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, which will be against Auckland.
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.
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 as done.
Wellington will face Canterbury next weekend.
Canterbury needed a try from replacement prop Harry Allan two minutes after the final hooter to ensure they kept the Ranfurly Shield for the summer as they edged North Harbour 31-25 in Christchurch yesterday.
In the championship division, Hawke’s Bay needed to beat Tasman in order to secure top seeding, but with their defeat they had to instead settle for second place behind Bay of Plenty, who went to the top of the ladder after their 22-12 win over Southland in Invercargill on Thursday night.
Taranaki’s 35-11 defeat to Auckland in New Plymouth on Friday night kept them clinging to fourth spot in the championship, but when Manawatu¯ pulled off a 33-17 win over premiership wooden spooners Counties Manukau in Palmerston North on Saturday evening, it was the Turbos who clinched the final playoff berth, and a trip to face Bay of Plenty in the semifinals.
Otago have secured third spot and will travel to face Hawke’s Bay in the other semifinal. Round 10 results:
Bay of Plenty 22 (Mitch Karpik, Emoni Narawa, Tom Franklin, Te Aihe Toma tries; Te Aihe Toma con) Southland 12 (Matthew James, Greg Pleasants-Tate tries; Marty McKenzie con). HT: 5-12.
Auckland 35 (Dalton Papalii, Adrian Choat, Salesi Rayasi, Jordan Trainor tries; Harry Plummer con, 3 pen, Daniel Kirkpatrick 2 con) Taranaki 11 (Ricky Riccitelli try; Stephen Perofeta
2 pen). HT: 8-11.
Tasman 47 (Leicester Faingaanuku
2, Sione Havili, Tima Faingaanuku, Mitch Hunt, Alex Nankivell, Hugh Roach tries; Mitch Hunt 4 con, David Havili 2 con) Hawke’s Bay 28 (Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Devan Flanders, Caleb Makene, Jason Long tries; Tiaan Falcon 3 con, Lincoln McClutchie con). HT: 19-14.
Manawatu¯ 33 (Otere Black, Ngani Laumape, Johnny Galloway, Samu Tawake, Ben Werthmuller tries; Otere Black 4 con) Counties Manukau 17 (Liam Fitzsimons, Daymon Leasuasu, Rodney Tongotea tries; Orbyn Leger con). HT: 26-5.
Wellington 39 (Asafo Aumua 2, Vince Aso, Billy Proctor, Kemara Hauiti-Parapara tries; Jackson Garden-Bachop 4 con, 2 pen) Waikato 21 (Samisoni Taukei’aho, Bailyn Sullivan, Louis Rogers tries; Fletcher Smith 3 con). HT: 25-7.
Northland 40 (Aorangi Stokes, Jordan Hyland 2, Scott Gregory 2, Matt Matich tries; Jack Debreczeni 5 con) Otago 10 (Henry Purdy, Josh Timu tries). HT: 26-5.
Canterbury 31 (Braydon Ennor, Josh McKay 2, Harry Allan tries Brett Cameron pen, 4 con) North Harbour
25 (Mark Telea 2, Osea Qamasea, Lewis Gjaltema tries; Bryn Hall pen, con). HT: 17-5
In yesterday’s early match, Northland avoided the championship wooden spoon at Southland’s expense after beating Otago 40-10 in Whangarei.