Despite ending a three-year drought with a win over Manawatu-Wanganui on Wednesday, Otago still faces the prospect of coming away with the wooden spoon from the Toro women's interprovincial tournament, which continues on the Nelson course this morning.
Otago started the day in section two on two points and 5 games, ahead of Taranaki, which was yet to register a win, with 6 games.
But Otago lost to Taranaki 3-1 yesterday morning, allowing the North Island team to gain two points and leapfrog Otago into second-last place with a superior game tally.
Otago did not fare any better in the afternoon, experiencing a 3-1 loss to Tasman.
Otago has a bye in the final round this morning and now must finish last in section two with the prospect of playing off with Canterbury, last in section one, for the wooden spoon.
Monica Tulisi, the Otago No 1, won her fourth game in the morning by a convincing 6 and 4 margin over Geonoa Matheson (Taranaki).
In the afternoon, Tulisi fell to her first loss, to Tasman's Lisa Wright, 4 and 3, in a match notable for the number of birdies.
Otago No 2 Liz McRae made her first contribution in the morning, halving with Debbie McCallum, although at two up with two to play a win was on the cards.
McRae led early in the afternoon but failed to capitalise on the homeward nine, losing on the final green to Sarah Rutledge.
Otago No 5 Kathryn Fletcher lost two one-down matches, falling at the final hole each time.
Julie Cooper at No 4 lost in the morning but posted her first win in round six, winning 10, 11, 13 and 16 to beat Tasman's Rete Kydd in 16 holes.
Otago No 5 Shani Arona trailed by three at the turn in the her morning match but it was a different story in the afternoon.
Arona was three down after 10 holes to Tasman's Jodi Meadows but won 11, 12 and 13 to get back to square.
In a see-sawing finish, Arona lost 15, won 16, lost 17 and made a crucial putt on the final green to halve the match.
Auckland and Waikato booked their places in tomorrow's semifinals yesterday.
Titleholder Bay of Plenty, upset by Northland in the morning round, needed to beat Auckland in the afternoon to progress any further.
But the unbeaten Aucklanders stormed to their fifth straight success, winning 4-, and ensuring themselves top qualifying spot from the tough first division.
In section two, Waikato was equally dominant, stringing together its fifth successive victory at Hawkes Bay-Poverty Bay's expense.
Despite one more round of section play left today, both teams have the luxury of knowing they have qualified top regardless of the result.
The remaining 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 yesterday.
North Harbour plays its nearest challenger, Northland, in the final round today.
Northland has to win by 3-1 to head off Harbour.
