Warriors still in the challenge for cup

The Takuvaine Warriors may have gone down 36-6 to the Avatiu Eels at the weekend but the team from the Happy Valley still have the opportunity to get into the top four of the inaugural Navy Epati Memorial Cup.

The Takuvaine Warriors may have gone down 36-6 to the Avatiu Eels at the weekend but the team from the Happy Valley still have the opportunity to get into the top four of the inaugural Navy Epati Memorial Cup.

The Warriors, as the highest placed loser in the memorial cup challenge are set to take on the Aitutaki Sharks in two weeks’ time for the Araura Enua team’s first challenge.

The winner of this match will face off against the Bulldogs waiting for their semi-final opponents.

The Eels will go head to head with the Bears this weekend with the winner of this match heading to the challenge cup grand finals against the winner of the Bulldogs and yet to be decided opponent match.

At the Swamp on Saturday, it was a slippery game in more ways than one with the Eels living up to their names in wet conditions at the Swamp.

Despite the Eels racking up the scores early and consistently through the game – the Warriors never gave up and snuck in a last minute try to brag about.

Meanwhile at the Titikaveka field – the Bulldogs dominated the young Bears team to win convincingly 30-12.

Despite home ground advantage and a vocal crowd – the Aitutaki Sharks were unable to defeat the visiting Tupapa Panthers, who hammered the Sharks 32-16.

This week the Ngatangiia Sea Eagles will return from the week off with fresh wings to take on the Aitutaki Sharks at Nukupure Park in what will be a thriller encounter.

The Panthers and Bulldogs match is sure to be a bruising encounter and this will be played at Victoria Park while the Eels will travel to the wild west to take on the Bears a Raemaru Park.