Tasman Mako have kept their threepeat chances alive, coming from behind to upset top-of-the-table Hawke's Bay 33-27 to secure a spot in next week's NPC premiership final.
The two-time defending champions needed a late intercept try to powerhouse centre Leicester Fainga'anuku to snatch victory, after watching squandering their eight-point halftime lead.
Tasman lead throughout the opening 65 minutes, stretching their advantage to 13 points during the first half, with back-to-back tries to All Blacks Sevens star Andrew Knewstubb and powerhouse winger Timoci Tavatavanawai.
Magpies No.8 Marino Mikaele-Tu'u scored just before the break to bring his side back into the contest and lock Geoff Cridge crossed soon after the restart to bring them within one point.
Lincoln McClutchie's penalty gave them their only lead of the day, but moments later, Fainga'anuku swooped on a long pass from fullback Lolagi Visinia and galloped 50 metres for the matchwinning try.
Mitch Hunt added a penalty to extend the margin, but Hawke's Bay had several chances in the final minutes to steal victory, unable to convert the lineout drive that had been their bread and butter throughout the season.
Tasman only snuck into the semi-finals with victory over Wellington last week, and face another road trip to Rotorua to face Waikato for the final.
Tasman 33 (Makalio, Tavatavanawai, Fainga'anuku & Knewstubb tries; Hunt 3 penalties & 2 conversions) Hawke's Bay 27 (Lowe, Mikaele-Tu'u, Cridge & Parsons tries; McClutchie 2 conversions & penalty)
Waikato 17 Canterbury 14
The Mooloos have secured home advantage for the title game with a dour victory over 14-time champions Canterbury at Rotorua International Stadium.
Conditions were not conducive to running rugby and mistakes marred the contest that saw the hosts snatch the initiative with back-to-back tries from hooker Rhys Marshall and centre Bailyn Sullivan in the first half.
Leading 14-3 at the break, Waikato surrendered their grip on the game, when flanker Corey Kellow crossed for Canterbury's only try.
D'Angelo Leuila extended the advantage with a penalty, but counterpart Fergus Burke narrowed the margin with two for Canterbury, setting up a tense finish.
The Mooloos had ample opportunities to ice the result, but kept tripping over their own feet. At one point, they strung together 26 phases on the Canterbury goal-line, but could not penetrate determined defence and eventually spilled an ambitious crosskick without scoring.
Luckily for them, the southerners were unable to establish any field position to deliver the winning blow and Waikato eventually turned down a kickable penalty in the final seconds, opting for a scrum to kill time until the final siren.
With Hamilton still under COVID-19 lockdown, Waikato must again stage the final at their alternative Rotorua venue.
Waikato 17 (Marshall & Sullivan tries; Leuila 2 conversions & penalty) Canterbury 14 (Kellow try; Burke 3 penalties)
Taranaki 25 Southland 13
Meanwhile, Taranaki have continued their unbeaten run through the National Provincial Championship with a 25-13 win over Southland to progress to next week's championship final against Otago.
The home side overcame rain and slippery underfoot conditions at Inglewood to overcome their southern challengers through the tactical kicking of first-five Jayson Potroz and goal-kicking of fullback Stephen Perofeta.
Tries to flanker Tom Florence and halfback Logan Crowley put Taranaki out to an early 10-0 advantage, but Perofeta and Southland counterpart Marty Banks exchanged penalties, as the hosts arrived at halftime with a 16-6 lead.
The Stags struck back with winger Rory Van Vugt charging through the middle of an attacking lineout and scoring under a pile of forwards. Banks' conversion closed the deficit to just three points and Taranaki seemed ripe for the upset.
But they produced a massive scrum to thwart a prime attacking opportunity and Perofeta simply took advantage of Southland's ill discipline, slotting three penalties to draw away over the final stages.
The Bulls now face Otago in the championship final, after the southerners overcame Manawatu 44-17 at Palmerston North on Friday night. Taranaki beat Otago 30-23 at Dunedin last month.
Taranaki 25 (Florence & Crowley tries; Perofeta 5 penalties) Southland 13 (Van Vugt try; Banks 2 penalties & conversion)
Join us next weekend for live updates of the NPC premiership and championship finals
