A couple of upset results at the weekend have had no bearing on the Heartland Championship playoffs.
Top seeds South Canterbury have gone through yet another season unbeaten, but were pushed by West Coast before winning 43-38.
Whanganui, who sit second, slumped to a 34-17 loss to King Country, and Thames Valley fell 41-35 to Horowhenua-Kapiti.
They were results few saw coming, but despite a nice confidence boost for the lower teams, made no difference to the Meads Cup playoffs.
South Canterbury will face neighbours Mid Canterbury, who beat Poverty Bay 47-24 at the weekend, in the first Meads Cup semifinal, and Whanganui play Thames Valley in the other.
King Country finished as the top seeds in the Lochore Cup playoffs and host East Coast, who beat Wairarapa-Bush 45-32 on Saturday, while Horowhenua host West Coast in the other.
Despite being out of playoff contention, North Otago were superb in their 55-14 win over Buller on Saturday.
They ran in nine tries to two at a saturated Weston Domain and put together some wonderful tries in their final game of a disappointing season.
Winger Ben McCarthy got the Old Golds on the board in the opening minute for the Old Golds.
Buller No8 Joe Taylor scored and Andrew Wells added the extras to give Buller a 7-5 lead.
But that was the last time that would happen as the Old Golds started to pull away and show some of their flair.
Centre Matia Qiolevu took off through the middle and put the ball wide to winger Hayden Todd, who swung it back inside to Qiolevu to finish it off.
Fullback Greg Dyer ran away with an intercept try and suddenly the Old Golds were up 31-7.
Prop Harris McRobbie bustled over on halftime to make it 31-14.
Slippery conditions made for some handling errors at times, but that was to be expected after Friday’s downpour.
North Otago showed some great intent and came to life when they kept the ball in play, scoring one of their best tries all season.
Dangerous attacker Tini Feke broke Buller’s line and gave the ball to hooker Ryusei Kato.
Kato pushed it wide to first five Isaac Clunie, who looked set to score on debut until he was taken down and dished it off to Kato to finish.
The Old Golds charged ahead from there, keeping the ball in hand and keeping Buller scoreless in the second half to finish their season off in style.
Will Knight became the 19th North Otago player to make his debut this year when he came off the bench.
Heartland Championship
The scores
North Otago 55
Ben McCarthy 2, Matia Qiolevu 2, Greg Dyer, Ryusei Kato, Tini Feke, Max Sawers, Apenisa Tuiba tries; Dyer 5 con.
Buller 14
Joe Taylor, Harris McRobbie tries; Andrew Wells 2 con.
Halftime: North Otago 31-14.
