Taieri had to win eventually and Kaikorai was due a loss.
Taieri 162 beat Kaikorai 157 by five runs
But who would have thought it would be Taieri which would beat Kaikorai? Probably not even Taieri. After all, the teams met just last weekend and Kaikorai won by 10 wickets.
But this time Kaikorai's chase came unstuck. Set a mere 163 for the win at Brooklands Park, Kaikorai was dismissed for 157.
There were more than 15 overs remaining but the threat of rain probably contributed to a few rash shots. At 102 for two, and with Matt Hunter (42) and Ryan Duffy (53) set at the crease, a sixth consecutive win was within sight.
However, both batsman skied catches and that gave Taieri an opportunity to get amongst the middle order.
Iain Robertson threatened to hit his side to victory. He scored 21 from 24 balls but was dropped several times during his brief cameo and finally ran out of luck when he was bowled by William Hunter.
Wicketkeeper Josh Preston dislocated his finger, went off to hospital but returned to bat at No 11. He held his end up and was unbeaten with a gutsy one from 10 when last man out Ricky Black was dismissed.
The Hunter brothers - Jack and William - took six wickets between them, William the star with four for 27.
Josh Tasman Jones also grabbed three for 51 with his medium pacers.
Taieri's innings was cobbled together with five batsmen all making small but valuable contributions. Kieran Lloyd top scored with 31 - his 34 run partnership with Jack Hunter (20) proved crucial - and Regan Flaws smacked 30 from 14 balls, including three very big sixes.
Geordie Scott (three for 22) and Duffy (two for eight) bowled nice and straight for Kaikorai and were rewarded with wickets.
Albion 175 beat North East Valley 54 for seven by 86 runs (DWL)
Albion allrounder Roald Badenhorst set up a big win against North East Valley with 75 at the top of the innings and four wickets.
Felix Page (17), Michael Snedden (14 not out), Tim Ford (12) and Nick Beard (13) all made minor contributions with the bat to help Albion post 175 at Tonga Park.
But Badenhorst was the star. He mastered what was a difficult wicket to bat on with a mix of patience and well placed aggression.
He put away the bad balls, hit down the ground nicely and was strong through point. He also opened the bowling and made good use of the bouncer to remove Tom Griffin.
He was a little lucky to capture Adam Miles' wicket when the batsman got a tickle down leg, but his four for 23 completed a wonderful day.
North East Valley was 54 for seven and well behind the Duckworth Lewis equation when rain intervened.
Keegan Harrison (three for 31) and Simon Murley (two for 24) accounted for five of the top six batsmen and were the pick of the Valley bowlers.
Carisbrook-Dunedin 47 lost Green Island 50 for none by 10 wickets
The old master, Dion Lobb, took six for 18 to help dismiss Carisbrook Dunedin for a measly 47 at Sunnyvale.
The Dogs were five for five after four overs and only some heavy hitting from Craig Sneddon (29 from 15) saved the team further blushes.
Lobb's six wicket bag enabled him to overhaul Grant Payne (649) as the leading wicket taker for Green Island. He has now taken 651 wickets for the Swamp Rats and joked ''it has only taken me 17 years''.
Namibia international Christi Viljoen and Otago left armer Bradley Scott took two wickets apiece, and Greg Croudis (22) and Nathan Watt (21) wrapped the chase up in six overs. The match was over by 12.30pm.
Carisbrook-Dunedin was missing several leading players, though. Classy batsman Brad Rodden, who is nursing an injury, batted at No 11 but probably should not have played.
Sean Eathorne is injured and Rhys Phillips was away with the Volts.
''When you take away a core like that, then anyone would struggle,'' Lobb said.
