League: Electrifying Eels looking like champs after win

Pikiao's Rhys Hohepa puts boot to ball under pressure from Eels player Ainsley Skudder. Photo / Andrew Warner

The Otumoetai Eels proved too slippery for the Pikiao Warriors with a resounding 36-12 victory at Mitchell Park on Saturday.

The Eels scored seven tries to two and romped away with the game, playing into a stiff breeze in the second spell, after the teams were level 6-6 at the break.

The victory moves the Eels into the top three in the Bay of Plenty Coastline premier grade table and after a slow start they look likely title contenders.

The return to the fold after a break away for experienced campaigners Josh Weedon and Michael Johnston is a factor in the team's form reversal, but the intensity in defence from all the players is what did Pikiao in the end.

Hooker Willy Rutene was one of the stars of the day, scoring two tries under the posts with carbon copy darts from dummy half that split the game open for the Eels.

Eels coach Len Reid said it was always going to be a tough game.

"Pikiao play a confrontational style of game and always play tough. They always possess some good footballers. At 6-6 at halftime it was always going to be tight but I thought we had the fitness and the composure to finish over the top of them and that is what we did.

"We have been threatening for a while to do that and that was a great second half performance."

-Otumoetai Eels 36 (Willy Rutene 2, Ainsley Skudder 2, Ryan Gordon, Connor Hohepa tries; Hohepa 4 goals) Pikiao Warriors 12 (Andrew Gardner, Balmain Smith tries; Rhys Hohepa 2 goals). HT: 6-6.