Semifinal weekend of the 2016 Mitre 10 Heartland Championship produced a couple of minor upsets as Steelform Wanganui's expectation to renew their rivalry with South Canterbury was cancelled after Buller fought out a rugged 16-6 win in Timaru on Saturday.
South Canterbury had been unbeaten aside from their narrow two-point defeat to Wanganui at Cooks Gardens, which included previously holding off Buller in Timaru, 28-26 on August 27.
However, Buller would score a try in each half through Setefano Sauqaqa and Peni Nabainivalu, while maestro first-five James Lash converted both and kicked his hard-defending team out of their dangerzone on repeated occasions.
Kalavini Leatigaga scored South Canterbury's only points in the first half.
Buller will therefore travel to Whanganui for the Meads Cup final, a game they qualified top for in 2014 yet lost to Mid Canterbury, while they were eliminated in the Lochore Cup semifinals last year.
Kickoff will be at the later time of 4.35pm.
Two rivals who will renew acquaintances are King Country and North Otago when they meet in the Lochore Cup final in Te Kuiti in a rematch of the 2015 playoff.
The game will also be a return bout from the extraordinary 4-4 draw between the sides in horrible wet conditions in Te Kuiti on October 1.
North Otago pulled themselves up by their bootstraps following their disappointing loss to West Coast last weekend to upset clear favourites Mid Canterbury 36-24 in the semifinal in Ashburton.
Building on their 20-8 lead at halftime, North Otago maintained their advantage through the second stanza, with Marene Mapusage scoring two of their five tries.
Two late tries from Mid Canterbury made the scoreline more flattering, with Brendon Rigden getting a double while first-five Jarred Percival scored the other and converted all three.
North Otago will head back to Te Kuiti to face defending Lochore Cup holders King Country, who had few problems in their 48-26 disposal of Poverty Bay in Taupo.
King Country scored seven tries to four, leading 22-12 at halftime and importantly carried on with it after the break, as playing the full 80 minutes has been a problem for the team this year.
James Hemara got a double for the victors, while Everard Reid scored two tries for the visitors.
The Lochore Cup final will kick off at 1.35pm.
Results, Heartland Semifinals
Meads Cup
Buller 16 (Setefano Sauqaqa, Peni Nabainivalu tries; James Lash 2 con) bt South Canterbury 6 (Kalavini Leatigaga try). HT: 8-6.
Wanganui 58 (Blake Hohaia 2, Malakai Volau, Michael Nabuliwaqe, Craig Clare, Ace Malo, Te Rangitira Waitokia tries; Clare pen, 6 con; Dane Whale con) bt Wairarapa Bush 26 (Eddie Cranston 2, Glen Walters, Zac Guildford tries; Andy Humberston con). HT: 32-6.
Lochore Cup
King Country 48 (James Hemara 2, John Koko, Anthony Wise, Rob Sherson, Alex Thrupp, Dean Church tries; Zayn Tipping 2 pen, con) bt Poverty Bay 26 (Everard Reid 2, Ratu Daurua, Dan McIntyre tries; Isaia Vuki con). HT: 22-12.
North Otago 36 (Marene Mapusage 2, Lemi Masoe, Matthew Vocea, Robbie Smith tries; Craig Smith 2 con; Tyron Davies pen) bt Mid Canterbury 24 (Brendon Rigden 2, Jarred Percival tries; Jarred Percival 3 con). HT: 20-8.