Kaierau halfback Cameron Davies taken to ground in their home loss to Taihape on Saturday.
The final round of Tasman Tanning Premier will be a virtual quarterfinal weekend and for Byford's Readimix Taihape and Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist they will get either the very best of outcomes or the very worst from their match at Spriggens Park on Saturday.
Marist's impressive win over McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu for the Grand Hotel Challenge Shield meant the current third through to fifth-placed standings on the table did not change, as Taihape delivered against an off-the-pace Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau 34-10, while as expected Waverley Harvesting Border took maximum points, and then some, in a 88-0 slaughter of Harvey Round Motors Ratana.
Therefore, with Border overwhelming favourites for five more points against Settler's Honey Ngamatapouri in their final match, Marist and Taihape will fight it out to hold the Shield for the summer, avoid missing out on the semifinals, and possibly even get a home playoff depending on what happens in Ohakune on Saturday.
The only side with any sense of security is Black Bull Liquor Pirates, who thanks to Ruapehu's loss have moved back to the top of the table and are now guaranteed a home semifinal after their 62-26 win over Ngamatapouri in a open match at Spriggens Park.
Midfielder Vaovasa Afa scored four of the home team's 10 tries, while fullback Junior Ainea and first-five Soonalote Tauialoto also scored tries and shared the goalkicking duties.
However, nothing was looking certain as they only led 29-21 at halftime.
The rumours of Samu Kubunavanua's early comeback from his dislocated shoulder for Ngamatapouri were confirmed as he scored a try, while big midfielder Jim Seruwalu claimed a hat trick.
Pirates will now have a top of the table clash with Ruapehu at Rochfort Park with the winner, baring bonus points, going to finish as minor premiers with the semifinal picture finally sorting itself out.
Having left Spriggens Park with no points against Pirates the previous weekend, Taihape were in must-win mode on their return to town, yet coach Dane Whale's hope that Kaierau's intensity would drop after their bare thread for the playoffs was snipped by Marist proved correct.
Leading 18-3 at halftime, Taihape did concede one try to flanker Stu Brosnahan but still put the match away comfortably enough, with Whale and midfield backs Jaye Flaws and Kameli Kuruyabaki adding their names to the try sheet, alongside reserves James Barrett and Creighton Winiata-Dunster, so that Taihape like Marist also snatched a crucial bonus point.
Border probably figured they would go straight back into the Top 4 at the weekend due to either or both Marist and Taihape faltering, but they will have just a little unease for an extra seven days despite getting close to a century of points against Ratana at Dallison Park.
Looking to turn it on for their supporters for what should be the last home game of the season, Border scored 14 tries, with lightning winger Harry Symes dashing away for a hat trick, while prop Kamipeli Latu got two tries.
Fullback Nick Harding, who will finish top of the season points tally for the third year straight, scored a double to go with his nine conversions in a 28-point haul.
In the Senior Championship, Counties regained the Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield they lost to Marist Celtic with a 23-11 victory at McNab Domain over the defending Border.
Counties had upset Kelso Hunterville for the Shield in their only loss in 2018, during the first round of games, and have a real good chance of ending the year with the prize as their last match is with a Taihape team who have gone winless in the Championship group, although both teams can be expected to give full effort as they cannot make the semifinals now.
Taihape travelled to Spriggens Park for a dispiriting 33-19 loss to Celtic, who came from 19-3 down at halftime to score 30 unanswered points in the second stanza and lock down second spot on the ladder.
Hunterville continue to signal they are ready to go back on the Senior throne for the first time in three seasons after they disposed of defending champions Speirs Food Marton 45-5 at Hunterville.
In Senior Consolation, Marist Buffalo's wrapped up their round robin with a 27-14 win over Ruapehu up in Ohakune, and will now wait to see if they finish top of the table or second after the final round this weekend.
Kaierau went back to second for now as they did not get a bonus point, but still held on for a 25-20 win over Seales Winslow Pirates at the Country Club.
They can go back to the top with a win or even a couple of bonus points when they face Utiku Old Boys, who were on the bye this weekend.
Results, June 30
Tasman Tanning Premier, Week 13.
Black Bull Liquor Pirates 62 (Vaovasa Afa 4, Lasa Ulukuta, Soonalote Tauialoto, Patrick Hiscox, Fa'amanu Manutulila, Junior Ainea, Ricky Boniface tries; Ainea 3 con, Tauialoto 2 con, Barba Peika con,) bt Settlers Honey Ngamatapouri 26 (Jim Seruwalu 3, Samu Kubunavanua tries; Sheldon Pakinga-Manhire 3 con). HT: 29-21.
Byford's Readimix Taihape 34 (James Barrett, Creighton Winiata-Dunster, Kameli Kuruyabaki, Jaye Flaws, Dane Whale tries; Te Rangitapu McLeod pen, 3 con) bt Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau 10 (Stu Brosnahan try; Shandon Scott pen, con). HT: 18-3.
Waverley Harvesting Border 88 (Harry Symes 3, Kamipeli Latu 2, Nick Harding 2, Tyler Rogers-Holden, Angus Middleton, Lindsay Horrocks, Tom Mathews, Tom Symes, Jack Hodges, Josh Lennox tries; Harding 9 con) bt Harvey Round Motors Ratana 0. HT: 31-0.
Grand Hotel Challenge Shield – Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist 28 (Cameron Crowley 2, Josaia Bogileka, Sean Cummins tries; Ashton Coates 2 con, Peni Nabainivalu 2 con) bt McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu 8 (Corey Carmichael try, Mitchell Miller pen). HT: 7-3.
Senior Championship, Week 4.
At Spriggens Park: Marist Celtic bt Taihape 33-19. HT: 19-3 Taihape.
At McNab Domain (Stihl Shop Wanganui Challenge Shield): Counties bt Border 23-11. HT: 7-5.
At Hunterville: Kelso Hunterville bt Speirs Food Marton 45-5. HT: 23-5.
Senior Consolation, Week 4.
At Kaierau Country Club: Kaierau bt Seales Winslow Pirates 25-20. HT: 13-all.
At Rochfort Park, Ohakune: Marist Buffalo's bt Ruapehu 27-14. HT: 20-7.
Bye: Utiku OB.