Eels down Randwick, lead league
Bone crunching tackles and hard running hit ups allowed the Te Aroha Eels to go to the top of the Wellington premier rugby league competition table.
They notched a 44-32 win over Randwick at Te Whiti Park on Saturday.
Last year Randwick beat Te Aroha 22-20 in a dramatic grand final, which was not decided until a successful penalty allowed the Kingfishers to win in extra time.
This time the Eels went into the game with a full strength side, while Randwick had to settle for new combinations after losing six regular players through injuries and unavailability.
New Zealand Universities and Te Aroha second rower Solomona Sio got the Eels off to a flyer with two tries early on, before Randwick could settle fully into the game.
Te Aroha led 18-10 at halftime. However, in the third quarter they nearly surrendered their lead when the blue and golds counter- attacked to make the score 24-22, before a relieving penalty from a high tackle allowed the home side to again stretch the lead.
Sensing that Randwick could again break the shackles at any stage, the Te Aroha forwards inspired the rest of the team with some superb bursts down the field, to result in overlaps out wide. The result was four back to back tries and a 44-22 lead with less than 10 minutes remaining in front of the big sized crowd of more than 500.
Randwick, however, was not to be denied and with two late tries, they regathered some lost mana before the old enemy time won out.
Te Aroha players Sio, Lake Manaia and Denzil Hokianga all set fine personal examples with industrious work on offence and defence, while Randwick hooker Anton Marino, right wing David Saumolia and fullback Axton Daniels were the hardest workers for the Kingfishers.
Randwick scrumhalf Jacob Katoa showed signs of a promis- ing playing future after being promoted from the reserve grade, prompting some to have backing banners up to show support.
Randwick coach Daniel McEwen offered no excuses for his side’s first loss to Te Aroha in three years and first defeat since going down to University in round four last year.
‘‘We had some good periods of possession in the game, but in the end full credit goes to Te Aroha as they just did the simple things right, which in the end counted against us,’’ he said.
In the other premier games that were played, two late tries resulted in Wainuiomata drawing 22- all with the St George Dragons, while the Upper Hutt Tigers reclaimed the Hughie Paul Shield in beating the Petone Panthers 48-12 at Whakatiki Street. The University Hunters were made to work hard before beating the Porirua Vikings 36-30 at Onepoto Park.