Turtles masters snap Scorpions sting

The Cook Islands masters league ‘Turtles’ are having a ball in Christchurch both on and off the field.

On the field the team demolished the Shirley Hawks by scoring five hard worked tries and keeping their opponents scoreless.

Cook Islands League Association president Charles Carlson reports that the Turtles first game got off to a slow start with the team living up to their ‘slow and steady’ motto.

The Hawks used their three yellow shorts wearing players (60 plus age bracket) to their advantage in defence to hold off the Turltles big hitters.

The Turtles being slow to click and adjust to the masters rules finally changed their game plan to stay away from the yellow shorts and attack wide away from the yellow shorts players.

The yellow shorts players only had to touch the ball carrier as oppose to being held or tackled.

The front rows led by the two stalwarts Matapuku and Carlson were again devastating in their defence and attack supported by coach and player Henry Tupa and Kora Kora.

At standoff was the minister of finance and sports Mark Brown dictating play with his attacking backline of Sony Shepherd, Willlie Kauvai and Bob Hunter all slicing through the defence for a try each.

Certainly some very good lessons learned by the team before their second game against the Otara Scorpions.

The match against their old foes the Scorpions was a tough game for the Turtles in the typical Christchurch weather of rain and freezing temperature of 6 degrees.

The Scorpions where stinging the Turtles from all angles holding them in their half for most of the first quarter.

However the Turtles being ’slow and steady’ with their protective shell slowly crawled their way out of the red zone to the relief of the supporters.

Finally some clever play by the Turtles throwing the ball out wide to centre Willie Kauvai to set flying winger William (Tiger) Taripo for a desperate dive for the try line to put the first points on the board 4-0.

It was a big struggle for the Turtles in the first half trying to adapt to the wet and freezing climate but managed to hold out the fiery and furious attack by the Scorpions with the 4-0 lead.

The Turtles finally came out of their shell in the second half with the combination of the two stalwarts Matapuku taking it up and a quick off load to Carlson busting through the defence and putting Toto in the gap for the try line to bring the score to 8-0.

Minster Brown controlled the play from standoff and was made to work hard both in attack and defence.

Some big defence from Kora Kora and Bobby Hunter took the sting out of the Scorpion attack and Gold Shorts in the team Tua Dyer was again in top form with his defence.

The Turtles scored two more tries through captain Johnny Hosking and Mona Tetava to seal the game 16-0.

The Turtles certainly want to keep their unbeaten record intact as they face a team from Australia for their last game on Thursday.

Certainly the big attraction of the day with all other teams and spectators watching the exchange of hits coming from both sides but the game was played in good spirits of the masters.

Off the field the team have been busy mixing and mingling with their peers to promote next year’s mini league masters festival here in the Cook Islands.