Eels and Cowboys in grand final

Eels 22 vs Dragons 13

Cowboys 32 vs Bulls 5

This coming weekend’s CITC club rugby grand final will be played between old rivals the Avatiu Eels and Arorangi Cowboys.

The two senior A team emerged the victors of Saturday’s knockout semi finals played between the Eels and Ngatangiia Dragons at Avatiu and the Cowboys and Titikaveka Bulls at Arorangi.

At Avatiu – a strong second half performance by the Eels allowed them to win 22-13 against the Dragons.

The Dragons were indecisive and in many ways their own worst enemy as they were unable to build consistent pressure to capitalise on their 8-7 halftime lead.

The Dragons seemed to waste opportunities through in-decision too often ‘crashing’ in midfield or kicking away possession when all that was required was a simple ‘draw and pass’ in order to out-flank the Eels.

When the Dragons did connect with their passing game they scored a brilliant 80m try initiated via a counter attack by 19-year-old first five-eighths Joshua Maui and finished off in brilliant style by their 17-year-old fleet-footed left winger Juda Mato.

However, the Eels had other plans and it was the experienced Eels trio of Teokotai Tuaivi, Louis Nicholas and Terry Piri that came to the fore - their ability to control proceedings during the latter stages of the match by playing a ‘short game’ and building pressure up front resulting in the Eels forwards scoring all 3 tries via the rolling maul.

Meanwhile at Arorangi – a strong Cowboys opening spell set the foundation for their 32-5 win over the Bulls.

The Cowboys proved too strong for their country cousins the Bulls going into the halftime break with a 20-0 lead.

The Cowboys extended this lead in the second half of the match to finish as 32-5 victors.

In other semi finals games at the weekend the Senior B Eels team overcame the Bulls to win 13-8.

With the scores locked at 8-all at fulltime this match went into ‘golden point’ over time.

After 20 minutes of overtime and swapping ends 4 times the Eels were able to score a long-distance try to their young winger Stanley Tobia to win.

In the under 16 grade – the Cowboys won over the Panthers 26-22.

It was a great game to watch as the lead changed several times throughout but the Cowboys finished stronger.

Full semi finals results: Senior A – Avatiu Eels 22 vs Ngatangiia Dragons 13, Arorangi Cowboys 32 vs Titikaveka Bulls 5, Senior B – Avatiu Eels 13 vs Titikaveka Bulls 8, Arorangi Cowboys 31 vs Takuvaine Reds 14, Under 19 – Tupapa Panthers 20 vs Titikaveka Bulls 0, Avatiu Eels 34 vs Takuvaine Reds 14, Under 16 – Avatiu Eels 42 vs Titikaveka Bulls 19, Arorangi Cowboys 26 vs Tupapa Panthers 22, Under 13 – Tupapa Panthers 43 vs Takuvaine Reds 0, Arorangi Cowboys 45 vs Ngatangiia Dragons 0.