Otumoetai Eels premiers signalled their intentions in round 9 of the Cross Country Rentals Wai-Coa-Bay (Waikato-Coastline-BOP) combined competition on Saturday by pummelling hapless Turangawaewae from Ngaruawahia 80-18 in a 14-try romp at Mitchell Park.
The Eels were celebrating their women in league volunteers with the clubrooms all pinked out and pink Steeden game balls used on the day.
Eels captain and star halfback Josh Weeden scored 40 points from 4 tries and 12 conversions and was also instrumental in setting up five other tries in the process. Others to shine were dynamic hooker Tane Leef who grabbed a hat-trick of tries, stand-in 1.98m fullback Josh Allen who scored two, loose forward Peter Bidois who was into everything and big forwards Dan Karauna, Vance Te Utupoto and Justin Wigmore who set the platform up front.
The Eels are still missing at least six of their premiers to come back from injury but luckily they have bottom-of-the-table Hamilton United to get through this Saturday in Hamilton before they host the top dogs Hamilton City Tigers a week later at their hallowed Mitchell Park.
In other matches on Saturday, Rotorua's Pikiao Warriors and Taupo Phoenix fought out a dogged 18-all draw in Taupo with both teams fighting to stay in the hunt for the top four at the halfway stage of the competition. Taniwharau hammered Hamilton United 64-4 and the game between Ngongotaha Chiefs and Tokoroa's Pacific Sharks was postponed because of rain.
