Rugby League: Competition for spots boosts Eels

Tarquin Court takes the ball up for the Otumoetai Eels against Turangawaewae at Mitchell Park on Saturday. Photo/Stuart Whitaker

The surging Otumoetai Eels made it three wins at Mitchell Park in as many weeks by thumping an overmatched Turangawaewae side 70-12 in the sunshine on Saturday.

Another impressive crowd saw the Eels run in 13 tries to two on a picture postcard afternoon, after leading 38-0 at the break.

The tries came early and often for the Eels, who looked to have used the new Mitchell Park lights midweek to expand on their attacking repertoire.

Props Tarquin Court and Kere Thompson took turns bending the line with their bulk before trying their hand at a succession of second man plays at the line.

Stand-off Josh Weedon utilised short and long balls to runners on each flank, kicked to the corners well, scored a try through running a strong support line, and dragged his defender wide from a classic scrum move to allow the impressive Tane Leef to dummy and stroll over for one of his four tries.

The outside backs did their fair share of work and most impressively attacked from distance when width was available.

Turangawaewae scored a pair of tries early in the second half as Weedon and Court rested on the pine, but Court's return midway through the second stanza swung the momentum back in favour of the Eels.

"I was just trying to take a load off the other runners," Court said. "They were shooting for me, so I was drawing in as many as I could and then looking for the offload to open up the backline."

Court said the return of Mikaere October and a number of Waicoa Bay Stallions had given the club a surge of confidence.

"There's massive competition and the reserves are going good. If they are going well it pushes us to keep our spots. We've got 40-odd players at every training and the following behind the club is huge," he said.

Otumoetai Eels 70 (Tane Leef 4, Ainsley Skudder 3, Lance Rolleston, Tans Taikato, Josh Weedon, Detroit Paki, Paki Parkinson, Daniel Holmes tries; Taikato 2, Weedon 3, Paki 3, Leef cons) Turangawaewae 12 (Eru Whare, Iwa Te Koi tries; Joshua Cowan 2 cons)