It was rumble in the mud and the team that scored the only try of the game in the first minute came off second best in the end.
Old Boys Marist — winners the past two seasons — won't feature in the Bayleys Premier Rugby competition final this year after Kamo withstood multiple phases of attack in the dying stages to win 15-11 on Saturday.
Much like Scott Robertson with the Super Rugby title-winning Crusaders last year, Cam Goodhue is one game away from achieving something special for this Kamo side.
He has been a revelation in his first year as coach and has tightened, rejuvenated and remodelled Kamo into a more attacking team with an equally strong defensive game that has propelled them thus far.
They are looking so much like champions-elect.
It's hard to see whether Waipū, which beat Horahora 32-15 in the other semifinal, has the capacity to beat Kamo this weekend.
OBM made a gallant effort to do just that on Saturday at Kamo, but for all their ingenuity, resilience and sheer bloody-mindedness, they couldn't prise open the Kamo defence buoyed by the presence of their fans.
On-off rain meant both teams mostly kept it tight in the forwards and fed off each other's mistakes by trading penalties at goal.
"We're very lucky to go through. For my players to defend like that, it's down to attitude and these guys wanted to do it for each other," said Goodhue who last played for Kamo in 2016.
Waipū, with a pretty much bang-on set piece, beat Kamo 25-20 two weeks ago — a fact not lost on Goodhue as both sides square off again in the final on Saturday.
"We'll have to contain their big forward pack. They've got a good scrum and just their set piece generally but we're looking forward to the final as Kamo hasn't been in one in a long time."
It was a game of two halves on Saturday. OBM were happy to play a better territorial game in the first spell and, aside from unforced errors due to slippery ball, they had a good measure of Kamo in almost every facet of play.
The defending champions managed to score in the first minute of play and that was the only try in the game.
Kamo fullback Tom Herman kicked five penalties and his team hung on while OBM needed a try only.
OBM fullback Kepa Wiki could have scored his side's second try with an intercept midway in his half and a kick ahead but couldn't win the race for the ball with Herman.
The visitors gave it their all with 15 minutes to go but Kamo wouldn't give an inch, holding their line like soldiers on a battlefield.
OBM forwards pushed hard in attack but spent most of the dying spell travelling sideways or coughing possession.
Although resolute in defence, Kamo otherwise looked capable but not deadly. Useful but with flaws, particularly in the first half. But they rose to the occasion when it mattered.
In the end, OBM huffed and puffed and left everything on the pitch.
In the other semifinal, Waipū lost their front row through injuries and face an uphill battle against Kamo this weekend.
Coach Graham Dewes said he was glad with his side's performance last weekend but may have to rely on the rub of the green on Saturday to finish the season on top.