The unbeaten Auckland and Waikato have already booked their places in Saturday's semi-finals of the New Zealand women's inter-provincial golf tournament, while title-holders Bay of Plenty bowed out after the second round at the Nelson Golf Club.
Despite another round of section play left, Auckland ensured themselves top qualifying spot from the tough first division by eliminating Bay of Plenty, four and a half to half.
Earlier Bay of Plenty were upset by Northland.
Waikato dominated in section two, stringing together a fifth successive victory at Hawkes Bay-Poverty Bay's expense and are also top qualifiers, regardless of today's match with Taranaki.
The second qualifying places from both sections remain open, with North Harbour looking most likely in section one after a hard-fought 3-2 afternoon win over Aorangi-South Canterbury. Harbour play Northland in the final section with the northerners needing to win by three and a half to half to head off Harbour.
Southland has the advantage in section two and even a half with Tasman would take it to the semi-finals for the first time since 2003.
