Taihape went back to Ohakune but as expected defending Premier champions Ruapehu proved too strong, scoring seven tries on their way to a 46-8 semifinal victory on Saturday.
It sets up a cracking final this weekend at Spriggens Park where Pirates gave Ruapehu their only blemish this season with a 16-16 draw on April 20.
For Taihape, it was a similar scoreline to their two previous hitouts with Ruapehu, although Taihape manager Anthony Martin and opposing coach Chris Winter both said the young team gave it everything in their first taste of semifinal rugby.
"It was pretty tight there for the first 20 minutes. Then we started to get on top of them," said Winter. "They brought their game. Definitely you could tell Taihape were passionate."
Customary for the Wanganui-representative heavy squad, Ruapehu "soaked it all up" and pulled away from a tiring Taihape.
The score went from 12-3 to a 22-8 advantage at halftime, and from there the pack laid it on as Ruapehu's outside backs put on good runs across Rochfort Park.
Winter singled out his back three of double tryscorer Rob Hughes, Logan Vaughan and Zyon Hekenui for big games.
Martin said the visitors made more of a contest than the scoreline suggests.
"The boy's used up everything in the tank. It was the last five to 10 [minutes] they just ran away with it."
Fullback and top points scorer Luke Whale got his team's points from a try and penalty.
Martin said Taihape will look back with pride on their season, having obtained their goal of making the top four despite having one of the lightest forward packs in the competition.
He was confident of retaining most of the core squad next year.
In the Senior championship, Ruapehu made it a double on a big day for the club's supporters when they held off Counties 18-13, retaining their five-point advantage at halftime.
Hunterville will still start as favourites in this Saturday's final after beating Marist Celtic 18-10 at home.
Celtic had been the only team to defeat Hunterville on the field, legally, this season.
The sole Senior consolation semifinal saw the Marist Buffalo's score all their points in the first half and then hold off the home team Marton to win 13-5.
Marist will now meet Kaierau, who sat out the weekend after Utiku Old Boys defaulted.
Results, August 3
Tasman Tanning Premier semifinals
Integrity Motors Pirates 22 (Josh Navitio 2, Clive Stowers tries, Josh Marwick pen, con, Denning Tyrell con) bt Waverley Harvesting Border 15 (Lindsay Horrocks, Sam Madams tries, Mark Davis pen, con). HT: 12-10.
McCarthy's Ruapehu 46 (Robert Hughes 2, Peter Rowe, Pehira Huwyler, Shaun Hawira, George Williams, Shaun McDonough tries, Tautahi Rawiri pen, 2 con, Zyon Hekenui 2 con) bt Taihape 8 (Luke Whale try, pen). HT: 22-8.
Senior Championship semifinals
At Hunterville Power Farming (PN) Hunterville bt Marist Celtic 18-10. HT: 8-3.
At Rochfort Park, Ohakune Ruapehu bt Counties 18-13. HT: 10-5.
Senior Consolation semifinals
At Marton Park Marist Buffalo's bt Marton 13-5. HT: 13-0.
At Kaierau Country Club Kaierau beat Utiku OB by default.
Finals Day draw, August 10
Premier championship: Pirates v Ruapehu, Spriggens Park, 2.30pm.
Senior championship: Hunterville v Ruapehu, Spriggens Park, 12.30pm.
Senior consolation: Kaierau v Marist Buffalo's, Racecourse, 1pm.