Action plan formed for athletes commission
‘Voice’ for athletes revamped
Golden Oldies open the season
5-a-side soccer starts today
Friday 22: Can Takuvaine take down Titikaveka?
Open day at squash
Players ready despite hoo-ha
Annual five-a-side soccer starts
Panthers pound the Eels
Takuvaine nearly topple Titikaveka
5-a-side soccer continues today at Matavera
Basketball counts down
Stan’s side clinch the Heineken
Sunday netball decision awaits IFNA
Big money for league grand finalists
Cross country at Tereora
Cooks look to improve netball ranking
Ex-pro boxer offers help in Rarotonga
Cowan called into Wallaby squad
Oldies warm up for rugby festival
Cricket prepares for fulltime position
Action plan formed for athletes commission
Thursday 21: Cook Islands Athletes Commission member Julieanne Westrupp has recently returned from an athletes commission meeting in Vanuatu where the emphasis of the meeting was to learn more about what the commission can do for athletes.
“Basically we act as the voice of the athletes,” says Westrupp.
“The meeting really stressed the need to make athletes aware of what the commission does and to take advantage of that.”
Athletes commissions act as a link between active athletes and their respective national Olympic committee which in the Cook Islands case is the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee.
“If athletes have issues with things like their training or playing uniforms, transport to venues or even not getting proper meals when they arrive into another country for a sports event, they can come to us with these complaints,” says Westrupp.
In Vanuatu, Westrupp met with Oceania National Olympic Committee athletes commission member and female New Zealand sailboard Olympic gold medallist Barbara Kendall.
“Barbara is pushing for more anti doping and HIV and Aids awareness programmes among athletes,” says Westrupp.
Westrupp says that plans are in the pipeline to bring Kendall to Rarotonga in July to help with the anti doping and safe games awareness programmes before the country hosts the two major sporting events coming up – the World Youth Netball Championships in August and the 2009 Pacific Mini Games in September.
To athletes, Westrupp is encouraging all local athletes to take advantage of the athletes commission.
“If you have any problems or issues, and if for some reason you are not able to speak to your code manager, then come and see one of us on the athletes commission,” says Westrupp.
The athletes commission along with the safe games committee will be working on putting together promotional awareness packages on preventing the spread of sexual transmitted infections and anti doping. - MW
‘Voice’ for athletes revamped
Thursday 21: The Cook Islands Athletes Commission has been revamped to better serve the needs of Cook Islands athletes.
The commission is the link between active athletes and the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee.
The athletes commission includes chairperson Criss Foster (CISNOC vice president), assistant chairperson George Paniani (CISNOC vice president), secretary Siniva Marsters (CISNOC sports development office).
The commission members are Sir Geoffrey Henry (president), Ina Marsters (vice president), Sam Pera Snr (weightlifting), Serena Hunter (oe vaka), Kevin Iro (rugby league), Terry Piri (rugby union), Curley George (netball) and Julieanne Westrupp (touch rugby and football).
The commission members will be assigned to liaise between national federations, island associations, games organising committees and team management and CISNOC. -MW
Golden Oldies open the season
Thursday 21: The local Golden Oldies rugby season opened in grand style with two games last Friday.
At Muri, Takitumu played the Takuvaine Legends.
Both sides got three touch downs so it was a good score.
The Taxman for Takitumu made some good runs up field with his mate the March Hare Nick who ran from one side of the field to the other on more than one occasion but not many yards up field.
Okirua Okirua, the Legends’ small general, kept his troops under control with the help of one Muri Butcher and one other player the Titikaveka Sky Pilot helping.
The after game function was excellent with the Takitumu raffle being sold out and drawn but I cannot remember who won it though it was drawn under police supervision.
All reports show that 2papa and Mongoose also enjoyed themselves at Tupapa.
After our Sunday meeting all games will be held at Nikao this week with Mongoose hosting the event.
This Friday’s games will see the Mongoose take on Takitumu starting at 4.30pm followed by Takuvaine Legends taking on 2papa at 5.15pm.
If games run on time then matches will be two 20-minute halves.
Other players who are not in a team are more than welcome to come and join in. - Indian
5-a-side soccer starts today
Thursday 21: The annual Rarotonga 5-a-side soccer competition will kick off today at the CIFA Complex at 4.45pm.
A total of 13 teams have registered to take part in this year’s competition – 9 men’s teams and 4 women’s teams with names such as Hot Shots and Wild Wild West among the women, and Hartal Clowns, Quest Crew, Viti Boys and Virgin Ave among the men.
The games will run for approximately 6 weeks with games being played twice a week on Monday and Thursday afternoons. The Round Competition which will start today and will be followed by the Knock Out Competition.
Draw and referee appointment for today’s games: (Women) 4.45pm-Arai-Te-Tonga vs Hartal Posers on field 1, Ref-Maara Kaukura, Hot Shots vs Wild Wild West on field 2, Ref-Lai Gukisuva, (men) 5.25pm-Atiu Warriors vs Black Puta on field 1, Ref-Robert Savage, Hartal Clowns vs Quest crew on field 2, Ref-Maara Kaukura, Viti Boys vs The Rock on field 3, Ref-Teariki Goodwin, Ukuuwi Boys vs Virgin Ave on field 4, Ref-Lai Gukisuva. - CIFA
Friday 22: Can Takuvaine take down Titikaveka?
Old rivals face off tomorrow after hard slog to the top by Takuvaine
This weekend’s club netball grand final is shaping up to be an exciting showcase of netball action with famed old rivals Titikaveka and Takuvaine going head to head in the premier grade.
These two clubs are no strangers to grand finals fever and the team that stays composed under the grand finals pressure will no doubt take out the title.
For the Takuvaine premier grade, it has been a long hard road to the final.
Club captain Sebon Nicholas admits that her team has not been at its best this season with a very sluggish first round they would rather forget. But the mere fact that the team has made it to the grand finals is a testament of their strength in overcoming challenges – of which there have been many.
The biggest challenge the team has faced this season has been the loss of key players who have moved overseas and players missing crucial games due to illness.
This has not helped team cohesion.
In the second round of the club competition Takuvaine slowly pulled themselves together with sparks of their former self begging to show – and maybe just at the right time.
Despite all the adversities – which have made the team stronger as a unit – Nicholas says that her team is in a positive space and look forward to the match against Titikaveka.
“If individuals in the team do their part and give it 120 percent – I will be happy,” she says.
“We will be pulling out everything we have. I haven’t seen the team at their best or hungry in a game but if they are hungry for a win on Saturday anything can happen.”
And of course the team will be looking for a win.
A win to Takuvaine will see a final Champion of Champions match played next week – but those thoughts are not even up for discussion in the Takuvaine club who just aim to take one quarter at a time.
Meanwhile in Titikaveka, calm is settling on the club as players take it easy this week to polish up their game.
With seven players in the premier team training for the mini games, the team is supremely fit and sharp on court skills.
But club co-captain Ngere Puia says that like any major game, the team that minimises their mistakes, sticks to their game plan and plays as a unit will be the victor on the day.
Puia says that with the team also being in the mini games training squad they have had to take things a bit easier this week to prevent and ‘intense’ game.
The other major factor the team does and will certainly do on Saturday is not to retaliate with each other when mistakes are made.
“Everyone makes mistakes on court,” says Puia.
Puia says that her team is at their best when they are relaxed.
“But we certainly don’t underestimated Takuvaine one bit.”
Titikaveka also has two other teams in the netball grand finals with the under 16 grade team who have been together for about four years as ready as their premier seniors, and likewise the club’s open 1 team.
All netball games will be played at the national auditorium with the open 1 and 2 grade finals today, Friday, while the junior grades will get the grand final games underway on Saturday starting at midday.
- Matariki Wilson
Netball finals draw:
Under 10-Avatiu vs Arorangi Umpired by Estelle Searle and Matilda Taruia (reserve-Anika Hunter), Under 12-Arorangi vs Avatiu umpired by Anika Hunter and Ngere Puia (reserve-Matilda Taruia), Under 14-Tupapa vs Avatiu umpired by Punanga Kaveao and Lacyn Rani (reserve-Ngere Puia), Under 16-Titikaveka vs Ngatangiia umpired by Oropai Mataroa and Tupe Tamatoa (reserve-Ross Windle), Under 19-Avatiu vs Tupapa umpired by Ross Windle and Tupe Tamatoa (reserve-Lacyn Rani), Open 2-Takuvaine vs Arorangi umpired by Luciana Matenga and Ross Windle (reserve-Ngere Puia), Open 1-Titikaveka vs Avatiu umpired by Estelle Searle and Tex Tangimetua (reserve-Ross Windle), Reserve-Tupapa vs Arorangi umpired by Tatari Mitchell and Janette Browne (reserve- Tupe Tamatoa), Premier-Titikaveka vs Takuvaine umpired by Estelle Searle and Tex Tangimetua (reserve-Tatari Mitchell).
Bench officials: Under 10-Naomi, Louanne and Nan, under 12-Itinga, Ella and Cathy, under 14-Ake, Naomi and Louanne, under 16-Ake, Teina and Apii, under 19-Cathy, Ella and Nan, open 2-Autiare, Apii and Naomi, open 1-Ake, Tapu and Teina, reserve-Apii, Naomi and Louanne, premier-Autiare, Tapu and Ake
Open day at squash
Friday 22: The Rarotonga Squash Association will be holding a family open day tomorrow to raise more awareness of the sport within the community.
The squash open day will be held at the squash courts at the back of the St Joseph’s Cathedral in Avarua starting at 10am.
Kids and adults alike are welcome to have a go and discover why squash is a great family sport.
In fact, families are encouraged to make it an outing to the courts, so bring your mats and picnic baskets.
Squash association member Marie Priest says the open day will serve as an information day for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
The host the 2016 Olympics will be announced at the 121st IOC Session (which will also be the 13th Olympic Congress) to be held in Copenhagen, Denmark in October. Four candidate cities have been short listed to host the games including Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo (which hosted the 1964 summer Olympics).
So grab the family and head to the squash courts tomorrow for a fun morning on the courts.
The day wraps up at 12 noon so you will have plenty of time to get to the netball and rugby league finals.
Members are asked to come and help share the sport of squash with the community. The association is preparing for the opening of two new courts in the Tereora multi-sport complex. - MW
Players ready despite hoo-ha
Saturday 23: While league officials battled it out in the courtroom yesterday, three premier grade league teams were getting psyched for today’s possible grand finals of the club competition.
The courtroom league action is a result of an application made by the Ngatangiia-Matavera Sea Eagles. This follows their complaint of an ineligible player fielded by the Tupapa Panthers club during last week’s semi-final being thrown out at a Cook Islands Rugby League Association meeting on Tuesday.
The result of last week’s game meant that the Panthers would face the Avatiu Eels in the grand finals scheduled for today – but the appeal by the Sea Eagles has thrown a spanner in the works.
Despite the court hearing – three teams were prepared for a grand final today.
The Avatiu Eels sealed their grand finals fate two weeks ago when they defeated 2008 champions the Tupapa Panthers.
Eels coach Albert Nicholas Jnr says that his team is as ready as they can be for their grand finals meet – just who they will meet was still a mystery to him late yesterday afternoon.
Nicholas says that while his team has certainly prepared to take on the Panthers since the Panthers defeated the Sea Eagles on Saturday, they are ready for action.
“We are ready for anything and any team,” says Nicholas.
He says he has been keeping out of the league controversy that has been going on through the week, making sure his
players are focused on a grand finals win.
Meanwhile out in Panther land, the A grade team had not stopped training either.
Coach Darren Piri hadn’t paid too much attention to the league issue either saying that he has been boosting the confidence of his players and making sure they are all believing in each other and in themselves.
“I’ve just been making sure my boys are ready,” says Piri.
And he reckons they are ready for whatever comes their way.
However, out at the Sea Eagles camp in Ngatangiia there was still some confusion as to whether the team should be training or chilling.
Sea Eagles assistant coach Rangi Luke says that since the club laid its complaint earlier in the week, the players had been turning up to training with the hope that their executive would win the fight for them off the field so that they could have a crack in the league grand finals.
However, as the week has progressed and the issue intensified, players had just been gathering at their home ground to wait for news of their fate and to do general workouts in case they are to play a grand final.
Luke says that if his team are given the green light for the finals, they will be more than ready.
A grand finals spot is certainly what the Eagles want and if they are given this opportunity, it’s pretty safe to say that their game will be all about passion and pride to make all the hoo-ha worth while. - Matariki Wilson
Annual five-a-side soccer starts
Saturday 23: There was a lot of skill and fun in the first day of the annual Rarotonga five-a-side soccer competition played on Thursday at the CIFA complex in Matavera.
The Hartal Clowns seem to be the team to beat in the men’s division, after their strong 3-1 performance against the Quest Crew boys.
The brilliance of Quest Crew goalkeeper Fali Elikana really showed and prevented the Hartal Clowns from scoring several certain goal scoring opportunities.
In the women’s division Arai-Te-Tonga girls had to work hard to overcome a determined Hartal Posers team by 3 goals to 1.
The next round of games will be played on Monday – check out Monday’s edition of CINews for the draw and referee’s appointment. - CIFA
Results from Thursday’s games: (Women) Arai-Te-Tonga 3 vs Hartal Posers 1, Wild Wild West 2 vs Hot Shots 0, (Men) Hartal Clowns 3 vs Quest Crew 1, Viti Boys 2 vs The Rock 2, Virgin Ave 2 vs Ukuuwi Boys 0, Black Puta (win by default over Atiu Warriors) .
Panthers pound the Eels
Monday 25: After the Tupapa-Maraerenga Panthers premier league team beat the Avatiu Eels 26-16 in Ngatangiia on Saturday to retain their champions title, the club and its supporters dubbed the day Black Saturday.
The controversial court case that nearly spoiled the Panthers chance of a grand final was the running joke of the day but it certainly didn’t effect the team’s ability to ‘play their game’.
Leading the Panthers charge on Saturday was play-maker Teokotai ‘Billy Bush’ Tuaivi who took his personal championship title wins to six.
After the game, Tuaivi credited his team for their fantastic performance in toppling the Eels.
“We didn’t give them one second,” said Tuaivi.
“I know the Eels, I used to play for them years ago and they play 80-minute games just like today.”
But the Eels were no easy beats.
It was the Eels who put the first points on the board through a penalty kick by Eels veteran Terry Piri just five minuteS into the game.
Tupapa were not going to allow the Eels to take charge. The team’s young winger Kairan Marsh showed skills beyond his years and posted the Panthers’ first try which was quickly followed by a penalty kick by Andrew Iroa to give the Panthers the lead 6-2.
Avatiu spent the last 10 minutes of the first half trying to breach the Panthers’ defence and were rewarded with a penalty try just before half time to give them a slim 8-6 lead.
The Eels were still looking confident when they returned in the second half and wasted no time in taking back the lead with another spot on penalty kick by Terry Piri putting the Eels back in the lead.
In the 50th minute the Eels young winger Alex Roa, a product of the Aitutaki Sports Academy, showed his pace as he charged down the field to score in the corner to extend the Eels lead to 14-6.
Despite the Eels’ lead, Tupapa stayed calm and composed and pulled out all the stops in the last 25 minutes of the game.
Kipa Maruariki busted across the line for the Panthers sending their large crowd of supporters to their feet in celebration but the real partying began when Marsh exploited a weak Avatiu defence out wide to post his second try to even up the scores 14-all.
With the clock ticking and the scores tied up, Tupapa’s Sam Taronga kicked a field goal to give the Panthers a one point lead.
Another penalty kick by Avatiu put them back in the lead by just one point.
With only minutes remaining in the game, Lui Moemoe sealed the game for the Panthers with one final try to give the Panthers the win 25-16 and the village of Tupapa-Maraerenga a good enough reason to party right through the weekend.
Tuaivi said that while his team was celebrating their win with a lot of enthusiasm, they were really humbled to take the championships title.
“You know we are as humble as a kitten but we can also be as wild as a Panther,” said Tuaivi as he was swept off by the team’s crowd of vocal supporters. - Matariki Wilson
Takuvaine nearly topple Titikaveka
Monday 25: Netball grand final a tight tussle, champions retain premier title
The Takuvaine premier grade almost caused the upset of the netball season when they made Titikaveka work extra hard for their grand finals win on Saturday. The ‘pearls’ from Titikaveka won the match by just two points, 42-40
In fact, Titikaveka only won the third quarter of the match – a new statistic for the team that has gone through the season unbeaten and usually wins at least three quarters of every match.
However, a win is a win and Titikaveka walked away from the grand finals win with four trophies – one for winning the round competition, the second for taking out the knockout competition, the third for edging out Takuvaine in the grand final on Saturday and the overall champion of champions trophy.
Titikaveka took to the courts looking very confident but as soon as the first whistle blew – it was the red devil girls from Takuvaine who were on fire and very keen to get ahead earlier on.
They silenced the Titikaveka supporters as they played some spectacular netball especially in the Titikaveka shooting circle.
Takuvaine goal keeper and captain Sebon Nicholas made her presence known to Titikaveka’s young shooter Esther Matapo and hustled the youngster who was unnerved in the first two quarters.
But Matapo bounced back and after potting a number of awkward goals, she soon had her confidence back and was potting goals from every angle in the shooting circle.
However, it was Takuvaine’s goal defender Taromi Urirau who was the best for the team as she pulled off some of the most spectacular intercepts seen this season – even the Titikaveka supporters had to gasp in awe at her aerobic abilities.
On her toes and ready to pounce, Urirau was a thorn in the side of Titikaveka goal attack Selina Napa – who also took a bit of time to find her groove in the game.
In the Takuvaine shooting circle, a calm Lesley Turepu and tough Tokoa John were a tight unit and didn’t let Titikaveka’s ace defenders Luciana Matenga and Taina White ruffle their feathers.
Takuvaine led the first two quarters of the match with Titikaveka players making silly mistakes, which have never really been seen this season, and gifting Takuvaine goal scoring opportunities – which they gladly took and turned into points. At half time the
red devils were leading by six points 24-18.
However, after a regrouping at half time the pearls from Titikaveka finally found their stride in the third quarter.
They threw everything they had at Takuvaine with every player giving it their all in their individual positions.
Titikaveka won the quarter and kept Takuvaine to just five goals, potting 15 of their own to take the lead in the game for the first time 33-29.
The superior fitness of the Titikaveka squad came to the fore in the final quarter and while Takuvaine won the quarter 11-9, it was the pearls who walked away the victors after a rollercoaster grand finals match.
Altogether six teams, including the Titikaveka premier grade who won in the grand finals, have gone through the season unbeaten. The others are Avatiu under 10, Arorangi under 12, Titikaveka under 16 and Avatiu under 19.
The Cook Islands Netball Association club netball prize giving function will be held this Wednesday at the Edgewater Resort and Spa in Arorangi
-Matariki Wilson
Grand finals results: Under 10-Avatiu 11 vs Arorangi 3, Under 12-Arorangi 17 vs Avatiu 6, Under 14-Tupapa 11 vs Avatiu 7, Under 16-Titikaveka 16 vs Ngatangiia 15, Under 19-Avatiu 24 vs Tupapa 23, Open 2-Takuvaine 19 vs Arorangi 23, Open 1-Titikaveka 28 vs Avatiu 25, Reserve-Tupapa 39 vs Arorangi 34, Premier-Titikaveka 42 vs Takuvaine 40.
5-a-side soccer continues today at Matavera
Monday 25: The second round of the Rarotonga five-a-side soccer competition will be held today at the CIFCA complex in Matavera.
Following is the draw and referees appointments for today’s games:
4.45pm-(women) Arai-Te-Tonga vs Hot Shots on field 1, Ref-Lai Gukisuva, (women) Hartal Posers vs Wild Wild West on field 2, Ref-Maara Kaukura, 5.25pm-(men) Hartal Clowns vs Atiu Warriors on field 1, Ref-Lai Gukisuva, Viti Boys vs Black Puta on field 2, Ref-Maara Kaukura, Ukuuwi Boys vs Quest Crew on field 3, Ref-Robert Savage, Takuvaine Boys vs The Rock on field 4, Ref-Mike Mouauri.
On a bye this week is Virgin Ave. - CIFA
Basketball counts down
Monday 25: The Frangi basketball tournament heads into the semi finals this evening for the men’s teams.
Last Monday the women played their semi finals games with Blitz defeating Hot Shots 26-24 to meet top team Hot Chix in the finals on Wednesday.
In the men’s competition Tangees Friends beat the Queens 55-52 while Rentraro.com thrashed the Philippine Com 67-17. 88FM lost to Palm Grove 30-29.
Tonight bottom placed teams Rentraro.com take on the Queens at 5.30pm in a short game before the men’s semi finals matches between Palm Grove and 88FM at 6pm while Tangees Friends will battle it out with the Philippine Com in the second semi finals match.
The winner of the two semi finals match will play in the finals on Wednesday at 6.30pm after the women’s finals match at 5.30pm. - Matariki Wilson
Stan’s side clinch the Heineken
Monday 25: Cook Islands rugby player and prop Stanley Wright (above) will no doubt still be partying with his Leinster team mates who won the Heineken Cup at the weekend in an epic 19-16 victory against the Leicester Tigers
Leinster is known as European rugby’s eternal bridesmaids but they have now been joined in holy union with their heart’s true desire – the Heineken Cup, the most prestigious trophy in European rugby union.
The match was deadlocked at 16-all before Johnny Sexton of Leinster squeaked through a goal with ten minutes to run.
Stan Wright had a blinder of the game but was sin-binned for an illegal tackle on an opposition player – but that was soon forgotten when the team lifted the Heineken Cup.
Stan, of Pukapukan descent, is a product of the Titikaveka club and is the son of Tuki and David Wright. - Matariki Wilson
Sunday netball decision awaits IFNA
Tuesday 26: The current debate on whether games should be played on Sunday during the World Netball Youth Championships 2009 is one the board and organising committee have been conscious of and been working to avoid for some time.
WYNC 2009 Ltd director Tina Browne says when the schedule was prepared in December of last year, every effort was made to have Sunday 16 August as a rest day, as a mark of respect for the beliefs of many people in the Cook Islands.
However, in order to comply with the rules and regulations that govern world tournaments as prescribed by the international netball federation, (IFNA), Browne says it became clear that it was not possible to achieve that.
“The rules specify that the tournament must not be longer than 10 days in total,” says Browne.
“This is in recognition of the fact that it is very expensive for some countries to travel to a world championships, and their expenses must be kept to a minimum. As has previously been reported, extending the championships by just one more day would involve additional cost to the participating countries of over $60,000 and for some countries may have meant the difference between participating or not.”
Browne says in order to ensure that all teams are able to compete to the best of their ability the IFNA rules state that each team may only play one game per day.
There are five teams in each of the four pools and during the round robin play, each team has to have a bye day.
“Finally, in order to try and achieve the fairest result at the end of the championships, IFNA have specified that the round robin pool play must be followed by quarter finals, semi finals and then finals, for all teams.”
With all this in mind, Browne says the organising committee prepared the draft competition schedule.
She adds as it was not possible to meet all of the IFNA requirements and have Sunday as a rest day, the OC specifically asked IFNA if there could be some relaxing of the rules in this case.
“IFNA said no, as the same rules apply for all world championships and those rules were put in place for valid reasons and have withstood the test of time. IFNA also reminded the OC that when the Cook Islands submitted its bid for the championships in 2005, these were the rules that were applicable at that time and we were therefore, aware of them.”
Browne says the best that the OC could do was to ensure that the Cook Islands team had a bye on the Sunday.
“That has been achieved. The OC has also made arrangements to have the road past the church in Nikao closed to stadium traffic on that Sunday so that there is minimal disruption to the church. Finally, the draw has been prepared such that there will be no games until Sunday afternoon, commencing midday.”
Browne says the competition schedule was approved by IFNA and approved by the WYNC board members in December last year.
“The OC regrets that the Nikao community was not advised earlier of the full reasons behind the decision and unreservedly apologises for that. The OC is hopeful that the information given may go some way towards allaying the concerns of the Nikao community.
“Given the strong views expressed by some members of the Nikao community, and recognising that full community support is needed in order to ensure that the World Netball Youth Championships 2009 is as successful as it can possibly be, the OC has today again requested IFNA to reconsider.”
Browne says if IFNA are prepared to do so, it will require a change to their rules but perhaps it may be possible in these particular circumstances.
“If IFNA are not prepared to change the rules, the OC is hopeful that the community will be able to appreciate that all has been done that can possibly be done, and the people of the Cook Islands, and particularly in the Nikao community, will be able to find it within themselves to lend their support to this event.” - WYNC/MM
Big money for league grand finalists
Tuesday 26: A total of $10,000 worth of trophies and cash prizes were presented to league grand final winners and runner ups at the weekend – to make it a ‘worthwhile’ grand finals.
The Tupapa Panthers, who retained their championship title by defeating the Avatiu Eels 25-16 walked away with a brand new carved trophy and $2500 in cash, thanks to the Rarotongan Beach Resort and Spa. The Eels pocketed $1500.
Cook Islands Rugby League Association president Charles Carlson says that the association managed to raise a total of $10,000 worth of sponsorship plus new trophies for this year’s league season.
“This is not bad for a code that doesn’t have any money,” says Carlson. - MW
Cross country at Tereora
Tuesday 26: The second weekly Athletics Cook Islands cross country event will be held on a new course in Tereora on Wednesday afternoon with a 5.15 pm start.
With the area around the National Stadium being a construction zone, a new course has been identified on a section of land up the driveway beside the Sava warehouse, opposite Manea Foods.
Last week’s first race at the Takitumu School saw a good group of runners contest the event with Thomas Henderson winning the men’s event and Kelly Pick dominating the women’s race. The women’s field was boosted by a number of the games touch squad members.Full results of last week’s races are as follows: (men’s 4km), Thomas Henderson 15:40, Kevin Henderson 16:57, Scott Howley 17:02, Adam Henderson 18:20, Richard Barltrop 18:46, Geoff Stoddart 19:30, (women’s 3km) Kelly Pick 13:08, Tai Cummings 16:07, Rangi Apera 16:27, Julz Westrupp 16:34, Daphne Brown 16:35, Heidi Gustafson 17:06. – ACI
Cooks look to improve netball ranking
Wednesday 27: Improving the country’s international netball ranking is the mission of a Cook Islands squad preparing for next month’s Pacific Netball Series in Samoa.
The competition is scheduled for June 3 to 5 and includes teams from Samoa (5th), Fiji (9th) and Papua New Guinea who are ranked 11th in the world.
The Cook Islands team, which is ranked 10th, includes Rarotonga-based players Luciana Matenga, Selina Napa and Curly George.
The rest of the team is made up of players based in New Zealand and includes Cook Islands under 21 coach Theresa Tairi. twins Paula and Patricia Te Huna, Ritua Petero-Lilivaa, Angela Tangimetua, Holly Solomona, Paula Marama and Clarister Andrew.
The main reason for the Pacific Series is to establish a new ranking for the teams taking part whether they make the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India.
Only 12 netball teams can take part in the Commonwealth Games with hosts India automatically taking the 12th spot.
The Cook Islands were ranked 7th at the last World Cup in Auckland in 2007 but a lack-lustre performance by the Pacific Games team in Samoa in 2007 – where they were ranked 4th – saw the country’s ranking drop to 10th.
The best ranking the country ever had was fifth following
the 1991 world championships.
So there is no doubt that the current netball ranking team will be gunning to return the countries netball status back to its former glory.
The local players will be heading to New Zealand tomorrow where they will head into a camp with the New Zealand-based players before heading to Samoa on Monday June 1.
The Cook Islands delegation will be lead by the Cook Islands Netball Association president Margharet Matenga while the management team includes Ana Noovao (coach), Catharine Kaumoana (manager), Paul Aitu (physio) and nutritionist Edith Cherrington.
The Cooks will play Fiji on Wednesday June 3, Samoa on Thursday June 4 and Papua New Guinea on Friday June 5.
Meanwhile the CINA prizegiving dinner will be held at the Edgewater Resort & Spa tonight. The function starts at 6pm – for details on tickets contact members of the CINA executive. - MW
Ex-pro boxer offers help in Rarotonga
Wednesday 27: A former professional heavyweight boxer from the United States hopes to meet up with boxers and coaches on Rarotonga next month.
Gary Durr, 53, is currently a boxing coach in Texas, and was a former light heavyweight boxer in the US Air Force. His sparing partners included Michael Spinks, Henry Tillman and Country Boy Taylor.
Durr’s amateur record was 80-6.
He was the Minot Air Force Base light heavyweight champion, 1976-1979, the AAU Upper Midwest light heavyweight Champion, 1978-1979 and the North Dakota Golden Gloves light heavyweight champion, 1978-1979.
During the 1990s, he was the boxing coach for the city of Jackson, Mississippi, and served as a district representative to the USA Southern Boxing Association. Several of his Mississippi boxers went undefeated as junior Olympians.
Waylon Wilkinson, a state and regional champion who trained with Durr, was ranked #2 nationally in Silver Gloves.
Matt Stoehr, a state and regional champion who trained with Durr, was selected to fight out of world champion Evander Holyfield’s amateur programme in Atlanta, Georgia.
Cowan called into Wallaby squad
Wednesday 27: Twenty-two year old Pekahou Cowan has been called up for the new-look Wallabies rugby union squad for 2009.
‘Pek’ Cowan is the grandson of the late Beniamina Cowan from Matavera and Nooapii Strickland, and the son of former Petone premier player Maurice ‘Kina’ Cowan who represented the Cook Islands in 1992 against the New Zealand Maori team in Rarotonga.
Cowan is a loosehead prop who has been with the Super 14 Western Force team since 2006 has played in all but one game in this year’s competition.
Cowan represented Australia at schoolboys, under 19 and under 21 level, and was played in last year’s Australia ‘A’ Pacific Nations Cup team against Japan and Samoa.
Cowan is one of three uncapped players in a new-look Wallaby squad which will be captained by Stirling Mortlock - Matariki Wilson
Oldies warm up for rugby festival
Wednesday 27: The Rarotonga based golden oldies players should be ‘match ready’ for the Golden Oldies rugby festival starting this Friday May 29.
Four teams took part in the second round of the local golden oldies club competition at the Nikao field last Friday with plenty of laughs and jokes had by all.
In the first game of the afternoon the biggest golden oldies club – the Avatiu/Nikao Mongoose took on the old boys from Takitumu which included deputy prime minister Sir Terepai Maoate.
More politicians and ‘movers and shakers’ were seen in the second match between the Takuvaine Legends and the Tupapa team.
2009 Pacific Mini Games minister Wilkie Rasmussen donned the Tupapa jersey for their game against the Legends who had some of the ‘younger’ players in their team including mini games chief executive officer Mac Mokoroa and speedy Manase Pureau.
Rasmussen had several stints in the match and proved to be a very reliable ball mover for Tupapa with some sharp and accurate passing.
But the Legends combination of Mokoroa and Pureau was just too fast for everybody else and in fact the pair could have won a match on their own with some clever inter-passing to move the ball to the try line – as one of the rules of golden oldies rugby is that the ball must be passed after travelling so many meters.
Tupapa’s big hitter was Henry Tupa who had no problems busting Legends defenders and getting in the thick of the action while young Tupapa player Papa Enoka was hard to contain.
Tua and Puna Dyer never had time to rest as they were always trying to get their hands on the ball for the Legends.
Even local dentist Phillip Nicholas showed of his fancy foot work as he weaved in and out of Tupapa defenders but he rarely got past Tupapa’s Nga Takaiti whose smile seemed to get bigger and bigger as an unsuspecting attacking player crossed his path.
There were no complaints about the officiating of the game as George George and Johnny Hosking did a fantastic job at keeping the players in check during the Tupapa versus Legends match.
Mama Mongoose Ake Hosea-Winterflood was at her all-time speedy best when she swapped her Mongoose jersey for a Tupapa one to help the old boys score some tries.Hosea will be part of the Mongoose team that will play in the up and coming golden oldies festival.
The opening of the festival will be held this Friday at the Punanga Nui market with the first round of games to start on Saturday May 30 at the Raemaru Park.
The final day of games will be played on Monday June 1. Entry to the games is free.
The closing of the games will be held on Tuesday June 2 with a wrap up party to be held at the Ngatangiia field. - MW
Cricket prepares for fulltime position
Wednesday 27: Cook Islands Cricket Association president James Thomson (left) and International Cricket Council member support and compliance officer Andrew Knott have had a busy few weeks reviewing potential CICA general manager applicants.
Knott was on the island recently to help CICA appoint a general manager for the association.
Knott says that while there were no Cook Islands applicants, they have been inundated with applications for the job from all over the world as the call for a general manager was advertised globally.
Knott says the new general manager will hopefully be appointed in about two months time with his or her main responsibility being to carry out the directions of the ICC board and looking after the administration and finance for the Cook Islands Cricket Association.
He says that ICC will be spending a lot more money in the region and it would be a good idea for the Cook Islands to have a cricket general manager to make sure that funds are well managed and used for the development of the sport in the country. - MW
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