Cooks set to play Samoa

Centre court at the Thyagara netball stadium is going to be an all out Pacific affair as the Cook Islands face off against Samoa for 9th and 10th place.

The two Pacific teams placed 5th in their respective pool of 6 and based on previous encounters between these two sides – sparks are expected to fly.

On Friday the Cook Islands registered their first win against Papua New Guinea in what was a gritty match that saw the local girls play their best game of the Delhi Commonwealth Games tournament.

The Cook Islands edged out Papua New Guinea 60-58 and had to come back from a 10 goal deficit early in the match.

Stunning performances were seen all round on the court but the fact the team pulled through together was the biggest achievement – and the win was reward for the hard work they’d put into the game and the various issues the team has faced during the tournament.

Nga Tuitupou was simply outstanding under the shooting circle backed up by goal attack Patricia Te Huna.

The ball flowed through centre court and goal keeper and defender Luciana Matenga and Poomai Matapo were on form on the PNG shooting circle.

The team certainly deserved the win after three straight losses.

But they weren’t able to lift their game another two levels in their final pool match against South Africa on Saturday.

While the team held their own – they trailed by six goals at the first quarter break before South Africa pulled further away at half time with a 15 goal lead 36-21 before really putting the game out of the Cooks reach after the third quarter with a 27 goal lead 55-28.

The physical match drained the local team and despite some brilliant plays by Matenga and Matapo under the South African shooting circle as well as Te Huna and Tuitupou in the shooting circle – the local side just couldn’t get ahead.

Captain Ritua Aliivaa and centre court partner Celeste Brunton also played some great netball but it wasn’t enough.

The team will regroup and give everything they have against Samoa today.