As predicted the hard and fast Ngatangiia grounds produced plenty of tries, lots of close matches and a few surprises including a new weekend winner in week 3 of the CITC Rarotonga club sevens competition.

In the pool competition – Avatiu Eels took the first win in Pool A beating the Dragons 22-10.

The Eels then edged out the Cowboys 14-12 while the match between the Dragons and Cowboys ended in a 7-all draw.

In Pool B – the Panthers were comprehensive winners 26-5 over the Reds and a beating of 40-5 over the bulls.

The Bulls hit back to edge out the Reds 12-10.

In the play offs the Dragons and Reds went head to head for 5th and 6th placing with the Dragons proving too strong for the Reds winning 38-0.

The Dragons flying winger Juda Mato scored a hat-trick in the match while Alan Gempton, Ina Tararo Jnr, and Saniu Waqa all bagged a try each,

In the 3rd and 4th place play off, the Cowboys bulldozed the Bulls 34-7.

With the return of national sevens reps Tairu Tairea, Pokolong Pauka and Patrick Numanga, the Cowboys were a solid pack.

In pool play the Cowboys were unlucky to win against the Eels (12-14) and then in their next pool match drew with the Dragons 7-all.

The Bulls are the youngest team in the competition and tried hard throughout but are probably short of some tough forwards to get them going more ‘linear than lateral’ but in saying the Bulls have improved from previous weeks by being promoted to 3rd and 4th play-offs.

In the final 1st and 2nd play off and after losing the previous weekend (5-10) to the Eels the Panthers were able to take the upper hand this week.

The Panthers’ scrambling defense came to the fore late in the second half amidst a barrage of the traditional last minute Eels attacks – luckily the Panthers were able to hold on and win this match by 12-7.

With the return of seasoned Panthers workhorse Kore Herrmann, his hard-graft together with Teina Savage and Kairan Mahia laid the foundation for this Panthers win as they were complemented by halfback pocket dynamo Taime Tuakeu and strike power out wide in Teava Kopu and Conrad Piri.

The Panthers scored both their tries against the run of play and at crucial times including a late first half try to Caleb Tatuava and then a mid second half long distance kick-n-chase effort resulting in a try to Piri which then took the score to 12-nil.

As usual the Eels via the likes of Clive Nicholas and Teokotai ‘Billy Bush’ Tuaivi launched their traditional ‘never-say-die’ last minute effort but only to fall short at the final hurdle.

In the women’s division – the Borneo sevens training squad were able to defeat a resident selection by 24-5.

Week four of the CITC Rarotonga club sevens is finals week and all matches will be played at the Titikaveka rugby field this Saturday starting at 2pm. - CIRU

Week Three Final Placings – 1st Panthers, 2nd Eels, 3rd Cowboys, 4th Bulls, 5th Dragons, 6th Reds.

Full results – Eels 22 vs Dragons 10, Panthers 26 vs Reds 5, Eels 14 vs Cowboys 12, Panthers 40 vs Bulls 5, Dragons 7 vs Cowboys 7, Reds vs 10 vs Bulls 12, (5th and 6th)Dragons 38 vs Reds 0, (3rd and 4th) Cowboys 33 vs Bulls 5, (1st and 2nd) Panthers 12 vs Eels 7.