A Charlie Hore dropped goal was the only thing that separated the two sides at the final whistle, the lengthy kick coming in the final minute of the match.
Twelve years ago, in the Dunedin club final, Hore kicked a similar match-winning goal to lead Dunedin to a 23-22 win over University A.
Arrowtown had the ascendancy for the majority of the match, the visiting side clearly having most of the possession and territory.
Arrowtown made the scoresheet first after multiple phases and a Hayden Finch snipe enabled it to cross the line.
The first five-eighth took his opportunity to mix it up in the forwards and managed to burrow over close to the line from a solid platform.
The try went unconverted; as did two other chances at goal in the match which would eventually prove costly.
However, the boot of Arrowtown fullback Reece Winter extended the lead to eight and it was not until the 20-minute mark that Hore was able to bang over possession-starved Maniototo's first penalty attempt.
The Hore penalty boosted Maniototo and on its second trip into Arrowtown territory prop Tim O'Neill was able to crash over close to the uprights, to give the home side a 10-8 lead going into the second half.
Both sides tried to grind the other down around the fringes and through some well-placed kicks.
Maniototo flanker Ryan Dowling was inspirational around the rucks and mauls and led his team on a much-needed resurgence.
Five minutes into the second half, Hore extended the Maniototo lead with a penalty goal but a Matt Cruickshank try of Arrowtown not long after made it 13-13.
Winter then struck with a dropped goal 10 minutes from time and it looked like Arrowtown would come away with the spoils.
But Maniototo was not done, and when Hore kicked a simple penalty goal to level the scores with five minutes to play, the home crowd finally found its voice.
Then Hore, showing admirable poise, delivered the telling blow.
After dropping into the pocket from about 30m, the former Highlander hit a clean strike and the dropped goal never looked like missing.
Maniototo went through the competition unbeaten, its closest match being a 15-15 draw with Arrowtown at the same venue.
It now faces Lawrence in the Otago Country final on Saturday.
Central Otago final
The scores
- Maniototo 19
Tim O'Neill try; Charlie Hore 3 pen, con, drop goal
- Arrowtown 16
Hayden Finch, Matt Cruickshank tries; Reece Winter pen, drop goal
Halftime: Maniototo 10-8
