Long wait about to end
One side seek their first premiership title; the other hope to end their near two-decade title drought.
Tasman will host Wellington in the Mitre 10 Cup Premiership final on Saturday after both made amends for semifinal defeats a year ago to send powerhouses Auckland and Canterbury tumbling out.
The Mako stretched their winning streak to 11 in 2019 to ensure favouritism for the decider in Nelson, beating defending champions Auckland 18-9 in Blenheim.
Then Wellington, whose last top division title was in 2000, kept themselves in the mix by storming past Canterbury 30-19 to ensure the Ranfurly Shield is the only silverware the red-andblacks will end the season with.
Tasman were pushed to the limit by Auckland in a nailbiting contest which showed that the regular season counts for little in the playoffs.
It took late tries by Quinten Strange and Alex Nankivell to separate the teams and ensure Tasman fans could book their tickets for the following weekend.
At Westpac Stadium, Wellington’s young, powerhouse front
row provided the talking point.
All Blacks hooker Asafo Aumua, tighthead Alex Fidow and loosehead Xavier Numia were outstanding for the first 50 minutes as the Lions took a stranglehold.
Fullback Trent Renata and wing Ben Lam scored tries either side of a five pointer from lock James Blackwell as Wellington surged to a 24-0 lead early in the first half and were never caught.
Wellington No 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi was also a ball of energy and All Black Vaea Fifita – playing at lock – also had his moments.
In the Championship, it will be a battle of the bays for promotion to the top bracket after Bay of Plenty and Hawke’s Bay had vastly different semifinal wins.
In Rotorua, BOP strolled in for 10 tries to beat Manawatu 64-3 on Friday night.
The powerful Steamers recorded their sixth successive win as the impressive Emoni Narawa claimed a classy hattrick.
Manawatu were never a match for the rampant hosts and All Blacks midfielder Ngani Laumape’s absence because of a hamstring injury was a bitter blow before their first playoff match in five years.
In Napier yesterday it took extra time to ensure the Magpies got home 44-39 over Otago, after trailing 21-7.
It was all tied up 31-31 at fulltime; then Hawke’s Bay’s Mason Emerson scampered 25m to score, eight minutes into the extra period to give the hosts the decisive advantage.
Otago’s Mika Mafi replied to give the southerners hope but a late penalty to Tiaan Falcon gave him a 19-point haul and ensured a winning buffer.