Ruapehu flanker Jamie Hughes dives in to score the last minute try against Kaierau at the Country Club on Saturday.
All four Tasman Tanning Premier semifinalists have now been confirmed but the big question remains of who will play who and where, after an extraordinary penultimate round on Saturday.
Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist and Waverley Harvesting Border will contest both the Grand Hotel Challenge Shield and the right to finish top of the table at Dallison Park this weekend, after Marist saw off PGG Wrightson/Balance Taihape's last-ditch playoff bid, 48-22 during the Spriggens Park double-header.
Defending the Shield, Marist locked down second place on the table, scoring seven tries to four, and pulling away in the second half.
Prop Marek Willis got a double, with the rest of the points coming from the home team's in-form backline.
Taihape, who were in must-win mode with the bye this coming weekend, were feeling the effects of the longer season against improved teams, bringing a small bench to town, with fullback Te Rangitapu McLeod getting two of their tries.
Their loss took some of the pressure off Black Ball Liquor Pirates, who followed them onto the park against Harvey Round Motors Ratana, but the home side were emphatic in confirming their playoff spot and poor Ratana suffered the backlash in the 125-0 massacre that had jaws dropping all over the Premier map when the result was learned at the Country Club and up in the Waitotara Valley.
Pirates went ballistic in the second half with an unthinkable 80 points.
At the Country Club, third placed Ruapehu had strengthened their backline and loose forwards from last weekend, but were still missing a handful of key players and flirted with disaster before getting out of jail 17-15.
Having had a campaign to forget, Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau nearly pulled the upset of the season as they were leading 15-12 heading into the final minutes.
Ruapehu got a penalty shortly after an attacking lineout, and they set down a scrum with flanker Jamie Hughes detaching and scooting over to plant the ball in the corner for his double.
Kaierau had the better of territory in the first half, scoring tries through prop Jack Yarrall and outside back Karl Pascoe, although Ruapehu made what they could of their possession with Hughes and second-five Troy Brown getting tries.
Ill-discipline threatened to cost the visitors as fullback Shaquille Waara got a yellow card, and then entering the last ten minutes No8 Andrew Evans - the acting captain with Roman Tutauha injured - was sent off for punching.
Back-chat to referee Aaron Conlon didn't help, and a penalty in front let Kaierau second-five Ethan Robinson kick the underdogs into the lead.
Veteran Ace Malo was again at first-five for the home team and led them around the field, while it was Ruapehu's veteran forwards who ultimately drove their side home, helped by prop Kim McNaught coming off the bench as he did not start the match with a minor injury.
Although missing out on a bonus point, Ruapehu still have a mathematical chance of getting up to second spot if they can put four tries and a healthy scoreline on Settlers Honey Ngamatapouri this weekend, while hoping Marist leave Waverley with nothing.
In the last round of the Senior Championship, undefeated Speirs Food Marton locked away the Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield they have held for all but the first two weeks of the competition with an easy 57-7 win over Taihape at Memorial Park.
Marton finished top qualifier in a canter, as Celtic sewed up second spot while also keeping Counties at the bottom of the group with a 57-5 away win at the McNab Domain, signalling Celtic remain the only side with a hope of giving Marton any concern.
It was a much tighter battle between third and fourth, as Hunterville held on to beat a Pirates team reinforced by some Premier regulars, 27-21 on the Racecourse fields.
This means Marton and Celtic automatically go through to the semifinals on July 22, while this weekend, Hunterville will host Counties and Pirates face Taihape.
A grading match for the Senior Consolation was played at the Country Club, with Buffalos finishing their year on a high with a 21-5 win over Kaierau.
It will be a big Saturday at Dallison Park, because as well as the Challenge Shield game in Premier, the Border seniors will host Ruapehu in the Consolation final.
Results, July 8
Tasman Tanning Premier, Week 17.
Grand Hotel Challenge Shield - Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist 48 (Marek Willis 2, Sean Brown, Josaia Bogileka, Dave Chadwick, Cameron Crowley, Simon Dibben tries; Mitchell Millar pen, 5 con) bt PGG Wrightson/Balance Taihape 22 (Te Rangitapu McLeod 2, Jack Kinder, Jaye Flaws tries; Dane Whale con). HT: 29-17.
Black Bull Liquor Pirates 125 (Raymond Epati 4, Vaovasa Afa'sua 4, Fa'alele Iosua 3, Junior Ainea 2, Fa'amanu Pulemagafa, Fa'amanu Manutalila, Tuifu Ulufale, Taveuni Tomo, Soonalote Tauailoto, Francis Lauititi tries; Ainea 9 con, Iosua 5 con, Manutilila con) bt Harvey Round Motors Ratana 0. HT: 45-0.
McCarthy Transport Ruapehu 17 (Jamie Hughes 2, Troy Brown tries, Cruz Pene con) bt Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau 15 (Karl Pascoe, Jack Yarrall tries, Ethan Robinson pen, con). HT: 12-all.
Waverley Harvesting Border 29 (Nick Harding 2, Sekonia Kalou, Grayson Tihema tries, Harding pen, 3 con) bt Settlers Honey Ngamatapouri 15 (Jim Seruwalu, Samu Kubunavanua, Carlwyn Riddles tries). HT: 14-0.
Bye - Utiku OB.
Senior Championship
Kelso Hunterville bt Black Bull Liquor Pirates 27-21. HT: 17-10.
Celtic bt Counties 57-5.
Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield - Speirs Food Marton bt Taihape 57-7. HT: 19-7.
Draw for July 15 (Home teams first): Hunterville v Counties; Pirates v Taihape; Marton and Celtic byes to semifinals.
Senior Consolation
Buffalos bt Kaierau 21-5.
Draw for July 15 (Consolation final): Border v Ruapehu at Waverley.