The 2024 Cook Islands Touch open men’s and women’s preliminary rounds of competition will conclude on Monday with top four teams heading into playoffs to be held on Easter Monday.

In the second last round of matches held on Monday at the National Stadium in Nikao, the battle in the men’s competition was a thriller. The mighty Warriors took on team GAT who were short of players and had no subs, but they proved that six men are enough for 10 men on the opposing team.

Cook Islands Touch Association president Julz Westrupp said GAT’s Puna Hiro guided his team well and kept his cool whenever they got onto the 7-metre line.

But the Warriors with players like Vou Williams, Geoff Halston, Andy Kapi and Maeva Mateariki, to name a few, proved too much and won the game with a score of 8-5.

On field 1, the Nukz Power men took on team KAPs and both teams were even in terms of skill and speed.

However, Westrupp said KAPs reminded the Nukz Power men why they are beating them on the table as they clinched the winner to claim the match 4-3.

In the women’s category, Team NIKZ defeated FBI 10-2.

Westrupp said NIKZ had 12 players while FBI played the whole game with five players.

She said it was good to see Hinnah Tatuava back on the touch field after being away due to injury and with her was Patty Taea, former Cook Islands sprinter.

“They managed to score two tries which you hardly see when a team is short but NIKZ had no mercy and won the game,” she said.

On field 2, Nukz Power women decided to step it up and scored in the first three minutes with a speedy step back by Sunelia Tom and Missy McQuarie against team Bounty.

Nukz Power backed their quick opener with another try.

Bounty bounced back with a nice try by Steph Nooroa on the wing and scored their second on the other wing to bring the score to a 2-all.

Bounty was then penalised on the 7-metre line for offside and young Tashi Kopu of Nukz Power did a quick tap and dived for the try line to take the score to 3-2.

Bounty didn’t back down and punished the Mighty Arrows in general play, scoring on 5th and final by Tasha Dean to bring the score to 3-all.

The two teams were locked at 3-all for a bit before the Nukz Power ladies were able to score through Tom to win the match 4-3.

Westrupp said both teams put on a superb performance.

The standouts from the Bounty Hunters were Monica Wichman, Kayleena Kermode, Mere Atatoa-Carr, Romey Rauraa, Tasha Dean and Hina Tommy.

Westrupp said the last game of round three will be played next week Monday followed by the playoffs on Easter Monday.

“It looks to be a grand, exciting finals,” she added

The Mixed Touch competition will be held this afternoon at the National Stadium.

Fixtures

5pm- Field 1: Huffin & Puffin vs Outlaws; Field 2: Nukz Power vs 007

5.30pm- Field 1: CISNOC vs KAPs; 6pm- Field 1: Huffin & Puffin vs JAWs. Double banger - Huffin & Puffin