League: Double blow as Eels sides bow out in semifinals

Otumoetai Eels prop Wiremu Ryan crashes into the Pikiao defence at Mitchell Park yesterday. Photo / Andrew Warner

Otumoetai Eels' hopes of progressing into next week's Premier and Under-17 grand finals ended with semifinal losses over the weekend.

In Taupo, the Premiers were beaten 32-24 by the home side on Saturday, while the Under-17s were knocked out by Pikiao at Mitchell Park yesterday.

Eels Premiers coach Len Reid says the game was closer than the result might indicate.

"With 10 minutes to go it was 26-24 to them and they scored right on the hooter," he said.

"We had come from 10-all at halftime to be down 26-10, and got all the way to 26-24, and just couldn't get over the last hurdle. It was heart-wrenching for us as we had clawed our way back."

Reid says when his team was good, "they were very, very good and proved it throughout the season".

"But we have struggled to be consistent for the whole 80 minutes and [Saturday] was no exception. It was like an on-off switch. The switch was off for so long, then it would come on and we would be unbeatable, we would score points and tackle everything. Then the switch would go off again. That kind of sums up our season.

"We are a small side and maybe that accounts that we got knocked about a bit.

"We have a really good coaching roster within the club and a good mix of youngsters coming through, so it is looking positive."

At Mitchell Park, Rotorua teenager Hayze Perham was a star performer at standoff for Pikiao in their 34-24 defeat of the Eels in the under-17 semifinal.

Perham, who has signed for Penrith Panthers, played rugby for Rotorua Boys' in their Super 8 final loss to Hamilton Boys' on Saturday and looked a threat every time he touched the ball yesterday.

Centre Tane Te Rangi scored a hat-trick in the second half as the scoreline blew out towards the end, but for most of the game the Eels were truly competitive.

The Eels matched Pikiao's three tries in the first half but trailed 18-12 at the break thanks to a superb goalkicking display from halfback Leytohatoha Hohepa. Haki Hamilton opened the scoring for the Eels, with Uliti Uilou adding two more tries before the break.

Pikiao stretched their lead to 24-12 straight after halftime but a well-worked move by the Eels put Charlie Tuimaualuga in and at 24-18, it was game on.

However, Pikiao responded with two more tries through Te Rangi to make the game safe, before Eels prop Bailey Nicholas crashed over at the final hooter.

Pikiao 34 (Tane Te Rangi 3, Hayze Perham, Josh Burton and Lorne Green tries; Leytohatoha Hohepa 5 goals). Otumoetai Eels 24 (Uliti Uilou 2, Haki Hamilton, Charlie Tuimaualuga, Bailey Nicholas tries; Tyrus Campbell goal, Uilou goal).