After making it to the grand finals by beating Hamilton City Tigers at Mitchel Park, the Otumoetai Eels lost to Taniwharau Taniwha, 18-20, in yesterday's ‘cliff-hanger' match at Davies Park in Huntly.

Tony Kalbus was at the game and says the first points scored went to Taniwharau with a penalty kick in front of the posts.

Club captain Josh Weeden tackling the opposition. Photos: Tony Kalbus.

'Not long after, Taniwharau scored a try and converted to take the score to 8-0. Eels came back late in the first half to score and convert the try taking it to 8-6.

'A Taniwharau player was sin binned in the second half for a dangerous high tackle, unfortunately the Eels could not take advantage of this and Taniwharau did score.”

The final score for the game was 20-18 to Taniwharau.

'An awesome effort for the Eels to only miss out on the trophy by two points against a team with much more experience.”

Eels player Tane Taitoko was named the premiers' ‘Player of the Day' in yesterday's grand-final.