League: Eels too slippery for Sharks

The Pacific Sharks' (pictured defending) brilliant undefeated run came to an end on Saturday when they lost to the Otumoetai Eels. Photo / Stephen Parker

There's a well known saying - all good things must come to an end.

For a long time this season it looked like the undefeated Pacific Sharks (Tokoroa) would contradict that saying in the Bay of Plenty Coastline premier rugby league competition.

But after winning nine straight games this year they were finally beaten in round 10 on Saturday, losing 16-14 to the Otumoetai Eels.

Tauranga's top club, the Eels, travelled to Memorial Park in Tokoroa to take on the runaway competition leaders.

The last time the two sides met the Sharks comfortably defeated the Eels in Tauranga 44-14. However, the Eels have found some good form in recent weeks, and managed to topple the Tokoroa giants.

Only Taupo and Pikiao had managed to trouble the Sharks before that result, which will give Otumoetai and other top clubs plenty of confidence that the Sharks can be challenged this year, come the playoffs.

In the other premier games, Pikiao were knocked over by Taupo Phoenix 16-4 in Rotorua while the Mangakino Hawks are now within one competition point of fourth-placed Pikiao, after beating Ngongotaha 14-10. in Mangakino.

-Premier ladder: Pacific 18, Taupo 14, Otumoetai 12, Pikiao 7, Mangakino 6, Ngongotaha 3.