10 out of 10 for perfect Tasman

Tasman have been the benchmark all season, and now they are just two wins away from bagging a maiden Mitre 10 Cup premiership title.

The Mako became the first team in 12 years to go through a regular season campaign unbeaten, logging a perfect 10 from 10 record following their 47-28 victory over Hawke’s Bay in Napier on Saturday afternoon.

The last time such a feat was achieved was in 2007, when Auckland went on to claim the title.

It’s going to require something outstanding from someone if Tasman are going to be halted on their charge to the silverware, having finished with a stunning points differential of +277 and eight four-try bonus points.

Despite top spot already being wrapped up going into their final outing, there was still no let-up from Tasman, with yet more freeflowing attack seeing them run in seven tries in what was a fine rehearsal for this weekend’s home semifinal.

The other premiership semifinal will be hosted by Wellington, after they secured hosting right thanks to a 39-21 victory over Waikato at Westpac Stadium on Saturday night. The win saw the Lions finish the regular season with a seven-win, onedraw, two-loss record.

It took some time for Wellington to get into their work against a Mooloos side out of contention for the playoffs, but a three-try burst in the space of five minutes before halftime stamped their authority on the contest, and when hooker Asafo Aumua nabbed his second try early in the second spell the game was as good