Otahuhu Ellerslie Beat Hibiscus
Raiders In Close One In Bartercard Cup

Otahuhu Ellerslie finally found form today at Henham Park and in the process beat the Hibiscus Coast Raiders 24/18.

Otahuhu Ellerslie opened the account with an easy blind side try to the Half Back, Cory Wetene , from a scrum fairly close to the Raiders line. The Raiders responded shortly after a scooting run from Wing, Joe Vaifale. Daniel Floyd converted and the visitors were in front 6/8.

Otahuhu Ellerslie today, however, were playing with much greater purpose than they have done, to date. Prop, Sinave Faitala, went in, following a play that went through the back line and back inside again. Full Back, Toshio Laiseni, scored off a great run from Second Rower, Henry Turua. 14/6 and the local side are going well.

Just before the hooter for the spell, Raiders gun Centre, Shaun Ata, went over after a magic piece of play between Troy Thompson and Daniel Floyd.

At the half time break and it?s 14/10 to the hosts. That was a great half of running football and both sides are putting on a huge performance. Defence is good from both sides and the attack is relentless.

It was well into the second half before Otahuhu Ellerslie get a penalty fairly handy to the line. "Take the two" is the call and over it sails. Minutes later, same spot, another penalty and again it?s sweet. 18/10 and the home side can sniff a win.

The Hibiscus Coast side will never lie down though and Full Back, Daniel Floyd, scores a classic ?Floyd special?. He just seems to float through the defence, without a hand being placed on him. He converted his own effort and it?s a two point ball game.

Otahuhu Ellerslie are playing smart footy and set up a passage of play that allows Sinave Faitala to grab his second try of the day. The Raiders are not finished yet and grab a penalty kick to take it to 24/18 with about four minutes to go. The Raiders throw everything in their arsenal at it, but a failed short kick off and a spilled ball ruin theirday.

24/18, and the host side had earned their second win of the comp so far. I said a couple of weeks ago that when they had a playing roster of fit players, they would be very competitive. They proved that today. Fit players and the fact that they finally had young Stand Off, Darin Kingi playing in his rightful number 6 spot.