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Papamoa's blistering start to the 2018 season was stopped in its tracks on Saturday after a gutsy goalless draw with Otumoetai at Fergusson Park.

After netting 13 times in their opening pair of fixtures, the free-scoring league leaders were stifled by a disciplined performance from Otumoetai, who had clearly done their homework.

The serene backdrop of Fergusson Park, complete with kiteboarders and postcard views, also had a trick up its sleeve, and the waterside setting brought with it an onshore wind that dominated the opening 45-minutes.

The conditions were not lost on visiting manager Duncan Lowry.

'Because of the wind in the first-half, it was effectively a 45-minute game of football.

'It's a very tricky place to come to and we knew that ahead of the game, but full credit to Otumoetai. They closed us down at every opportunity and made life difficult for us.

'In all honesty, after the conditions in the opening 45-minutes, we were really pleased to reach half-time at 0-0.”

From the outset, and playing against the breeze, Papamoa struggled to find the attacking rhythm that had served them so well in their opening victories.

Service to the front three of Andrew Cooper, Mitchell Hales and Strauss Boom was smothered for much of the half thanks to Otumoetai's resolute formation, both in midfield and defence.

And when the visitors did find a way through, they found home goalkeeper Scott Reid in commanding form.

The deadlock should have been broken on 35 minutes when Cooper's blocked shot found its way to Hales, but the number nine's goal-bound effort was expertly clawed away by Reid to keep the scores level.

And the English stopper was at it again shortly after the hour mark, blocking Cooper's shot from inside the penalty area after the forward had broken free down the left-hand side.

Young substitute Liam Molloy could have stolen all three points with just five minutes to go, but in keeping with the game's narrative, Otumoetai's resolve endured and his shot was blocked.

At the other end, with the exception of a nervous second-half back-pass that had Papamoa keeper Ryan Foord scrambling at his far post, the visitors were rarely troubled.

Marshalling the back three was James Davies, who belied his years and his stature by turning in a controlled, focused performance that rightly earned him the man-of-the-match award.

After the game, Papamoa captain Campbell Higgins, who was also unruffled alongside Davies and Phillip Fletcher in defence, says: 'We came here to take all three points, but in the end we're happy with a point.

'The conditions were pretty tough, but in the second-half we thought we would pick things up.

'But fair play to Otumoetai – they battled really well. It didn't look like they came out to beat us after the break, but defensively they were well organised and they challenged for everything.

'We were also pleased with our defensive effort. You can never be disappointed with a clean sheet and we need to keep building on that solidity at the back.

'We scored goals for fun in our first two games and we've got some really creative and talented forwards, but we've got a job to do at the back as well, so we're pretty pleased.”

Otumoetai boss Ross Johnson admitted his side had 'parked the bus – or maybe even two buses” for much of the game, but was quick to praise the character and effort displayed by his players.

The point keeps Papamoa at the top of the Loaded Waibop Premiership, ahead of Melville on goal difference. Their next fixture is a Chatham Cup preliminary round clash with Tuakau at Gordon Spratt Reserve on Wednesday, April 25 (2pm kick-off).