Rugby League: Hibiscus Coast show Otahuhu how it's done

By TERRY MADDAFORD

A repeat of their woeful effort against Hibiscus Coast at Carlaw Park yesterday will spell an early end to Otahuhu's hopes in the national championship.

Beaten 40-16 after trailing 34-6 at halftime, Otahuhu never threatened the well-organised Coasters, who were ahead inside three minutes when livewire Aaron Aspin crossed for the first of his three tries.

Otahuhu struggled to complete their sets of six, but Hibiscus Coast retained possession well, often breaking the defence wide open with bullocking runs and inventive passing.

Well-led by captain Anthony SeuSeu and with good support from Tyrone Pau, Karl Te Mata and Shannon Stowers, the Coasters ran in six first-half tries to one.

Handed possession almost at will as their opponents made simple mistakes - including kicking the ball out on the full at restarts - Hibiscus Coast made it look easy.

Otahuhu's only try of the first spell came in the 14th minute when a rare Coast mistake saw Archie Ikihele ran through unchallenged.

After Aspin had scored his second, Jeremy Smith grabbed an intercept pass and ran 85m to score. Daniel Floyd's conversion stretched the lead to 22-6 after 27 minutes to all but end Otahuhu hopes.

Aspin completed his hat-trick early in the second spell with an amazing effort.

With three or four would-be tacklers hanging on, the 19-year-old inside back ran backwards towards the line before twisting and dotting down.

The end could not come soon enough for Otahuhu, but they did have the last say when Odell Manuel scored after their best move.

They rarely threatened again in the remaining 14 minutes and were left to contemplate the second elimination semifinal against Marist Richmond Brothers this weekend.

In Saturday's first elimination game, the Brothers beat last season's losing finalists Eastern Tornadoes 56-22.

In another one-sided affair at Carlaw Park, the Brothers scored 12 tries to four.

They play Otahuhu this weekend and Hibiscus Coast meet minor premiers Mt Albert, with the winner going to next month's grand final.