The showers overheated, the fire alarms rang out, the fire brigade arrived and the University Oval grandstand was evacuated at the end of the semifinals on Saturday.
It was University that provided the fireworks on the paddock when it came from behind to beat Southern 35-27.
Taieri beat Dunedin 20-3 in the other semifinal and will play University A in the final at the Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday.
University A 35
Southern 27
A rejuvenated University A team came out with fire in its nostrils in the second half to beat Southern in the first semifinal.
The powerful Southern forwards had controlled the first half and led 24-10 at the break.
University led 10-3 after 13 minutes when first five-eighth Stephen Fenemor made a quick decision to kick tactically for the far corner from a penalty and centre Faasiu Fuatai scored the try.
The game changed, and Southern took control when No8 Mika Mafi broke 40m up the centre after 22 minutes.
Experienced first five-eighth Ben Patston was subbed on and landed a drop goal from 30m to bring Southern within a point of the students.
Two deft kicks to the gap by halfback Josh Walden led to tries by winger Josh Gordon and fullback Bryce Hosie to give Southern a comfortable halftime lead.
The Southern scrum was strong in the first spell, with tighthead prop Mike Mata'afa powerful in the tight and hooker Ricky Riccitelli a terrier in the tight-loose. Mafi made inroads with the ball in hand.
University closed the gap with two penalty goals by Fenemor in the second spell.
Two decisive acts by the students confirmed momentum had swung in their favour.
After 25 minutes, they won a lineout close to the Southern line and drove forward as a pack, and lock Josh Dickson scored the try.
Eleven minutes later, they pushed Southern back in a scrum close to the line and were awarded a penalty try to take the lead back, 30-27, with only five minutes left.
Key players in the student pack were hooker Sam Sturgess, locks Dickson and Alex Grogan, flanker Jack Wolfreys and No8 Sione Teu.
Fenemor and midfielders Fletcher Smith and Fuatai were the best backs.
The best Southern backs were halfback Josh Walden, midfielder Tei Walden and fullback Hosie.
University A 35 (Faasiu Fuatai, Fletcher Smith, Josh Dickson tries, penalty try; Stephen Fenemor 3 con, 3 pen), Southern 27 (Bryce Hosie, Josh Gordon tries; Hosie 2 pen, Ben Patston con, 2 pen, drop goal). Halftime: Southern 24-10.
Taieri 20
Dunedin 3
No8 Charlie O'Connell provided the inspiration and was a colossus in a dominant Taieri pack in the main semifinal.
Taieri played better wet-weather rugby to stay in control for much of the game.
O'Connell was sound at the back of the lineout, made ground with the ball in hand and, as captain, kept a steady hand on his team.
The other key forward for Taieri was openside flanker James Lentjes, who was one of the defensive leaders and also did his bit at the breakdown.
Prop Aki Seiuli was solid in the front row and lock Mike McKee was dominant in the lineout, making nine clean takes.
The best Taieri back was combative halfback Kurt Hammer, who was in his element in the rough-and-tumble game.
Dwayne Burrows was lethal on the wing and scored the first try when he came in from the blindside.
Josh Casey was sound at first five-eighth, and scored the clinching try after a charge-down 29 minutes into the second spell, and Michael Collins and Kieran Moffat were solid defenders in the midfield.
Workhorse openside flanker Hugh Blake was the best of the Dunedin forwards and was backed by No8 Hame Toma. First five-eighth Greg Dyer and replacement Sam Weber were the best Dunedin backs.
Taieri led 10-3 at the break and took the game out of reach of Dunedin when winger Shannon Young scored after three minutes in the second half.
Taieri 20 (Dwayne Burrows, Shannon Young, Josh Casey tries; Casey con, pen), Dunedin 3 (Greg Dyer pen). Halftime: Taieri 10-3.
