Sea Eagles carve up Bulldogs

The Ngatangiia-Matavera Sea Eagles managed to fend off a heartened Bulldogs attack in Titikaveka during the weekend’s rugby league play, winning the game 25-16.

The Eagles’ thrifty game play saw them taking some hard-earned tries and a drop-goal in the second half to overturn a first-half deficit to beat the Dogs.

But their win wasn’t easy – the big Bulldogs brought a hard-hitting and physical game play to their opponents, drawing cheers, jeers, hooting and howling from the blue and white sections of the crowd.

The Dogs’ physical style occasionally got under the skin of their neighbours, but the Eagles managed to maintain their composure for the majority of the match.

The physicality of the contest was showing on the players’ grimacing faces as they were subbed off for the Eagles.

In the end, Ngatangiia-Matavera was better able to take scoring opportunities when they presented themselves and come out on top in the match.

The win over the number-three Bulldogs means the Eagles have a better grip on fourth position in the ladder.

Above them, the top three did not change over the weekend.

The Tupapa-Maraerenga Panthers maintain the top position over the Avatiu Eels while Titikaveka rounds out the top three.

The table-top clash between the Eels and the Panthers ended with a fizzle and a drawn match.

Both sides finished with 10 points in their meet-up.

Onlookers said the result was more of an indication that neither of the teams truly deserved to take the win.

There were plenty of errors during the game and the 10-all draw seemed a fitting end for play that should not have come from the top two teams in the premiership division.

With Arorangi sitting out the round with a bye, the final match of the weekend between the Takuvaine Warriors and the Aitutaki Sharks was never played.

The Warriors did not travel to Aitutaki to play the Sharks and defaulted on the match.

The default cements the team’s position on the bottom of the table.

With plenty of league still to be played this season, it looks as though the Sharks, Bears and Eagles will be fighting it out for the fourth and last position for the 2012 final series.