Otumoetai Eels player Phil Johnston, right, takes the ball up in the tackle of Ngongotaha's Joshua Taylor at Mitchell Park last weekend. Photo / Andrew warner
In the newly combined BOP-Coastline competition, Imperial Trading Ltd Otumoetai Eels Premiers repulsed another tough opposition in Ngongotaha Chiefs by 12-10 at their hallowed Mitchell Park fortress last weekend to make it two wins from two.
With an 8-6 lead at halftime, the rainy conditions dictated the nature of the
match and both teams adapted admirably with the ball retention at a high percentage.
Ngongotaha managed to go ahead 10-8 but then Eels' super boot and star playmaking-halfback Connor Hohepa put a penalty between the posts to even the score with a little more than 10 minutes left on the clock.
It became a battle of attrition to see who could get best field position for a drop goal. Hohepa managed to sneak a 40/20 kick and with the next play he slotted the winning field goal. He then repeated the effort with two minutes to go knowing Ngongotaha's kickoff at halfway would give the Eels the ball to play their set out and end the game. And that's exactly what happened.
For the Eels, the forward pack was once again led by evergreen loosie Willie Rutene and second row forward/prop Phil Johnston. Hohepa again showed his class and calmness under pressure to score all 12 points for the Eels.
