At a glance

competition, giving them hosting rights as long as they’re alive in the competition.

You get the feeling the Mooloos, clearly distraught after coughing up the shield to Otago, would like nothing more than another shot at them in front of their home fans.

As for the premiership section, the four semifinalists – Tasman, Auckland, Canterbury and Wellington – have been found.

Fresh from hammering Southland 56-8 on Wednesday, Auckland only needed two competition points to clinch the top seed, meaning they will host the Lions, who booted Taranaki into the championship section next year, courtesy of a 34-10 demolition job in New Plymouth on Friday night.

That would make for a tasty semifinal between second-seed Tasman and reigning champions Canterbury in Nelson.

Canterbury, winners of nine of the past 10 NPC titles, beat the Mako in Christchurch to seal the 2016 and 2017 titles, although Tasman beat them 25-17 in Blenheim in the opening round of this year’s competition.

The red-and-blacks were unconvincing 19-14 winners against Counties Manukau in Pukekohe on Saturday night, their first of eight wins without a bonus point. Week nine results:

Auckland 56 (Mike Sosene Feagai 2, Salesi Rayasi, Fa’atiga Lemalu, Tumua Manu, Caleb Clarke, Desma Liaina, Adrian Choat tries; Harry Plummer 5 con, Dan Kirkpatrick 3 con) Southland 8 (Joe Walsh try; Tayler Adams pen). HT: 14-3.

Tasman 29 (Pari Pari Parkinson, Tim O’Malley, Mitch Hunt, Jack Grooby tries; Mitch Hunt pen, 3 con) Hawke’s Bay 0. HT: 10-0.

Wellington 34 (Vaea Fifita, Teariki Ben-Nicholas, Matt Proctor, Malo Tuitama, Sitiveni Paongo tries; Jackson Garden-Bachop 2con, pen, Trent Renata con) Taranaki 10 (Warwick Lahmert try; Beaudein Waaka con, pen) HT: 12-10.

Bay of Plenty 38 (James Lay, Jeff Thwaites, Liam Steel, Emoni Narawa, Fa’asiu Fuatai, Chase Tiatia tries; Kaleb Trask 4 con) Northland 35 (Aorangi Stokes, Ropate Rinakama, Noah Cooper, Tamati Tua, Jordan Hyland tries; Jack Debreczeni 5 con). HT: 26-7.

Otago 23 (Mitchell Scott, Josh Dickson, Joketani Koroi tries; Josh Ioane con, 2 pen) Waikato 19 (Josh Iosefa-Scott, Tyler Campbell, Bailyn Sullivan tries; Fletcher Smith 2 con) HT: 20-12.

Canterbury 19 (George Bridge, Braydon Ennor tries, penalty try; Mitchell Counties Manukau 14 (Nigel Ah Wong, Sione Molia tries;

HT: