Nelson has won the race to secure a key home play-off match in the Tasman Trophy.
The hosts were given a fright early by Central before winning 41-26 to finish second on the ladder behind Marist as the second round of matches wound up on Saturday.
Having already qualified, Marist rested several of its key players against Kahurangi in Motueka.
The home side looked like upsetting the defending champions, but Marist got up 39-36.
Waimea Old Boys needed to win big against Stoke and hope Nelson faltered if it was to secure a semi at Jubilee Park next weekend.
The Waimea forwards had a field day scoring six tries and laying on the other two for the backs in the 61-24 romp.
Lock Sio Latu got things started with his 12thtry of the season and then wide-roaming flanker Harry Horncastle featured in the lead up to the next two for the other lock, Jeen Salton, and wing Karl Palmer.
“It just opened up and we played wide. It was great fun out there today,” confirms Harry.
The three tries in 13 minutes rocked Stoke, which had won its last two games, but the hosts responded through halfback Hamuera Topi-Pene and second five Karl Ratcliffe.
Flanker Will Horncastle hit back with Waimea's fourth try, and three penalty goals from Campbell Parata gave them a 37-19 lead at the break.
A groin niggle removed Stoke playmaker Taine Robinson at half-time, with fullback Anru Erasmus switching to first five, and he darted away for the opening try of the second half.
Then Waimea took charge with 24 unanswered points.
Jeen grabbed his second try to celebrate his 50thgame for Waimea.
“Probably the last time I got a double was under 12’s or Under 10’s. A wee while ago now. I just got lucky a couple of times today. As for Sio, he is a try scoring machine and you can’t really stop him five metres out,” declares Jeen.
The last three tries went to prop Josh Lauvale who was also unstoppable close to the line, Will Horncastle grabbed a double too, and then his brother Harry played a big part in the eighth, and final try, to fullback Sam Briggs.
Campbell had put in a cross-field kick to Harry out wide and he soared high to tap the ball down to Sam, who was returning from concussion.
“I don’t practise those, it just naturally came and Briggsy was there on the inside,” says Harry.
Despite the biggest win of the day, Waimea missed out on a home semi-final by just one competition point.
Final points: Marist 47, Nelson 35, Waimea 34, Central 28, Stoke 14 and Kahurangi 14.
Semi-finals: Marist v Central and Nelson v Waimea.
