The Tupapa Panthers senior A squad were crowned the 2011 club sevens champions on Saturday after defeating favourites of the tournament the Ngatangiia-Matavera Dragons 17-12.

The Panthers win was sealed by the teams live-wire 18-year-old halfback Taime Habana Tangatapoto after the fulltime hooter had sounded.

It was an epic final match with both sides going toe to toe trading tries to tie 5-all and 12-all during the game.

The climax of the game was after the hooter had sounded for fulltime, when a penalty was awarded to the Panthers 40m out. The ball was tapped and passed along to Lua Tua who chipped the ball ahead for the flying Tangatpoto to chase, gather and score right in front of the rowdy-band of Panthers supporters.

Stand out for the Dragons during the game and for the entire tournament was the teams six foot four centre and national sevens rep Sailosi Nagi .

His battle with his opposite number Turori Matutu of Panthers was one of the highlights of the game.

For the Panthers, the stand out player was their strong-running utility back Louis Moemai his go forward set the foundation for the Panthers win.

With the resumption of 15s this coming weekend, the Panthers after a slow-start seem to be building some momentum so watch this space.

As predicted the Avatu Eels team took out the Budget-Polynesian Bike Hire under 19 defeating the Takuvaine Reds 43-0 in the grade grand final.

Standout for the Eels was utility back Stanley Tobia who scored 3 tries in this match and side-stepping Atiuan Tiro Toki.

During the 3-week sevens programme, the Eels under 19 squad scored 144 points and only one try was scored against them.

The Takuvaine Reds must also be congratulated for making both the under 19 and under 16 grade grand finals.

After beating the Arorangi Cowboys under 16 team the Takuvaine Reds were not given any favours in the Origin Energy under 16 grand finals match.

The pace of Cowboy backs Helsam Teiti and Jag Love supported by their forward action man Dennis Rangi put paid to the Reds chances of another upset.

The Cowboys eventually beat the Reds 19-0.

At one stage of this match, with the score at 12-0 the Reds had a couple of opportunities to score tries but this was thwarted by basic draw and pass skills and desperate Cowboys defence.

Best for the Reds were the Poila brothers Boy and Timi and Ari Arioka.

In the FBI Takeaway under 13 grade grand finals the Panthers clawed the Cowboys 24-7.

The Panthers have been the form team in this grade with their fleet-footed quartet of Tyronne Marurai, Sunai Joseph, Taua Pouao and Alex Nootai all featuring on the score sheets.

Best for the Cowboys were Teava Wichman, James Strickland and Fortes Anthony.

The Cook Islands Rugby Union would like to thank all clubs, the Tupapa Panthers for the use of the field at the weekend and all the supporters that came out to the games over the three weeks of the competition.

Clubs now prepare for the business end of the club 15s competition which kicks back into action this weekend for round 8.