34, Mathew Sinclair 3-25) lost to The Station Napier Old Boys' Marist 152/4 in 36.5 overs (Mathew Sinclair 51no, Jay Mahi 38no, Harry Ghodke 37; Hamish Lewis 2-37) by six wickets.
At Taradale Park, Napier: You Travel Taradale CC 207/9 in 50 overs (Luke Wright 70; Stevie Smidt 5-36) bt Innovative Electrical Napier Technical Old Boys CC 163 all out in 40.2 overs (Jesse Ryder 31; Harry Cooper 4-31, Angus McKnight 2-28, Oliver Kye 2-4) by 44 runs.
Final standings: NTOB 63pts, CHB 53, Havelock North 43, Cornwall 42, Taradale 40, NOBM 22.
Semifinalists this Saturday: NTOB v Cornwall at Nelson Park; CHB v Havelock North at Forest Gate Domain, Ongaonga.
Overall season's point standings: NTOB 128, Havelock Nth 119.8, Cornwall 96.6, CHB 88.2, Taradale 75.8, NOBM 30.