The Otumoetai Eels will be hoping to give their faithful followers extra reason to smile as they eye back-to-back victories in the opening rounds of the Bay of Plenty/Coastline Premier Division.

This afternoon at 2.30pm the Eels make their first home appearance of the season, at Mitchell Park, taking on the Ngongotaha Chiefs.

An Otumoetai Eels player on the charge during the 2014 Waikato/Coastline premiers competition. Photo: Otumoetai Eels Facebook.

The Eels head into Round 2 with a win under their belt having slipped past Taupo Phoenix 17-18 thanks to three converted tries after trailing 10-6 at the break.

The Chiefs drew with the Pikiao Warriors 32-32 in the opening round.

As part of a revamp New Zealand Rugby League revealed late last year the Coastline and Bay of Plenty districts would combine their competitions for this season, with the with the aim of improving the standard of the game at youth and senior levels.

The new set-up is the result of the Waikato/Coastline structure being scrapped due to Waikato clubs opting out of the NZRL's proposed wider competition.

Instead, the men's premier competition in the Bay next season will feature six teams - Pikiao, Ngongotaha, Pacific and Taupo (all from the Bay of Plenty District) plus Otumoetai and Putuaki (both Coastline).

Each team will also field a reserve side, who will play in an earlier match at the same venue. Otumoetai Eels Reserves will take on the Central Lions prior to the 2.30pm game at Mitchell Park.

The Eels reserve fell to their Taupo Phoenix opposition 48-24 last weekend.

In the division one grade, the Papamoa Bulldogs will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing first round loss – thumped 72-8 by the Forestland Falcons.

The Bulldogs host the Putauaki Stags at the Gordon Spratt Reserve from 1pm.

The grade has eight teams - Papamoa, Tauranga, Te Puke, Reporoa, Tauhara, Mangakino, Putaruru and Forestland (Tokoroa).

See what else is happening in and around Tauranga today below:

Saturday 18 April

Art in the Park

Coronation Park, Mt Maunganui 8.30am – 5pm weather permitting. Tauranga Society of Artists offer for sale a variety of art to suit all tastes.

Avian Care Workshop

Bird rescue & rehabilitation skills workshop, BOP Polytechnic. For details, www.birdcare.org.nz or email mandy@birdcare.org.nz

Bayfair Night Market

Arts, crafts, jewellery, fresh produce, food stalls & more. Bayfair Shopping Centre, cnr Maunganui Rd & Girven Rd, Mt Maunganui 6-11pm. Free entry. 022 588 2282 or email: tauranganightmarket@hotmail.com

Car Boot Sale

Greerton Village School 7-11.30am. $5 single site & $10 double. Shirley 577 1116 or 0274 146 040

Elderly Citizen's Variety Concert

Free concert & afternoon tea May 2 at Otumoetai College, Windsor Rd, Otumoetai 2-4pm. To help with catering numbers please rsvp Brian 576 2482

Glaucoma New Zealand Public Meeting

Free presentation to learn about the most common cause of preventable blindness in NZ. Hotel Armitage, 9 Willow St, Tauranga 10-11.30am. Free admission. All welcome.

Greerton Hall Market

Crafts, plants, produce, bric-a-brac 8am – 12pm. Nancy/Merv 07 863 6697

Ha Derech/The Way Messianic Kehilat

Now at Hillier Centre, Bayfair Shabbat/Saturday 10am. A one new man community & welcome all seekers of the truth. 544 7424 or 021 0226 3515

Let's Dance Ballroom & Latin Dance Club

Live dance tempo music. Second Sat of month at Bethlehem Hall 7-10.30pm. Bruce 576 5598

Papamoa Group Dogwalking

Fortnightly group dog walk around waterways & beaches. Meet at Papamoa Plaza 9am. Tennille 021 030 6835

Preloved Clothing Sale

Historic Village 9am – 12pm. Everything $5. All proceeds to Turning Point Trust.

Taichi Qigong

Every Sat 10am. Free to join in at Memorial Park between mini golf & playground. All welcome.

Tauranga Farmers Market

Fresh & artisian produced food. Tauranga Primary School cnr 5th Ave & Cameron Rd every Sat 7.45am - 12pm. Trixie 552 5278 or www.taurangafarmersmarket.co.nz

Tauranga Indoor Radio Control Car Club

Greerton Hall from 1pm track assembly. Newcomers welcome. Steve 021 106 4125

Tauranga Quadcopter Racing

Fpv club & social group. Every Sat 8am. Locations vary. Quadcopterracing@yahoo.co.nz

Tauranga Woodcrafters Guild

Every third Sat at club rooms, 3 Cherokee Place, Mt Maunganui 1pm. Visitors & interested people welcome. Geoff 579 3637

Tango Social Dance

(Honey Bee Milonga). An evening of Argentine Tango at Honey Bee House, Art of Dance Movement Studio, 233 Waihi Rd, Judea 7.30-11pm. Gold coin donation. Logan 021 275 5636 or lowgie@hotmail.com or visit https://www.facebook.com/TangoinTauranga

Te Puke Scottish Society Dance

Old time dancing with great company & supper provided. Te Puke War Memorial Hall, Jellicoe St 7.30pm. Entrance $7. Subs now due. Valerie 573 7093

Village Radio

Community radio broadcasting from Tauranga Historic Village 1368 kHz AM. Music of 1920's - 80's weekends 9am - 5pm, weekdays 10am - 5pm. Specialty programmes. www.villageradio.co.nz or 571 3710