The Balmacewen golfers are in first place on the countback, having won 10 of a possible 12 games, while Taieri has 7.5 games.
Despite playing at home, Taieri Lakes had a close call against St Clair Gold. Mark Andrews and Dwayne Weir romped home at No1 and No2 with five-and-four wins.
But the other four games were all close tussles. Nathan Swift and Seb Baker won, to tie the match at two-all.
Taieri looked set to win the battle of the No3s, when Matt Lee had a golden start, birdieing the first four holes to set St Clair's Troy Ferguson back on his haunches.
But Ferguson clawed his way back into the game and the pair were tied with a hole to play.
Lee finished strongly, using a 5-iron to get on the par 5 18th green in two and taking the honours with a two-putt birdie 4.
The match looked set to be tied, but Taieri No6 Matt Mercer won the last hole to clinch the valuable deciding half with Ryan Littlejohn.
Island Park also had a close call against St Clair Blue, creeping home with three wins and a half.
Michael Smith, Jarden Hammond and Mike Wray all posted early wins and Island Park captain Michael Minty was aware that his team must at least have the half.
But Connor Ross and Stephen Hitchcox won for St Clair, leaving Minty to battle out the decider with Cody McMullan.
Minty was two down after 12 holes but fought back to square the game with one hole to play.
He had a 2m birdie putt on the final green but lagged it to ensure the half and a win for his team.
Otago look the team to beat when Tyrone Ratahi, John McIntee and Murray Edgar posting convincing wins while former Queenstown golfer Thomas Gillan halved with Chisholm's Jason Pegler.
Playing at No1 for Chisholm, Brent Butler birdied the final hole to beat Brandon Hodgson, while the battle of the No2 players was an arm-wrestle, as Duncan Croudis edged ahead of Chisholm captain Mark Collie on the final green.
- Bill Trewern
