We have our semifinalists and there was a bit of a twist.
Most would have expected University A to finish the round-robin with its 15th win for the season.
But Kaikorai upset the defending champion 22-10 to nab the final semifinal spot.
The two teams will meet again in one semifinal at the University Oval on Saturday.
Kaikorai's win also denied Southern a place in the top four.
The Magpies thumped Green Island 50-5 but will be left ruing a poor start to the campaign.
Predictably, Dunedin smashed Pirates 54-14 and will play Harbour in the other semifinal.
The Hawks warmed up for the clash with a 45-15 shellacking of Taieri.
Alhambra-Union beat Zingari-Richmond 47-15 in the other match.
Kaikorai 22
University A 10
Midfield back Jayden Spence was the big stone in the middle of Kaikorai's impenetrable rock wall as University A stumbled to its second loss of the season.
Kaikorai's three-try 22-10 win at Bishopscourt cemented a spot in the semifinals and means the Speight's Challenge Shield stays in the Kaikorai clubrooms over the summer.
The win was built on a solid defence by a team that kept knocking over the student attackers.
In the first 20 minutes of each spell, the students unleashed ferocious attacks and camped for long periods deep inside the Kaikorai 22m.
But midway through the first spell, long-legged Kaikorai fullback Tony Ensor burst out of his own 22m and wing Eti Slater scored in the corner.
Four minutes later, Ensor attacked again and flanker Slade McDowall was in support to score the try.
Kaikorai led 15-5 at the break and the students again found it impossible to break the Kaikorai defensive wall.
When Kaikorai had its turn on attack after 22 minutes, it put together six phases before rugged prop Jonah Aoina barged over and the lead stretched to 22-5.
Other players to impress for Kaikorai were No8 Paul Grant locks Pita Sinamoni and Blair Tweed, halfback Kadin Brocks and wing Matt Jones.
The best students were hooker Sam Sturgess, flanker Dillon Hunt and halfback Harry Peeters.
Southern 50
Green Island 5
The Southern forward pack dominated all facets of play in the opening 20min to set up a 50-5 victory against Green Island and retain the Selwyn Inglis Memorial Trophy at Miller ParkIt took just 16min of play for Southern to achieve the four-try bonus point necessary to keep it in semifinal contention.
Running rampant, the pack was led across the advantage line by captain and open side flanker Simon Knight, who scored two of the side's five first-half tries.
Fellow loose forwards Andrew Sanders and Mika Mafi were superb in support and general play, while enjoying the spoils from a hard-working tight five.
Despite being down 33-0 at the break, Green Island came right back into the match in the second half, dominating territory and possession, but was unable to turn this into any points until the 78th minute, with a try out wide to Ricky Hollamby.
Until that stage its wealth of possession was all too often turned over in the tackle, as players ran into a sea of black and white jerseys.
Southern, on the other hand, scored a further three tries from its rare incursions into Green Island territory in the second half, by exploiting midfield gaps with grubber kicks and the explosive pace of Ryan Tongia down the left flank.
Harbour 45
Taieri 15
Harbour snapped a three-game losing streak and warmed up for its semifinal clash with Dunedin by hammering Taieri 45-15 at Watson Park.
The Hawks' pack sent an early message with a simple but effective move from a 5m lineout.
Hale T-Pole, who gave a commanding performance in the lineout, took the ball down and flicked it to powerful loose forward Naulia Dawai, who charged down the blindside.
He got his arms through the tackle and unloaded to hooker Sekonaia Pole to score in the corner.
It was all too easy and the Hawks have scored that way countless times this season.
Dawai was in the action moments later, when first five-eighth Joe Collins went around his marker, drew the fullback and found Dawai in support.
Everyone in the Hawks pack was lining up to hit the ball up.
One of its strengths is it has so many quality ball carriers and Dawai and T-Pole were particularly impressive.
Dawai added his second to give the Hawks a 19-3 lead after 20 minutes.
Taieri was not able to get any traction and from another turnover, Harbour swept 80m to score a bonus-point fourth try.
Taieri responded on the stroke of halftime when lock Brendon Murdoch muscled over but it had been comprehensively outplayed.
That trend continued in the second spell with Harbour adding three more tries in a display which signalled how hard it will be to beat in the semifinals.
Alhambra-Union 47
Zingari-Richmond 15
Alhambra-Union has arguably been one of the hard-luck stories this season, having more than its share of narrow losses.
But it finished the round-robin in style with a comprehensive 47-15 win against Zingari-Richmond at Montecillo.
The visitors kept attacking, played the game with speed and the Colours were unable to respond.
Impressive winger John Tapueluluheu and second five-eighth Legin Felix-Hotham scored two tries a piece and flourished in a backline which was cutting loose after a tough season.
Had Neil Brew not been holding Zingari's midfield together, Alhambra may have added to its seven-try romp.
Highlanders hooker Liam Coltman provided the impetus up front for Alhambra. He showed great pace and carried the ball well.
Lock Ryan Dawson secured plenty of lineout ball and loose forward Max Aitkenhead was industrious.
Halfback Caleb Gray has been sidelined with an ankle injury for most of the season and had a strong game in his first start for some time.
Alhambra-Union led 35-5 at the break and made a lot of changes early in the second spell.
It upset the flow of its attacking game for a period. Zingari rallied with a second try to centre Dwayne Corcoran.
Loose forward Tom Rowe was a towering figure for Zingari in the lineout and its best forward.
Highlanders back-up halfback Jamie Booth, who replaced Gray, scored the last try and looked sharp.
Alhambra's win means it leapfrogged Zingari in the standings and avoids playing the wooden spoon match against Pirates.
Dunedin 54
Pirates 14
Dunedin just needed to win with a bonus point to confirm third in the rankings and a semifinal against Harbour this weekend.
It achieved those goals at Hancock Park, but as a dress rehearsal for a semifinal this was not a good one.
In the first spell, the Dunedin pack dominated and had five tries by the break.
The backs, however, were ponderous and hesitant. Combine that with bad handling and sloppy passing and there is a lot to improve on.
The pick and go and scrum and lineout domination ensured plenty of possession for Dunedin; the tries had to come and they did.
Hame Toma, Mark Grieve Dunn, Alex Ainley and Sam Anderson Heather, with their power and strength with ball in hand, ensured field position.
Pirates midfielders Paul Tupai, possibly the best back on the field, got Pirates on the board with a superb inside break and he scampered 30m to score.
Dunedin took off most of its key forward runners at the break and the game lost a lot of structure.
The visiting side managed only three tries in the second spell, the best being one out wide to winger Charlie McCarten after quick hands made the space on the outside.
Pirates fullback Sam Shuker got his side's second try halfway through the second half, after a nice breakout.
For Dunedin, prop Donald Brighouse was its best, ably supported by Toma, Anderson Heather, Grieve Dunn and Ainley.
For Pirates Tupai was the standout in the backline with its limited chances and lock Hayden Fleury, who got away with murder at the breakdown, was a constant menace to Dunedin's ball supply.
