Clean sweep for Otumoetai Eels

OFF-LOADING: Tane Leef is in top form again for the Otumoetai Eels. PHOTO/FILE

What was billed as the clash of the round between unbeaten Pikiao Warriors and Otumoetai Eels turned into a triumph for the Eels under lights at Rotorua's Puketawhero Park on Saturday evening.

It was a clinical display by BOP/Coastline districts combined premier favourites Otumoetai who played an almost error free first half with sheer class written all over them to lead 18-0 at the break.

Pikiao could have thrown up the white flag but refused to surrender, at times showing glimpses of brilliance to have the Eels defence at almost breaking point several times.

In the second half the Eels seemed to drift from their game plan that made their line unpenetrable in the first stanza and also threw wide risky balls, eventually loosening their grip on the game. Pikiao competed for long periods and but for desperate Eels defence could have scored several times.

The Eels regained control with loose forward Willz Rutene burrowing over from close to the line to take the score to 24-0.

Pikiao came back strongly led by powerful second rower and captain Balmain Smith with big runs for fullback Noel Te Rangi to race away down the sideline to score the first of two tries, but two more tries to Eels live wire Tane Leef and Detroit Paki put the game beyond doubt.

Eels props Dan Holmes and Thomas Crosby did a lot of heavy work up front along with strong runs from Leef, Rutene and hooker Lucas Haywards, whose darts from dummy constantly had the Pikiao forwards scrambling.

In the backs fullback Ruapani Smith played a blinder while halves Josh Weeden and Darryl Thomas were all class in directing all the attacks for outside backs, Aritaku Robens, Detroit Paki, Mark Ballantyne and Ryan Gordon to create their magic out past the edges.

In other premier games Pacific Sharks hammered a hapless Taupo Phoenix 80-20, Mangakino had a tough 40-20 win over Ngongotaha with Taneatua sitting out the bye.

The Premier 2 division is starting to sort itself out with Papamoa Bulldogs now one of three unbeaten sides by defeating Tauhara 34-22 in Taupo. Former Waicoabay and Eels prop Brendon Anderson taking on the coaching role this season and coming up with pleasing results. Otumoetai defeated Pikiao's second team 40-20, pulling away in the second half in their eight-try win and Pacific remained unbeaten after Taupo reserves defaulted.

This Saturday the Eels host Pacific in both grades at Mitchell Park, Bellevue and with Pacific smarting from their pre-season two-point loss to the Eels, they will be out to make amends.

Pikiao are at home to Taupo, Ngongotaha travel to Taneatua and Papamoa Bulldogs take on Te Teko Bulldogs in Te Teko in a battle for bulldogs supremacy. Kawerau's Putauaki Stags play Tauhara in Taupo after a huge 62-12 win over Te Teko on Saturday.

In the Youth International grades, Otumoetai Eels are the dominant club with their under 17s winning over Ngongotaha, under 15s thrashing Tokoroa's Pacific Sharks 52-10, U14s hammering Ngongotaha Chiefs 40-4 and their U13s demolishing Papamoa 70-10.

This was the second week the Eels have had a clean sweep of the grades.