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The finalists in the Car Company Nelson Bays division one competition got a timely early feel for some pressure rugby at the weekend.

Galbraith Group Nelson and Accessman Stoke will meet in next Saturday's decider after both had to fend off strong challenges in Saturday's semifinals.

Top qualifiers Nelson eventually got past New World Huia 24-9 at Neale Park, while two late Jake Beleski penalties handed Stoke an even tighter 24-19 win over Wakatu Hotel Marist at Tahunanui.

Huia needed to shut down Nelson's dangerous attack and to a certain extent they succeeded. Nelson still ran in three tries, wing Vai Asomua-Goodman and No 10 Robbie Malneek both scoring out wide in the first half and fullback James Lash finally scoring the third only minutes before fulltime.

Coming off decisive winning margins in their two previous outings against Huia, Nelson had to work for Saturday's win, although a dominant set piece, at both scrum and lineout, and their ability to capitalise on scoring opportunities always kept Nelson well on track for the win.

All of Huia's points came from the boot of No 10 Jesse Rush with three penalty successes. However, their attacking opportunities were limited, with strong Nelson defence repelling their only genuine first-half assault as Huia's forwards hammered Nelson's line.

Huia played with spirit and with a defensive tenacity that occasionally forced Nelson into error. They even got to within four points of Nelson's lead after they had narrowed Nelson's 13-3 halftime advantage to just 13-9 early in the second half.

But further penalties to Lash and Andrew Goodman, followed by Lash's late try, again saw Nelson distance themselves on the scoreboard, although respectful of a competitive all-round Huia team performance.

No 8 Shane Christie, lock James Foster and an effective front row were key elements in Nelson's forward effort, with second five-eighth Andrew Goodman again strong in the midfield.

Marist led twice during their tense Tahunanui contest, although it was No 10 Jason Merrett's fourth penalty success with about eight minutes on the clock, to put his team ahead 19-18, that threatened to derail Stoke's hopes of contesting their third final in the past four years.

It was left to opposing No 10 Beleski to calmly nail his third penalty success with four minutes left, before adding another virtually on time to secure Stoke the win.

They had led 13-9 at the break after No 8 Tevita Koloamatangi had scored the only try of the first half, stealing a ball about 30 metres out and sprinting untouched to the line after 18 minutes.

Beleski and Merrett added the rest to help keep both teams on edge at the break, Marist having missed their chance to seize the advantage when a pass rebounded off No 8 Joe Yalayala's chest just metres from the line three minutes before halftime.

Marist had used the power of midfielder Kieron Fonotia's boot, and reliance on their defensive line, as their best means of securing first-half territory. While Stoke had looked more threatening with the ball in hand, their first-half opportunities were relatively limited against a committed Marist defence.

A dominant scrum appeared to give Marist the lift they needed early in the second half and when fullback Latham Jones burst through several sideline tackles to score 14 minutes into the half, Marist snatched their first lead at 16-13.

Stoke's protests for obstruction in the lead up to Latham's try went unheeded, although Stoke reclaimed the lead 10 minutes from time when both wings worked in tandem down the right flank, Chris Little delivering the final pass for Brenton Connell to crash in at the corner.

Stoke's narrow 18-16 lead led to an exciting climax as both teams sensed late chances of victory. A Koloamatangi steal off a driving Francis Smith deep inside Stoke territory gave Stoke the late opportunities they needed to regain the initiative, Beleski then showing admirable composure to ensure they were not wasted.

Nelson 24 (Vai Asomua-Goodman, Robbie Malneek, James Lash tries, Lash 2 pens, Andrew Goodman pen) Huia 9 (Jesse Rush 3 pens) Ht 13-3.

Stoke 24 (Tevita Koloamatangi, Brenton Connell tries, Jake Beleski 4 pens, con) Marist 19 (Latham Jones try, Jason Merrett 4 pens, con) Ht 13-9.