Transform list of elements to a sorted and dynamic HTM

<item>
 <name>Adoreable</name>
 <date>2004-12-11</date>
</item>
<item>
 <name>Adjustable</name>
 <date>2004-12-11</date>
</item>
<item>
 <name>Bulk</name>
 <date>2004-12-10</date>
</item>
<item>
 <name>Condensed</name>
 <date>2004-12-12</date>
</item>
<item>
 <name>Compromise</name>
 <date>2004-11-08</date>
</item>

<table>
 <tr>
   <td>Condensed</td>
   <td>Adjustable</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
   <td>Adoreable</td>
   <td>Bulk</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
   <td colspan="2">Compromise</td>
 </tr>
</table>

If there are not enough items to fill the columns of the last row its last <td> should
have a "colspan" attribute in order to satisfy layout requirements. No empty
rows should be created (e.g. if there are not enough items to fill all <$Rows> rows).

As you may see there exists a second sort element (<name/>, ascending) in my example
but this is no must-have feature.

Regards,
Jannis