Last weekend say new Champions crowned in the Cook Islands with the Tupap Panthers smashing the Avatiu Eels 21-6 in the grand final. The previos 2 years the eels have been the champions and this was a bit of a shock result.
http://www.cookislandnews.com/
Cook Island News:
Panthers rule after grand final
Monday 12: It was a whitewash by the team in black.
Starting as the underdogs, the Tupapa Panthers just romped all over the defending champions, the Avatiu-Nikao Eels, in Saturday's league grand final.
It was a crushing blow to the Eels who have held the champion's trophy for the last two years.
The Panthers won comfortably 21-6 and were certainly the best team on the day.
Both teams went into the match knowing this was do or die no matter how good their past statistics, but the Eels just didn't seem to fire for the occasion.
The Panthers were hungrier from the first whistle, playing a fast paced game and leaving the Eels to chase them round the pitch.
In the first half, the Panthers scored two tries in quick succession. The first was through the Panthers' classy winger Turori Matutu who stormed through flat footed defenders.
The Panthers' second try came soon after through Conrad Piri who sliced through the Eels' defence like a hot knife through butter.
The Panthers' final try came through the fiery Selafi Tauroi.
Conrad Piri also showed his diverse skills by kicking a late drop goal.
The Panthers were big on defence with their flying winger Eddie Nicholas clocking the hit of the day by taking out the Eels' Ben Maaka just half a metre from the try line - to the rapturous delight of the huge crowd of Panthers supporters (in black) who held dominion over the national stadium with their cheers and applause from start to finish.
Maaka was also responsible for the Eels' only points of the day through a penalty try.
While the Eels lived up to their big hitting reputation, they couldn't keep the ball in hand with players dropping too many passes at crucial times in the game.
It's back to the drawing board for the Eels who also had a big crowd of supporters in blue and gold, but it was a day of major disappointment for all of them. - MW
Grand final results: premier-Panthers 21 vs Eels 6, reserve-Bears 10 vs Warriors 6, under 17-Sea Eagles 18 vs Warriors 16, under 14-Eels 22 vs Bears 16.
It also hailed for little half back Teokotai Billy Tuaivi a fith straight premiership, as it seems he knows how to pick a winning team.
Cook island News: Halfback Billy's good at picking a winner!
Tuesday 13: Inspirational Tupapa Panthers halfback Teokotai Billy Tuaivi sure knows how to pick a league championships winning team.
On Saturday Tuaivi and his Panthers celebrated their 21-6 victory over two time league champions the Avatiu Eels and for Tuaivi it was his fifth league grand finals win in a row, but not for the same club each year.
In 2004 Tuaivi was part of the Avatiu/Nikao Eels squad that won the championships that year against Tupapa.
In 2005 Tuaivi took his skills to the Panthers where it proved to be a good gamble with that year's team taking out the championships.
In 2006 Tuaivi returned to the swamp where the Eels won back the championship trophy with Tuaivi continuing to play for the Eels team that retained the trophy last year.
Tuaivi must have sensed that change was afoot when he once again returned to the Panthers territory for the 2008 season where after playing consistent classy league they out smarted the Eels for this year's championship bragging rights.
The Arorangi Bears, who were knocked out of this year's competition at the playoffs by underdogs the Ngatangiia/Matavera Sea Eagles, were the 2003 league champions with Avatiu the 2002 champs.
The Bulldogs were at the top of their game in 2001 when they won the championships that year that was held by the Sea Eagles in 2000 and the Avatiu Eels in 1999.
Saturday's grand finals was also a family affair for the sports oriented Piri family with brothers Daren and Conrad Piri in the victorious Panthers squad and Teri Piri in the Eels squad.
All eyes will no doubt be on Tuaivi next season to see which club he will play for and if that club will win the championships. - MM/MW
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