League: Eels look to continue winning run

TOUGH BATTLE: Action from last week's clash between the Otumoetai Eels (orange) and Ngongotaha. PHOTO: FILE

Coastline/BOP Combined's unbeaten Premier competition leaders Otumoetai Eels visit Whakatane's Rugby Park for the first time in many years to take on Taneatua Warriors tomorrow.

After their 82-10 shellacking by Pacific Sharks in Tokoroa last Saturday, Taneatua will have to be on their game to stop a repeat hammering by the Eels juggernaut. Otumoetai trounced Ngongotaha Chiefs in Rotorua 50-6 in a game Ngongotaha were confident of spoiling on their home ground of Puketawhero Park.

The plan of being aggressive and stretching the laws of the game was Ngongotaha's undoing, resulting in six players sin-binned and two sent off through ill-discipline.

The Eels showed composure by ignoring the negativity, instead sticking to a well-constructed game plan which brought points at will.

Winger Ryan Gordon and centre Sulusi Tuimaualuga scored two tries with Carlos Levao, 17, showing maturity in taking his opportunities at the right time. Mark Ballantyne, Josh Weedon, Deroit Paki and hooker Lucas Hayward were the other try scorers.

On the excellent playing surface at Rugby Park, Taneatua will find tomorrow's game tough and being hit by injuries will not help.

In other games tomorrow, Pikiao Warriors host the much improved Mangakino Hawks, who gave the Eels a tough game the week before succumbing 32-20. Ill-discipline in the last 10 minutes cost the Hawks a game that was there for the taking. Pikiao's only loss this season was also to the Eels.

Ngongotaha travel to Taupo Phoenix with Pacific Sharks sitting out a bye.

The battle of the top two reserve grade teams last Saturday at Papamoa's Gordon Spratt Reserve saw the Eels grind out a strong result over Papamoa Bulldogs. The home team led 20-16 with 15 minutes to go only for the Eels to put on four quick tries to seal the game 34-20.

The second round should be as tough with Brendon Anderson getting the Bulldogs a lot more structured than previous years and playing good, quality football.