League: Hawks into top four with win

Ngongotaha player William Grace (with ball) gets past a defender during their match against Mangakino on Saturday. Photo / Ben Fraser

The Mangakino Hawks have snuck into the top four of the Bay of Plenty Coastline premier competition after a morale-boosting win over Ngongotaha 27-24.

The small-town club visited Rotorua on Saturday to play their round five fixture at Puketawhero Park.

Neither side had won a match this year in the premier rugby league competition and were both in desperate need of a victory.

With the scores locked at 20-all in the second half, it was Mangakino halfback Johnson Peri who made a big play, breaking the line before skipping past some scrambling defenders to score under the posts.

He converted the try then added a drop goal with about five minutes remaining to push his side out to a 27-20 lead.

In the dying minutes, Ngongotaha scored out wide through Eroni Seibouma and they even had one more possession to try and win the match. But it was not to be and Mangakino held on to win.

Mangakino coach Zane Knight was very proud of his team and said they had been working hard in what was a tough competition. "Everyone is turning up to training and putting the effort in. It's an outstanding culture, the least we have had at training is 16 and some nights we have 22, 23."

Mangakino were also awarded two competition points earlier this year after their loss against Pikiao was overturned, thanks to Pikiao fielding an unregistered player.

Knight said they were originally set to play in the division one competition this season but had been asked to come up and play in the premier grade.

"To be honest we have got about 10 players that are premier level. And then I probably have another 10 that are on the edge, kind of getting better and are improving."

He said their goal was to develop into a consistent top four side in years to come.

Ngongotaha play maker Raymond Luke said they had been missing the bulk of their forward pack for a few weeks, and would welcome them back next week.

In the other premier games, the Pacific Sharks (Tokoroa) have continued their undefeated run with a win over the Otumoetai Eels 44-14 in Tauranga, and Pikiao lost to Taupo 20-16 after their game was called off early because of a dispute at Hickling Park. That match will be reviewed by Upper Central Zone Rugby League this week.

-Ngongotaha 24 (Joshua Taylor 2, Scottie Thompson, Peter Peni, Eroni Seibouma tries; Ray Luke 2 con) Mangakino 27 (Johnson Peri 2, Corey Brooks, Kieran Hema, Jaylen Tupaea tries; Johnson Peri 3 con, drop goal)

-Premier table: Pacific Sharks 10, Taupo Phoenix 6, Otumoetai Eels 6, Mangakino Hawks 4, Pikiao Warriors 3, Ngongotaha 1.