Bottom placed Avatiu caused one of the biggest upsets in the Tower Insurance Premiership after beating the top placed Nikao Sokattak over the weekend.

Nikao Sokattak and Avatiu turned up to CIFA Complex in Matavera on Saturday hungry for success but after the first half, both teams were locked at nil-all.

In the second spell, Nikao’s Toru Mateariki scored to give his side a slender 1-0 lead.

The goal also motivated Avatiu to mount a comeback. Avatiu’s Aaron Simpson took the opportunity to equalise from a spot kick to level the match 1-all.

In the dying stages of the match, Avatiu capitalised from a free kick outside of the box after Tini Maruhi headed the ball into the back of the net to secure a stunning 2-1 win.

In the other premier men’s match at Titikaveka Field, Titikaveka and Puaikura fought tooth and nail for win. Puaikura’s Jarves Aperau along with his backline, held strong and prevented many attempts at goal from the boots of Titikaveka strikers Nuku Mokoroa and Joseph Tuaputa.

In the second spell, Titikaveka received a penalty kick and the side wasted no time putting the ball through to the back of the net before they extending their lead to secure 2-0 win over a struggling Puaikura.

The Tupapa Maraerenga men’s team, who played Matavera in the mid-week match, came away with a 4-2 win.

In the Islander Senior Women’s division, Avatiu defeated Nikao. The beginning of the match saw both teams struggling to put goals away. But a slip up in the Nikao defense was an opportunity seized by the Avatiu team who managed to sink in a goal in the dying stages of the match, from the boots of young Anzia Tere.

Titikaveka and Puaikura senior women’s match ended in a 1 all draw, while on Thursday, Tupapa Maraerenga won against Matavera with a goal scored in the first half.

Today at Raemaru Park at 4pm, Puaikura FC and Tupapa Maraerenga FC will go head to head in their round three catch-up match, starting with the U15 Boys match followed by the senior women’s match. Playing their catch-up matches at CIFA Complex today will be Avatiu FC and Matavera FC. Also playing their catch-up match will be the U15 Girls and Premier Men, tomorrow at 4pm.

- CIFA Media

Results

Under 6 Mix: Matavera FC vs Titikaveka FC: 2-3, Tupapa Maraerenga FC vs Puaikura FC: 3-1.

Matavera FC vs Tupapa Maraerenga FC – U8 Mix: 2-4, U10 Mix: 1-2, U12 Mix 2-0, U15 Boys: 0-1, U15 Girls: 1-1, U18 Men: 2-2, Senior Women: 0-1, Premier Men: 2-4. Avatiu FC vs Nikao Sokattak FC – U8 Mix: 0-0, U10 Mix: 3-1, U12 Mix: 2-2, U15 Boys: 0-0, U15 Girls: 0-0, U18 Men: 2-3, Senior Women: 1-0, Premier Men: 2-1. Titikaveka FC vs Puaikura FC – U8 Mix: 3-0, U10 Mix: 1-2, U12 Mix: 1-2, U15 Boys: 3-0, U15 Girls: 0-3, Senior Women: 1-1, Premier Men: 2-0.

Fixtures

Monday: Avatiu FC vs Matavera FC, at CIFA Complex, Matavera – 4pm Under 15 Boys Matavera FC vs Avatiu FC (Ref: Tehainnah Tatuava, Assist: Kimberly Uini, Tailei Noovao), 5pm Senior Women Matavera FC vs Avatiu FC (Ref: Lai Gukisuva, Assist: Tehainnah Tatuava, Junior Savage); Puaikura FC vs Tupapa Maraerenga FC, at Raemaru Park, Arorangi – 4pm Under 15 Boys Puaikura FC vs Tupapa Maraerenga FC (Ref: Poko Manuela, Assist: Theressa Kaukura, Matilda Auua), 5pm Senior Women Puaikura FC vs Tupapa Maraerenga FC (Ref: Tahiri Elikana, Assist: Ava Wyllie, Penina Katuke).

Tuesday: CIFA complex, Matavera – 4pm Under 15 Girls Matavera FC vs Avatiu FC (Ref: Kataraina Piri,            Assist: Noovao Noovao, Anzac Tapaitau), 5pm Premier Men Matavera FC vs Avatiu FC (Ref: John Pareanga, Assist: Junior Savage, Kataraina Piri); Raemaru Park, Arorangi – 4pm Under 15 Girls Puaikura FC vs Tupapa Maraerenga FC (Ref: Tehainnah Tatuava, Assist: Dallas Rongokea, Gideon Pouao), 5pm Premier Men Puaikura FC vs Tupapa Maraerenga FC (Ref: Tupou Brogan, Assist: Tehainnah Tatuava, Maara Kaukura).