Cowboys crush the Panthers

The Arorangi Cowboys crushed the Tupapa Panthers at Victoria Park on Saturday 25-10.

Midway through the first half of the game and with the Cowboys leading 8-0, a Panthers raid resulted in a well-taken team try to the Panthers flyer Conrad Piri to take the score to 8-5.

Shortly after the Panthers try, the black and white team worked the ball into space but squandered 2 possible try-scoring opportunities through basic errors including bad handling and bad passing which pretty much summed up the Panthers afternoon.

After the Panther raids the Cowboys settled down to business and ground out another win through their impressive forward pack complimented by their predictable crash-bang backline.

Standout players for the Panthers were national sevens representatives Turori Matutu and Conrad Piri, who constantly tested the Cowboys system with their limited supply of possession and they were ably supported by hard-working cousins Eddie Framhein and Kore Herrmann who took the game to the Cowboys at every opportunity but lacked support.

Best for the Cowboys were their entire forward-pack but one individual who stood out was their slimly-built energetic open-side flanker Waisoi Tuivaga, who is a key component for the Cowboys in both attack and scrambling defense he was simply outstanding in all facets of play.

Tuivaga scored one try for his team with John George and Spoon Marsters also dotted down for a try each.

Pomare Pokipoki slotted in 2 penalties and 2 conversions for the Cowboys.

Tupapa tries came via Conrad Piri and Rua Ngametua.

In other senior A games on Saturday the Avatiu Eels outplayed the Takuvaine reds 31-13 at the Swamp.

Best for the Eels was the hard working Papa Lee Ponini, first 5/8 Ben Maaka and impressive 17-year-old prop Zeru Pera.

For the Reds Eddie Nicholas was a standout supported by Aialoa Samania.

At Nukupure Park the Ngatangiia-Matavera Dragons were too strong for the visiting Titikaveka Bulls who were defeated by the Dragons 29-10.

Best for the Dragons was halfback Elia Tangimetua who scored two tries and flanker Phillip Hunter who scored a try of his own.

Best for the Bulls was their import loose forward Gareth Clayton and Travel Tylor.

In this weekends 5th week of the rugby union season, the Avatiu Eels will take on the Tupapa Panthers at the Swamp while the Titikaveka Bulls will host the Takuvaine Reds and the Ngatangiia-Matavera Dragons will take on the Cowboys at Nukupure Park.

Full week 4 results Tupapa Panthers vs Arorangi Cowboys (Panthers scores first) Senior A grade-10 vs 25, Senior B grade-Cowboys won by default, Under 19 grade-0 vs 24, Under 16 grade-10 vs 29, Under 13 grade-24 vs 12, Avatiu Eels vs Takuvaine Reds (Eels scores first) Senior A grade-31 vs 13, Senior B grade-31 vs 17, Under 19 grade-10 vs 8, Under 16 grade-5 vs 5, Under 13 grade-43 vs 0, Ngatangiia-Matavera Dragons vs Titikaveka Bulls (Dragons scores first) Senior A grade-29 vs 10, Senior B grade-3 vs 41, Under 16 grade-10 vs 12, Under 13 grade-33 vs 0