Sports News

Netball selections coming up
Panthers default on Sharks
Learn to sail courses starting soon
Rugby management named
Nominations open for sports awards
Bulldogs head to the swamp
Cooks for masters league venue
Awards for innovative cricket
Eels prepare for match with Bulldogs
Touch starts Wednesday
2 to NZ masters track and field
Tamariki sports kicks off in March
Rising sailing stars!
Social touch rugby starts today

Netball selections coming up

Fitness tests, trials, umpire fitness sessions, talent development sessions and the Netball Cook Islands annual general meeting are all upcoming events netball lovers and players are encouraged to be part of. 13022006

Fitness tests and selection of players for the Cook Islands national netball squad will be held on March 9 both here on Rarotonga and in New Zealand.

A second trial and selection for a national team will be held on March 16.

On Rarotonga the trial and selection will be held at the Telecom Sports Arena from 2 o’clock to 4pm.

The national netball squad will prepare for the Pacific Netball Series in June.

The series, to include the Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and host Samoa is also the qualifier event for the Commonwealth Games next year to be held in Scotland.

The top two teams at this tournament will then qualify for the Commonwealth Games.

The Pacific Series also gives the Cook Islands national squad an opportunity to improve on the Cooks current netball world ranking of 14th.

The best ranking the country has ever had was 5th following the 1991 world championships.

In other netball news – session two of Netball Cook Islands talent development programme will be held on March 9, while netball umpires start gearing up for the season starting on April 6 are reminded that an umpires fitness session will be held on Friday, March 15 which all intending and returning umpires are encouraged to attend.

Netball Cook Islands will also hold its annual general meeting on Tuesday, February 26 with representatives from all netball clubs and interested parties invited to attend the meeting at the netball office in Nikao.

Further down the track – December 1 to 7 are the dates confirmed for the second Netball in Paradise tournament.

Already 10 international netball teams have registered for the tournament.

No doubt netball lovers on the island have begun lacing up their shoes and doing some pre-season training ahead of the 2013 season.

• Matariki Wilson

Panthers default on Sharks

Messine Manapori and the Aitutaki Sharks premier rugby league game have earned an easy two points this week after the Tupapa Panthers decided to default their game against the sole outer island team in the national competition. 13021718

The Aitutaki Sharks premier grade rugby league team have this week earned an easy two points after learning that the Tupapa Panthers will not be travelling to the outer island for their planned match.

The Panthers have defaulted their game against the Sharks and while the Sharks will be disappointed that their first home game is a no-go – they will still be pleased with the two points.

Meanwhile the first rugby league game this week starts today when the Avatiu Eels under 16 team heads to Titikaveka to take on the Bulldogs under 16 team.

This match will kick off at 4.15pm.

On Friday, the masters league match at the Avatiu field will be the curtain raiser game at 4.15pm before the Avatiu Eels and Titikaveka Bulldogs reserve grade rumble in the Swamp at 5.15pm.

On Saturday remaining age grade matches between the two clubs will be played out before the main game of the week takes to the field between the Avatiu Eels and Titikaveka Bulldogs premier grade in what should be a very physical and action packed game.

Other match ups this weekend will see the Ngatangiia Sea Eagles head to Raemaru Park to play the Arorangi Bears while the Takuvaine Warriors take a break with a bye. - MW

Game three draw:

Avatiu Eels vs Titikaveka Bulldogs at Titikaveka (Thursday) – 4.15pm-Under 16, Ref-B.Bishop assisted by A.Nicholas/B.Taripo.

Avatiu Eels vs Titikaveka Bulldogs at Avatiu (Friday) – 4.15pm-Marsters, Ref-J.Hosking assisted by Papa Anau/Papa Pat, 5.15pm-Reserves, Ref-P.Mitchell assisted by S.Teiotu/N.Tou.

Avatiu Eels vs Titikaveka Bulldogs at Avatiu (Saturday) – 1.30pm-Under 12 all clubs, Ref-K.Iro/P.Ngaroi/club officials, 2.30pm-Under 19, Ref-A.Emile assisted by T.Tuakana/B.Bishop, 4.00pm-Premiers, Ref-T.Manea assisted by A.Emile/N.Tou, (Sub Official-T.Dyer/P.Mitchell).

Arorangi Bears vs Ngatangiia Sea Eagles at Raemaru Park (Saturday) – 1.00pm-Under 14, Ref-P.Ngaroi assisted by Club Officials, 2.00pm-Under 19 vs Panthers, Ref-J.Whitta assisted by S.Teioutu/P.Mitchell, 3.30pm-Reserves, Ref-S.Teiotu assisted by J.Murray/P.Ngaroi, 5.00pm-Premiers, Ref-M.Une assisted by J.Murray/P.Mitchell, (Sub Official-S.Teiotu).

Learn to sail courses starting soon

Get your kids into sailing fun this summer at the Rarotonga Sailing Club in Muri. 13022016

The Rarotonga Sailing Club will be starting another ‘Learn to Sail Course’ this Saturday.

The course covers the basic skills of sailing in a fun introduction for kids 8-years-old and upwards.

A parallel course can be taken by parents too, making it a great family experience! The fee for kids is $30 for the six week course and parents can learn for free.

There’s tons of great fun and challenges for all the kids and a very healthy number of young sailors at the club.

Coach Junior Charlie’s top new sailors, who have nearly two years’ experience, had a terrific experience at the recent Auckland Optimist Championships with the green fleet entries and the open Bic championships, starting off 8 club sailors with a hiss and a roar on their extended competition experience.

During the meet the seven optimist sailors finished in the top ten and scored extremely well in the Bic championships.

The regular competition days for the gold and silver fleet continue on Saturday mornings with coaching Tuesdays and Thursdays, while the green fleet train Wednesday afternoon and gather again on Saturdays for a short skills session and sailing skills games.

Text Junior Charlie on 70585 or email junior@jta.co.ck or contact Anne Tierney on 54605 or email anne@jta.co.ck to register or for enquiries.

• RSC

Rugby management named

A management team has been put together to prepare the Cook Islands national rugby union team to attend the Oceania Cup tournament in June – the first stage of the 2015 Rugby World Cup qualifiers. 13022107

A management team has been assembled to prepare the Cook Islands national rugby union team to attend the Oceania Cup tournament in June.

A quality field of 12 applications was received by the Cook Islands Rugby Union who weighed up the merits of each applicant before making their final selection.

CIRU have appointed Barry George as head coach, Greg Aldous as assistant coach and Cam Kilgour as team manager.

The team will prepare the national side for the Oceania Cup tournament to be staged in June in Papua New Guinea.

The event is also the first stage of the 2015 Rugby World Cup qualifiers.

CIRU president Chris McKinley says that the New Zealand resident management team all come with strong provincial development coach and management credentials which will go a long way in lifting the level of the national rugby team.

“The Oceania Cup will be a tough tournament with tournament hosts PNG expected to offer much resistance,” says McKinley.

The winner of the Oceania Cup is expected to play ‘home and away’ matches against Fiji in 2014 to secure a place at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Newly appointed head coach Barry George is currently a sport development and second school advisor with Counties Manukau Sport – a position he has held since 2008.

From 2009 to 2011, George was the coach of the Manukau Rovers Rugby Football Club premiers team and has over the years coached school and club rugby both in New Zealand and the UK.

In 2007, George was the rugby manager for Socious Sports in the UK before becoming the head of rugby UK rugby club Old Albanian.

The 46-year-old’s rugby qualifications include completing a Blues advanced coaching course, attaining his New Zealand Rugby Football Union Massey Coaching Practicums, New Zealand and Auckland level two and three coaching certificates.

Assistant coach Greg Aldous also has an impressive list of coaching achievements and since 2010 he has been the Australasian Rugby Association Resource Coach and head coach of the North Harbour under 20 side that came first and won the Coronation Shield in the 2012 North Harbour region tournament which the team placed 2nd in 2010 and 3rd in 2011.

New team manager Cam Kilgour has looked after the Auckland Blues Super 12 team from 2003 to 2004 and was tournament director of the South Islands Sevens Tournament in Timaru in 2010, 2011 and last year.

CIRU would like to thank all the unsuccessful applicants that expressed interest in these management positions.

This week the new management team will be finalising their plans for the upcoming Rugby World Cup qualifier campaign.

• Matariki Wilson

Nominations open for sports awards

Nominations for the annual sports awards are now open. This is the perfect opportunity for national federations to acknowledge the achievements of their athletes throughout the 2012 sporting year. 13022015

The 2012 national sports awards will be held on March 28 and all national federations are being encouraged to acknowledge your standout athletes from the 2012 sporting year.

The annual sports award is the ideal time to acknowledge athletes, sports administrators, team coaches and managers for their achievements in 2012.

The annual awards are also an opportunity to highlight members of the community that have helped with the growth and development of sport in the Cook Islands by inducting them into the Cook Islands Sports Hall of Fame.

The community at large can make nominations for this category.

This years awards night will be held at the Edgewater Beach Resort and Spa in Arorangi at 6pm.

New Zealand rugby sevens legend and frequent visitor to the Cook Islands Eric Rush will be the guest speaker at the awards evening.

Nominations are now open and forms are available at the CISNOC office in Nikao.

The categories for this year’s awards include the sportsman and sportswoman of the year, junior sportsman and sportswoman, sports team, sports achievement of the year, IOC sports personality award, women in sports trophy, sports technical official, sports administrator, sports coach, best administered outer islands sports association, best outer island sports achievement award, Manea Zone sportsman and sportswoman, Purapura Zone sportsman and sportswoman.

For more information on the sports awards or how to get your hands on nomination forms – contact the CISNOC office on 24095.

• Matariki Wilson

Bulldogs head to the swamp

Today’s rugby league action will be at the Avatiu Swamp starting at 4.15pm with the master league game before the reserve game between the Avatiu Eels and Titikaveka Bulldogs kicks off at 5.15pm.

Remaining Bulldogs and Eels games will be played out on Saturday including the premier grade match at 4pm.

Out west – the Arorangi Bears will host the Ngatangiia Sea Eagles on Saturday where the premier grade match at Raemaru Park will kick off at 5pm. - MW

Avatiu Eels vs Titikaveka Bulldogs at Avatiu (Friday) – 4.15pm-Marsters, Ref-J.Hosking assisted by Papa Anau/Papa Pat, 5.15pm-Reserves, Ref-P.Mitchell assisted by S.Teiotu/N.Tou.

Avatiu Eels vs Titikaveka Bulldogs at Avatiu (Saturday) – 1.30pm-Under 12 all clubs, Ref-K.Iro/P.Ngaroi/club officials, 2.30pm-Under 19, Ref-A.Emile assisted by T.Tuakana/B.Bishop, 4.00pm-Premiers, Ref-T.Manea assisted by A.Emile/N.Tou, (Sub Official-T.Dyer/P.Mitchell).

Arorangi Bears vs Ngatangiia Sea Eagles at Raemaru Park (Saturday) – 1.00pm-Under 14, Ref-P.Ngaroi assisted by Club Officials, 2.00pm-Under 19 vs Panthers, Ref-J.Whitta assisted by S.Teioutu/P.Mitchell, 3.30pm-Reserves, Ref-S.Teiotu assisted by J.Murray/P.Ngaroi, 5.00pm-Premiers, Ref-M.Une assisted by J.Murray/P.Mitchell, (Sub Official-S.Teiotu).

Cooks for masters league venue

Masters rugby league players unlaced their bootstraps and put their legs up last Friday when they rocked up to Raemaru Park to enjoy the on-field action between the Arorangi Bears Aitutaki Sharks.

Today the old legs will strap up again and play a curtain-raiser game before the Avatiu Eels face the Titikaveka Bulldogs reserve grade at the swamp starting at 4.15pm.

In other league masters news – the Cook Islands League Masters Association president Lucky Matapuku is excited over the pending visit in three weeks’ time of the franchise-holder of the International Masters Sports and his entourage.

Matapuku said that Mr Campbell and his team were invited to visit Rarotonga to discuss and appraise the rugby venues on the island as another venue for hosting future games instead of just Australia and New Zealand.

The masters league world games attracts thousands of participants which he believes is a good thing for the Cook Islands economy, if our bid is successful.

“My executives and I are now seeking stake-holder assistance in compiling a fact sheet on the Cook Islands for our guests,” said Lucky.

• Slow and Steady

Awards for innovative cricket

Cook Islands Cricket has won two awards at the 2012 Pepsi ICC EAP Development Programme Annual Awards including the award for best women’s cricket initiative. 13022110

The Cook Islands has won two awards at the 2012 Pepsi ICC EAP Development Programme Annual Awards.

The Cook Islands took out the category of ‘Best Junior Participation Initiative’ for the local associations innovative modified cricket games introduced in 2012.

Games included court cricket (similar to indoor cricket) that could be played during lunch breaks as well as ‘one hand one bounce’ competitions at high schools.

A ‘national cricket day’ also took place where nine islands all played junior cricket at the same time on the same day. This has seen a 20 per cent increase in under 19 men and women players on Rarotonga, as well as new teams on the island of Aitutaki.

The Cooks also took out the ‘Best Women’s Cricket Initiative’ award for their fantastic improvement in women’s cricket.

2012 saw the national women’s team compete in the ICC EAP Women’s Championships for the first time.

Then using their partnership with Northern District (ND) the local association was able to send three national players to attend ND cricket’s women’s first class week-long camp.

Other award winners were Papua New Guinea who took out the best overall cricket development programme award while Japan took out the best cricket promotion and marketing programme as well as volunteer of the year.

The Philippines won the photo of the year award while Vanuatu took out the best spirit of cricket initiative award.

The EAP award winners will now join winners from the four other Pepsi International Cricket Council (ICC) Development Programme Regions at the ICC Global Awards.

The ICC Development Program Awards were established to recognise exceptional performance and service to the game of cricket in all associate and affiliate member countries, and aims to recognize these contributions among all levels of cricket development.

• Matariki Wilson

Eels prepare for match with Bulldogs

Terry Piri and the Avatiu Eels will host defending champions the Bulldogs at the Avatiu swamp today. 13021043

It might only be game three, but today’s rugby league premier grade match between defending champion Titikaveka Bulldogs and the ever threatening Avatiu Eels is set to be a massive showdown.

The Bulldogs have had a slow start to the season losing both their first two games – the first against a spirited Ngatangiia Sea Eagles team and the second last weekend against the classy Tupapa Panthers.

Not that they need to be reminded of the loss which they have no doubt spent the past week channelling their disappointment into a game plan that will defeat the Eels today.

But on home ground, the Eels can be a force to be reckoned with and the side from the swamp are certainly on a confident buzz after their first up win against the Tupapa Panthers in the first round of games.

The Eels will no doubt use every opportunity to blood in some of the clubs impressive up and coming youthful players.

The youth combined with the stalwarts of the club makes for a dangerous combination but the team that sticks to their game plan and plays as a unit is sure to be today’s victor on the field.

If you are not an Eels or Bulldogs fan – the other match of the day is at Raemaru Park between the Arorangi Bears and Ngatangiia Sea Eagles.

Get your club colours on and get out to the field and cheer your team on.

Avatiu Eels vs Titikaveka Bulldogs at Avatiu (Saturday) – 1.30pm-Under 12 all clubs, Ref-K.Iro/P.Ngaroi/club officials, 2.30pm-Under 19, Ref-A.Emile assisted by T.Tuakana/B.Bishop, 4pm-Premiers, Ref-T.Manea assisted by A.Emile/N.Tou, (Sub Official-T.Dyer/P.Mitchell).

Arorangi Bears vs Ngatangiia Sea Eagles at Raemaru Park (Saturday) – 1.00pm-Under 14, Ref-P.Ngaroi assisted by Club Officials, 2.00pm-Under 19 vs Panthers, Ref-J.Whitta assisted by S.Teioutu/P.Mitchell, 3.30pm-Reserves, Ref-S.Teiotu assisted by J.Murray/P.Ngaroi, 5pm-Premiers, Ref-M.Une assisted by J.Murray/P.Mitchell, (Sub Official-S.Teiotu).

• Matariki Wilson

Touch starts Wednesday

13022414

The new touch rugby competition for women’s teams and social mixed sides starts this Wednesday with one more available team space in the women’s competition.

The competition has been organised to give local netballers the opportunity to get fit and in form before the domestic season.

The competition also gives those men not playing in the current rugby league division another way to stay fit before the rugby competition.

The competition will run six weeks and if you and your netball team want to be part of this competition as part of your pre-season work out contact Daphne Brown on 54171 or Julz Westrupp on 55055.

• Matariki Wilson

2 to NZ masters track and field

Veteran runner David Lobb, pictured here in the 2011 Round Raro, will be taking part in the New Zealand masters track and field championships with Ake Hosea-Winterflood. 13022521

Veteran sports enthusiasts David Lobb and Ake Hosea-Winterflood will be the only two Cook Islands athletes at the New Zealand Masters Association track and field championships from March 1 to 4.

For Lobb, this will be the 11th year in a row he has attended the meet which will be held in Wellington this year.

Lobb first went to the New Zealand championships in 2003 to promote the Oceania masters athletics championships held in the Cook Islands the following year.

Come March 1, Lobb will be competing in the long jump, triple jump, 60 metres sprint and 100 metres sprint at Newton Park in Wellington.

He will also be using that event to promote the Cook Islands’ hosting of the Oceania masters in October 2015.

Sport coach Ake Hosea-Winterflood will be competing in the 60m, 100m and 200m sprints as well as long jump.

Lobb says that no doubt he and Hosea will be one of the few international athletes that will be competing at the New Zealand event.

The pair hope to have the support of Cook Islands High Commissioner to New Zealand Tiki Matapo and the wider Cook Islands community in Wellington to support them.

This will hopefully include 1988 Seoul Olympian William Taramai.

Lobb hopes to spark more interest among masters athletes here on the island to get out on the tracks and get training for the next Oceania masters athletics meet which is set to take place in Bendigo, just outside of Melbourne, Australia.

If you are over 35-years and feel you need to get out and keep active and maybe become a regular masters athlete – get along to the BCI Stadium and make the most of the tracks and facility.

• Matariki Wilson

Tamariki sports kicks off in March

The ANZ Tamariki Sports programme will roll back into action on March 20.

The weekly athletics programme is free for all kids aged between 7 and 12 and is run by sports enthusiast and passionate athletics coach Ake Hosea-Winterflood.

Currently Hosea is in New Zealand for final preparations before she competes in the New Zealand Masters Association track and field championships in Wellington.

On her return she will start up her popular programme which is free to all kids thanks to the generous sponsorship by ANZ Bank.

The programme will run for six weeks every Wednesday afternoon at the BCI Stadium.

Hosea will be putting a lot of emphasis on proper running, jumping and throwing techniques incorporating her lessons with loads of fun activities to keep the kids on their toes.

All kids will need for the programme, which will be held from 4.15pm for an hour, is proper sports gear, a face towel, running shoes and bucket loads of enthusiasm.

Hosea will be off the island for two weeks and parents wanting more information on the programme or keen to register their future track Olympians in the programme can contact her on 56456 when she returns home.

• Matariki Wilson

13022612

Rising sailing stars Makua Nikoia (right) and Teakura Framhein placed first and second respectively in the Junior Rarotonga Sailing Club Escape Magazine Series at the weekend.

The pairs win comes shortly after a successful performance at the Auckland regatta earlier this year and they are continuing their winning form back home.

Third place went to Narangi Mapu while Martin Obeda placed 4th followed by Jade Tierney in 5th place, Otis Burrell in 7th, Toutika in 8th, Ioane Moore 8th equal with Helene Johnson while Finn Barrett placed 9th and Repeta Kirikava rounded up the top 10 placing.

Otis Burrell, Makua Nikoia and Jade Tierney were crowned the winners of the handicap Escape Magazine series with much of the sailors success coming from the passionate and dedicated coaching by national sailing champ Junior Charlie.

• Matariki Wilson

The new women and social mixed touch rugby tournament taps off today at the Nikao field starting at 5pm. 13022610

The sports field in Nikao is the place to be this afternoon to catch the touch rugby action in the new women’s and social mixed touch rugby tournament.

The tournament has been designed to get netball teams back into fighting form ahead of the season and for touch rugby lovers to stretch their legs.

The six week competition has attracted 6 women’s team namely the Body Blast crew, Hottie Yachties, Bounty Hunters, Nukzpower, Live Smart and team FBI.

The social mixed division has also drawn out six teams including Nukzpower, the Stallions, Kuki Mariners, Mongoose, Live Smart and Air Raro Outcasts.

Games kick off at 5pm with the last match in the social mixed division scheduled to start at 6.30pm.

Touch rugby referees are also being asked to take up the whistle to officiate games because without you – there will be no games.

So get your sun hat and head to the Nikao field for some touch rugby action this afternoon.

Week one draw – 5:00pm on field one – Body Blast (w) vs Hottie Yachties(w), on field two – Bounty Hunters (w) vs Nukzpower (w), 5:30pm on field one – Live Smart (w) vs FBI (w), 6:00pm on field one – Nukzpower (mx) vs Stallions (mx), on field two – Kuki Mariners (mx) vs Mongoose (mx), 6:30pm on field one – Livesmart (mx) vs AirRaro Outcasts.

• Matariki Wilson