The season's leading points scorer Nick Harding landed three key penalties for Border to beat Taihape at Memorial Park on Saturday.
PGG Wrightston/Balance Taihape went down swinging at Memorial Park on Saturday, but Waverley Harvesting Border got home with composure and on the boot of fullback Nick Harding to all-but extinguish their semifinal hopes for 2017.
Last year's Tasman Tanning Premier grand finalists played out another tight match with Taihape again having the inspirational Tremaine Gilbert, missing from their Round 1 clash with injury, as the home side came back in the second half to level the scores 21-21.
Both team's had scored three tries each, with Border's scores coming from Harding, Steelform Wanganui rep Renato Tikoilosomone and Premier's top tryscorer in speedster Harry Symes.
Gilbert got a double for the home side with Dylan Gallien adding the third.
Needing the win to have an outside chance of sneaking into fourth spot, Taihape were left with nothing as Harding landed three straight penalties inside the final quarter to even deny the hosts a bonus point.
Although mathematically still a chance, Taihape need to upset Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist for the Grand Hotel Challenge Shield in their last match before taking the final bye, while hoping someone out of Black Bull Liquor Pirates and McCarthy Transport Ruapehu drop both of their remaining two games against teams in the bottom four of the table - a virtual impossibility.
At the Country Club, Kaierau shook off their belting last weekend by Pirates while also earning some payback from April as they held on for a 22-18 win over Utiku Old Boys.
Kaierau led 7-3 and then 12-11 at halftime, staying just ahead of Utiku throughout the match while scoring four tries to two.
Fielding a stronger lineup and taking a match they could conceivably win more seriously, the five pointers came from first-five Ace Malo, flanker Regan Collier, winger Dave Kereti and reserve Matt Ashworth.
Utiku's stayed in touch through two penalties by Max Navas, with their tries coming from halfback Ra Broughton and winger Saia Teumohenga.
Up the Waitotara Valley, Harvey Round Motors Ratana had nothing to lose as they picked up just their second competition point of the season in their 41-27 loss to Settler's Honey Ngamatapouri.
There were 12 tries scored in the free flowing match, with the home side getting doubles from Daniel Furness and Emosi Vucago, while young Ratana hooker Keanu Puki-Kaa got two for his side.
With Taihape now off the pace for the Top 4, the Premier Consolation group is also starting to take its shape, as Utiku take a bye this coming weekend while Kaierau will face Ratana in the last round - suggesting there will be a Memorial Park derby in one playoff while Ngamatapouri will have the other home match.
In the Senior Championship, Celtic had a real fight in the Spriggens Park derby with Pirates, coming from behind at halftime and late in the fourth quarter to win 24-18.
Undefeated Marton continue to make no chase of it as they travelled up State Highway 1 for a comfortable 30-3 win over Hunterville to retain the Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield.
There is a three-way jostle over fourth spot because after upsetting Pirates last weekend, Counties fell to Taihape 33-15 at Memorial Park.
In the Senior Consolation semifinals, Ruapehu just managed to overcome Buffalo's 25-20 on the Racecourse grounds, while Kaierau called it a season when they defaulted their playoff to top qualifier Border.
Results, July 1
Tasman Tanning Premier Championship, Week 16
Grand Hotel Challenge Shield - Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist 48 (Elijah Ah Chong 2, Josaia Bogileka 2, Ryan Gill, Taione Ratu, Lake Ah Chong tries; Mitchell Millar pen, 5 con) bt McCarthy Transport Ruapehu 17 (Jackson Campbell 2, Andrew Evans tries; Cruz Pene con). HT: 38-0.
Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau 22 (Ace Malo, Regan Calder, Dave Kereti, Matt Ashworth tries; Ethan Robinson con) bt Utiku OB 18 (Ra Broughton, Saia Teumohenga tries; Brett Illston con, Max Navas 2 pen). HT: 12-11.
Waverley Harvesting Border 30 (Renato Tikoilosomone, Harry Symes, Nick Harding tries; Harding 3 pen, 3 con) bt PGG Wrightson/Balance Taihape 21 (Tremaine Gilbert 2, Dylan Gallien tries, Dane Whale 3 con). HT: 21-14.
Settlers Honey Ngamatapouri 41 (Daniel Furness 2, Emosi Vucago 2, Sheldon Pakinga-Manwhire, Carlwyn Riddles, Isi Baleitavuku tries; Te Tua Kemp 3 con) bt Harvey Round Motors Ratana 27 (Keanu Puki-Kaa 2, Marius Joseph, Darian Keane, Tyson Tauri tries, Paora Heremia con). HT: 26-12.
Bye - Black Bull Liquor Pirates.
Senior Championship
Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield - Speirs Food Marton bt Kelso Hunterville 30-3. HT: 12-3.
Celtic bt Pirates 24-18. HT: 13-12 Pirates.
Taihape bt Counties 33-15. HT: 26-5.
Senior Consolation Semifinals
Ruapehu bt Buffalos 25-20. HT: 15-10 Buffalos.
Border bt Kaierau by default.