No winners but plenty of encouraging signs as clubs get set for opening round

Craig Tiriana | 2nd March 2010

RUGBY LEAGUE

by Craig Tiriana craig.tiriana@dailypost.co.nz

I wasn't too sure what to expect but I'm pretty happy. Otumoetai Eels coach Brett RodgerAs far as a bona fide competition went, the first combined Bay of Plenty and Coastline districts one-day tournament didn't really come up to the mark - there was no winner.

But it was an opportunity for clubs to get some much needed matchplay ahead of this week's opening round of football.

The problem came with the non-arrival of the Whakatane Mustangs, which forced a re-jig of the draw while some other teams arrived late, sending the pre-season opener into overtime on a sizzling afternoon at Puketawhero Park in Rotorua.

Because of the delays there were no finals and teams played just two matches each.

Officials kept a loose eye on results but scores were not furnished as basically, "teams were mixed up with premiers and premier reserves in some", an official said.

With both districts involved in their own competitions last year, Saturday provided an opportunity for many coaches to see where their squads were at.

As expected, Rotorua's Ngongotaha and Tauranga's Otumoetai Eels stood out with the visitors bringing two teams and not dropping a game all day, much to the delight of their coach Brett Rodger.

"We've gone better than I expected, I wasn't too sure what to expect but I'm pretty happy," he said.

The Eels are the Coastline premier champions and have been training since November. They have a squad of 45 players to select their premier side for this weekend's opener.

Ngongotaha coach Ralph Filipo was also satisfied with the efforts of his team which drew with the Eels and beat Tauranga in their other outing.

"We've got a mixture of premiers and reserves and I was impressed with the [guys] fitness and standard of play," said Filipo.

Rotorua's premier clubs Pikiao and Central also took part, as did premier reserve teams from Turangi and Mangakino.

Pikiao went through the day unbeaten in both grades with the premiers beating Tauranga Whalers and drawing with one of the Otumoetai selections.

 Meanwhile, it's expected there will be some discussion by the league early this week to revisit the various 2010 competition draws in the light of Whakatane's no show and the inclusion of a team from Gisborne.