John Koko and Dean Church both scored two tries for King Country.
The action was just as knife-edge but not as open down in Timaru as second-placed South Canterbury lifted the prestigous Hanan Shield while also crushing the Meads Cup hopes of third-placed Mid Canterbury, 14-0 in the local derby.
Home team South Canterbury scored a try in each half through Junior Faavae and Maxx Morris to secure the other home Meads Cup semifinal against Buller, who they narrowly defeated in Timaru in the opening round of the competition.
It meant Mid Canterbury had a forlorn hope for the two hours following their match, as fifth-placed Wairarapa Bush had a later 6pm kickoff in the evening game against the winless East Coast in Masterton.
As expected, the Bush easily overcame the wooden spooners, although they did leak three tries in the 44-22 victory, to leapfrog the Cantabrians into the final Meads Cup spot.
Cameron Hayton scored three of his team's six tries, while former All Black Zac Guildford also dotted down ahead of their team's date with Wanganui at Cooks Gardens this Saturday.
The unlucky Mid Canterbury and King Country will now host semifinals for the Lochore Cup competition, as Horowhenua-Kapiti's loss meant Poverty Bay and North Otago were able to hang onto the other spots in the second tier playoffs.
However, North Otago dropped down a place in surprising fashion as West Coast had their greatest day in a couple of seasons with a 54-42 upset on a beautiful sunny afternoon in Greymouth.
The Coasters shocked their visitors by racing out to a big lead, which they maintained at 44-14 come halftime, and although North Otago came back in the second stanza, the damage was done.
Erenimo Tau got a hat trick for the home team, who also received what could be the last ever automatic eight-point penalty try, as it was announced during the week that Heartland rugby will do away with the experimental scoring system after this season.
Simon Lilicama scored two of North Otago's six tries.
Poverty Bay finished off Thames Valley's season in ignominious fashion with a 50-14 away win in Te Aroha.
Siosiua Moala scored a double, while import prop Jody Allen continued his prolific tryscoring since joining the squad three weeks ago.
The Lochore Cup playoffs will therefore be split between the North and South Islands as Poverty Bay head to Te Kuiti to face King Country and North Otago have to pick themselves up for the bus trip to Ashburton to meet Mid Canterbury.
Results, Round 8
Poverty Bay 50 (Siosiua Moala 2, Ethine Reeves, Everard Reid, Keiran Short, Ratu Daurua, Jody Allen tries; Isaia Vuki 4 con) bt Thames Valley 14 (Chris Doak, Tyrone Keith tries; Beau-Dene Hamilton con). HT: 14-8.
Buller 40 (Anthony Tailua 2, Dan Hytongue, James Lash, Blair McIlroy tries; Lash pen, 4 con) bt King Country 38 (John Koko 2, Dean Church 2, James Hemara tries; Zayn Tipping 4 con). HT: 32-22 King Country.
Wanganui 20 (Te Rangitira Waitokia, Blake Hohaia 2 tries; Craig Clare con) bt Horowhenua Kapiti 12 (Anthony Fuauli, Nathan Kendrick tries). HT: 14-6.
South Canterbury 14 (Junior Faavae, Maxx Morris tries; Willie Wright con) bt Mid Canterbury 0. HT: 8-0.
West Coast 54 (Erenimo Tau 3, Maleli Mudu, Nik Cumming, Logan Heath tries, penalty try; Nik Cumming pen, 5 con) bt North Otago 42 (Jared Whitburn, Matthew Vocea, Simon Lilicama 2, Samisoni Tongotongo, Ralph Darling tries; Tyron Davies 2 con; Brad McKenzie con). HT: 44-14.
Wairarapa Bush 44 (Cameron Hayton 3, Zac Guildford, Sam Monaghan, Eddie Cranston tries; Andy Humberstone 4 con) bt East Coast 22 (Todd Doolan, BJ Sidney, Verdon Bartlett tries; Hone Haerewa con; Doolan con). HT: 22-8.
