Runaway wins and a draw

The Tupapa Panthers and Avatiu Eels premier rugby league grades registered runaway wins at the weekend against their opponents.

On Friday the Eels were just too strong for the Bulldogs as they ran away with the win 32-12.

At Victoria Park the Tupapa Panthers may have finally found their form as they triumphed over the visiting Arorangi Bears 42-12.

At the BCI Stadium on Friday afternoon, a battle was seen between the visiting Aitutaki Sharks and Takuvaine Warriors with the game ending in a 10-all draw.

The Warriors’ big running Teariki Tou Jnr scored the first try of the game to give the Takuvaine boys an early 6-0 lead.

But the Sharks quickly hit back and with ball in hand – the team’s sprightly winger Alex Roa was hard to stop as he skidded across the chalk to dot down in the corner and put the Sharks on the board 6-4.

A penalty to the Sharks saw them equalise 6-all heading into the break.

Back in the second spell it was the Sharks that were on the ball first with a clever try by the team’s teenage winger Junior Ioane putting the Sharks in the lead 10-6.

With the crowd cheering them on, the Takuvaine Warriors rallied with veteran Eddie Nicholas leading the way with a lucky break through the Sharks’ defence line followed by a timed pass to Kakaio Robati who was in support.

This saw the Warriors celebrate their second try to once again even up the scores 10-all.

The last 20 minutes of the game was messy as desperate play to break the tie saw countless errors and missed opportunities.

The game ended with the scores still locked at 10-all.