Otumoetai Eels Premier's season came to an end at Resthills Park, Hamilton in the Cross Country Rentals Wai-Coa-Bay championship semifinal on Saturday.
On a soft and rain-affected ground the Eels went down 22-8 to a clinical Hamilton City Tigers in front of a huge crowd.
After a 10 minute arm wrestle, hooker Tane Leef opened the scoring by scooting clear to touch down for the Eels to give an early 4-0 lead.
Tigers came storming back with a superbly angled run from left centre Vaughan Calcinai to score near the posts which he converted to take a 6-4 lead. Tigers then grabbed a try close to halftime with a well timed pass from fullback Aron Jolley to Timo Brooky who raced away in the corner to dot down.
At 10-4 down the Eels came storming back in the second half actually getting the better of the Tigers over the next 20 minutes.