Panthers may surprise the Cowboys

The Tupapa Panthers are expected to come out firing in todays CITC main match against the in-form Arorangi Cowboys.

And no doubt the Tupapa team, coached by Nooroa Tupa, will spring some surprises today with their band of vocal and loyal supporters sure to come out in numbers.

The Panthers have had a mixed bag this season and if they beat the strong Cowboys team today, it will boost the sides confidence and make them the danger side of the tournament.

But the strength of the Cowboys team is obviously up front in their forward-pack who like to dominate the set piece and like to play a short game, often exposing the blindside.

The Takuvaine Reds and Avatiu Eels, who both lost to the Cowboys earlier in the season, have figured out that to take the Cowboys on , they need to work the pack around the field, tiring out the team, and hopefully the cracks will start to appear in the defensive lines.

This match will be played at Victoria Park with the under 13 grade match between these two clubs kicking things off at 12pm.

In fact its going to be an action packed afternoon at Victoria Park as both the Panthers and Cowboys have strong junior development programmes in place that make their junior players some of the most feared on the island.

In other games today, the Avatiu Eels will host the Takuvaine Reds at the Swamp with games starting at 1pm and at Nukupure Park the Ngatangiia-Matavera Dragons will host the Titikaveka Bulls with games there starting at 12.45pm.

All Senior A grade matches today will kick off at 4.10pm.

- Matariki Wilson