Exciting matches will be held in the Rarotonga Netball Club premier and age group grades semi-finals today at the Ngatangiia/Matavera Courts in Muri.

The undefeated Avatiu will take on Arorangi while Titikaveka will battle Tupapa in the semis this afternoon.

Avatiu and Titikaveka qualified for the semis after finishing in the top two of the Rarotonga Netball Club competition.

Tupapa defeated Takuvaine 45-37 while Arorangi overcame Ngatangiia 58-53 in the close contested playoffs last week.

The Rarotonga Netball Club competition semi-finals kicked off on Wednesday with the Open grade at the Tupapa Court.

Tekura Moeka’a, secretary of Netball Cook Islands, said on Wednesday the Open 1 and 2 semi-finals were held.

In the Open 2 semis, Takuvaine took on Avatiu. Moeka’a said Takuvaine, unbeaten in the round competition, maintained their winning streak edging out a determined Avatiu team 23-20. 

In the other Open 2 semis, Tupapa was unmatched against Titikaveka winning 25-9. 

Takuvaine will now face Tupapa next Wednesday in the Open 2 final.

In the Open 1 semis, Titikaveka pulled out all stops in a low scoring match to win over Takuvaine.

Moeka’a said Takuvaine struggled to make their centre passes count and Titikaveka capitalised winning 19-11. 

In the other Open 1 semi-final, it was a tit for tat between Arorangi, unbeaten in the round competition, versus a young Avatiu side.

Arorangi drew on their experience and remained cool, calm and collective to win 23-20. 

Aramoana Mataroa of the Takuvaine/Tutakimoa Netball Club said both their Open 1 and Open 2 teams moved to semi-finals along with their 10 and under and 12U grades.

Mataroa said their seniors head coach Tupe Dora has been teaching the teams at training to play basic and smart netball, “such as playing as a team, creating space for your team members and trying to work on players staying in their own channels”.

“Anything can happen, so we are taught not to underestimate our opponents, as teams become stronger and more competitive through the knockout outs, semis and finals.”

Fixtures:

Court 1:

6U- Tupapa vs Titikaveka 11am; 8U – Avatiu vs Arorangi 11.20am; 10U- Avatiu vs Ngatangiia 11.50am; 12U- Takuvaine vs Ngatangiia 12.25pm; 15U- Arorangi vs Ngatangiia 1.10pm; Res- Avatiu vs Titikaveka 2pm; Prem- Avatiu vs Arorangi 3pm

Court 2: 6U- Arorangi vs Avatiu 11am; 8U – Tupapa vs Ngatangiia 11.20am; 10U- Tupapa vs Takuvaine 11.50am; 12U- Arorangi vs Tupapa 12.25pm; 15U- Avatiu vs Tupapa 1.10pm; Res- Arorangi vs Tupapa 2pm; Prem- Titikaveka vs Tupapa 3pm