League: Otumoetai Eels too good for Taupo

Josh Weedon was in good form in the win for Otumoetai Eels on the weekend. Photo / File

Otumoetai Eels Premiers underlined why they are favourites for the combined BOP/Coastline rugby league premiers competition by demolishing Taupo Phoenix 52-10 at Mitchell Park on Saturday.

Admittedly Taupo were short of several of their top players who were committed to the young farmers' awards in Auckland but, after a patchy start, the Eels took control by scoring 11 tries, some of them well constructed with 17-year-old Warriors U18 player Carlos Levao touching down for two brilliantly taken scores.

The halves pairing of Josh Weedon and Darryl Thomas was instrumental in setting up the attacks and Connor Hohepa, in his usual role at fullback, produced well-timed entries into the attack which was great to see.

Willz Rutene, Mitchell Cairns Nelson, Daniel Holmes and Te Rupe Douglas played big games in the forwards, with livewire Tane Leef and Lucas Hayward adding starch to the forward pack.

Taupo prop Tupara Tupara was the pick of their bunch in never backing down to a superior outfit on the day and had some great runs through the middle.

Otumoetai Premiers tries went to Darryll Thomas (2), Aritaku Robens (2), Carlos Levao (2), Daniel Holmes (2), Connor Hohepa, Mitchell Cairns-Nelson and Lucas Hayward with goals kicked by Hohepa (3) and Weeden (1).

In other matches, Pikiao caused an upset downing Pacific Sharks 30-22 in Rotorua to signal they are back with a vengeance, Mangakino hammered Taneatua 58-16 and Ngongotaha had the bye.

Round 3 this Saturday sees Pikiao and Ngongotaha battling it out for Rotorua supremacy, Pacific travel down the road to Mangakino and Taneatua are at Taupo, both teams in need of a moral-boosting win.

Otumoetai Eels premier reserves are also unbeaten after a 50-12 hiding to Taupo's second side on Saturday, with many of that squad champing at the bit to make their step up to the premiers.

The juniors also kicked off on Sunday with the mini (U6, U7, U8, U9), mods (U11) and U13 teams starting their season with an open day for all teams in the Coastline District to come together. It was a great day with hundreds of kids and their parents and supporters converging at Arataki Park, Bayfair.

Clubs represented were Otumoetai Eels, Tauranga Whalers, Papamoa Bulldogs, Te Puke Tigers, Mataatua Saddlebacks (Whakatane) and Putauaki Stags (Kawerau) with Te Teko and Taneatua only fielding senior teams this season.

The BOP/Coastline combined Youth International Grades also kicked off around the BOP/Coastline Districts also with Otumoetai Eels making a strong statement by winning all their U14, (40-20 over Hukanui), U15 (64-6 over Rotorua's Pikiao) and U17 (50-10 over Rotorua's Waikite) matches.