Avatiu bounce back

Monday 24: Avatiu 17, Ngatangiia 15 - Arorangi 22, Takuvaine 15

This Saturday’s rugby grand finals showdown will be between old rivals the Arorangi Cowboys and the Avatiu Eels.

The two teams emerged victorious after the weekend’s semi finals matches.

Out at Muri, the Ngatangiia-Matavera Flying Dragons were on fire in the first half to keep Avatiu scoreless.

With two tries scored by their speedy Fijian Sai Tuilevu, one successfully converted, and a penalty, the Flying Dragons were in the lead 15-nil at the half time break.

They probably thought their day at the office was over and didn’t count on Avatiu getting back into the game.

But they did come back in true Avatiu style to win the match and break the hearts of Ngatangiia players and fans.

Desperation brings out either the best or worse in at team and in Avatiu’s case it brought out the best as they turned the tables on the Flying Dragons to keep them scoreless in the second half of a true match of two halves.

Avatiu posted their first score through a beautiful penalty kick by young Cedric Toru Jnr.

With big number eight Lui Nicholas and gun back rower Bruce Goldsworthy out with injuries, it was up to Teokotai ‘Billy Bush’ Tuaivi and veteran Terry Piri to rally the Avatiu team.

It wasn’t until their young play maker Alex Roa got a hold of the ball that Avatiu started to look like a winning team.

With ball in hand, Roa carved a zigzag line to the try line leaving Ngatangiia defenders in his dust.

Clive Nicholas was on the spot to collect the offload and score the team’s first try giving Avatiu real hope and taking the scores to 15-8.

There were moments of brilliance from Ngatangiia led by the boot of Thomas Toa but they all ended up as lost opportunities.

With a win in reach, all Avatiu had to do was play disciplined rugby and force Ngatangiia to make the errors which they did three times to give away three kickable penalties and the win to Avatiu 17-15.

Out at Raemaru Park, a cunning converted try to the Cowboys left wing Semi Vunibaka at the 70 minute mark, was the difference as the Cowboys were able to hold off a ‘never-say-die’ Takuvaine team.

The Cowboys’ scrambling defence just managed to hold until the fulltime whistle – the Cowboys winning this match 22-15.

Although Takuvaine were outscored by three tries to nil, Takuvaine’s smart approach of vicariously contesting the breakdowns and team discipline almost worked in their favour. All of Takuvaine’s points came via the trusted boot of experienced first five-eighth Vaivase Samania – ably supported by young forwards Rodney Tiro and Kura Tereapii.

The Arorangi Cowboys will now face the Avatiu Eels in the senior A grade finals to be held at the Ngatangiia rugby field on Saturday. - Ruck and Maul