Bay of Plenty Times
  • Bay of Plenty Times home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Sport

Locations

  • Coromandel & Hauraki
  • Katikati
  • Tauranga
  • Mount Maunganui
  • Pāpāmoa
  • Te Puke
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • Thames
  • Tauranga
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Bay of Plenty Times

Rugby League: Ōtūmoetai Eels hammered in semifinal, determined to bounce back

Adyn Ogle
By Adyn Ogle
Sports writer·Bay of Plenty Times·
28 Jul, 2019 08:45 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Ōtūmoetai Eels player Tremaine Pompey takes a hit up during a game against Taniwharau earlier this season. Photo / File

Ōtūmoetai Eels player Tremaine Pompey takes a hit up during a game against Taniwharau earlier this season. Photo / File

"That wasn't us".

That was Ōtūmoetai Eels captain Dan Holmes' summation of his side's performance in a 46-0 loss to Taniwharau on Saturday.

Despite the hammering in the Waikato Rugby League major semifinal in Hamilton, the competition format allows Ōtūmoetai a reprieve and this week they will take on College Old Boys, who beat Ngaruawahia Panthers in the minor semifinal. The winner will earn a spot in the grand final against Taniwharau.

Holmes said his side did not show up on Saturday.

"That was one of our worst performances. Now it is getting back to the drawing board and working on our defence and getting some physicality in there. This team can definitely bounce back."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

He said when Ōtūmoetai take on College Old Boys, who they drew 24-all with in the regular season, they will need to work them in the tackle.

Ōtūmoetai Eels Sam Johnstone in action. Photo / File
Ōtūmoetai Eels Sam Johnstone in action. Photo / File

Taniwharau have been the dominant force in the competition this year, conceding on average less than 10 points per game. They also went into the playoffs rested. There were no competition games due to rep fixtures three weeks ago, the had the bye in the final round of the regular season and earned bye in the first week of the playoffs as top qualifier.

Ōtūmoetai coach Grant Sundborn said the changing room was a quiet place after Saturday's game and the benefit of Taniwharau's rest was evident.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"We got schooled and we were flat, it is no excuse but we are a better team than that. By comparison we looked like we had no sleep and they looked fresh and sharp. It is a cliché but full credit to them. We have a lot to work on."

Ōtūmoetai's woes were compounded by injuries but Sundborn said there were positives to take into this week.

"We didn't give up, we will work on what went wrong, once you start piling on points you get confidence and they beat us in every facet of the game. We need to work on not letting them up quickly and slowing down that play of the ball. We will move on and be up for the next game."

College Old Boys earned their place in the sudden death semifinal after a thrilling win over the Panthers. They were down 18-2 at halftime before coming back to win 26-24.

Discover more

Teams make final push for playoffs

11 Jul 12:17 AM

Ōtūmoetai Eels pumped for semifinals

25 Jul 02:13 AM
NPC

SBW to suit up for Counties Manukau in Bay of Plenty clash

29 Jul 05:43 PM

Ōtūmoetai ready for title shot

09 Aug 12:56 AM

Waikato Rugby League sudden-death semifinal

Who: Ōtūmoetai v College Old Boys

When: Saturday, August 3, 3pm kickoff

Where: Hamilton

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Bay of Plenty Times

Bay of Plenty Times

Nine Lotto players win nearly $31k each in Second Division – where tickets were sold

06 Jul 05:31 AM
Bay of Plenty Times

'He's just scared of me': Teen's Māori wards challenge to PM

06 Jul 03:55 AM
Bay of Plenty Times

Region's first learning hub for migrant parents a 'transformative step'

05 Jul 06:00 PM

There’s more to Hawai‘i than beaches and buffets – here’s how to see it differently

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Bay of Plenty Times

Nine Lotto players win nearly $31k each in Second Division – where tickets were sold

Nine Lotto players win nearly $31k each in Second Division – where tickets were sold

06 Jul 05:31 AM

Lotto First Division Powerball was not struck and has jackpotted to $10m on Wednesday.

'He's just scared of me': Teen's Māori wards challenge to PM

'He's just scared of me': Teen's Māori wards challenge to PM

06 Jul 03:55 AM
Region's first learning hub for migrant parents a 'transformative step'

Region's first learning hub for migrant parents a 'transformative step'

05 Jul 06:00 PM
'God-given right': Family defends largely unconsented homestead on rural land

'God-given right': Family defends largely unconsented homestead on rural land

04 Jul 08:45 PM
From early mornings to easy living
sponsored

From early mornings to easy living

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Bay of Plenty Times e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Bay of Plenty Times
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP