Panthers finish on top, semi-finals set

Tupapa Panthers defeated Avatiu Eels 29-14 on August 15. CISNOC/26081606

The Panthers will head into this Saturday’s semi-finals on a high note when they take on the fourth-placed Arorangi Bears. In the other semi-final, the second-placed Avatiu Eels will face the third-placed Takuvaine (TKV) Reds.

After six weeks of home-and-away preliminary matches, the Panthers finished with 26 points, recording five wins from six matches. Their only defeat came in round two, losing 26–29 to the Eels.

The Eels finished in second place with 18 points from three wins, two losses and a draw. They lost to the Panthers (14–29) and the Reds (28–34) in round one, and drew 22–all with the Bears in round two.

The Reds finished third with 10 points after managing two wins from six matches, while the Bears ended up in fourth place with eight points, recording a single win – a 25–16 victory over the Reds – and one draw.

In the final rounds last Saturday, the Eels and the Panthers made strong finishes with crucial wins ahead of the semi-finals this weekend.

The Eels defeated the Reds 53-21 in the opening match before the Panthers overcame the host Bears 20-12 in a closely fought battle at Raemaru Park.

Cook Islands Rugby Union development manager Ben Koteka said the Eels were comprehensive in their win over the Reds.

The Eels led at halftime 25-14.

Koteka labelled the Panthers versus Bears clash a “stop-start match that failed to fire”.

The Panthers eventually won the match 20-12 against a valiant Bears outfit, who led for most of the game before the champions clawed their way back to victory.