Upset wins to underdogs

Underdogs ruled at the weekend’s round five of rugby league games with lower ranked teams stepping up to show the big boys they mean business.

The Titikaveka Bulldogs are just starting to really show their strength and after breaking the hearts of Arorangi supporters by mauling their team 22-10, they repeated their hot performance by savaging top of the table Avatiu Eels 19-14.

The Panthers continued their winning form and their 26-10 win over the Bears pushes them closer to clawing the Eels off their current top of the table position.

However, the talking point of the league circle was possibly the biggest upset of the weekend when the Aitutaki Sharks sent the Sea Eagles back to Rarotonga with their wings clipped.

The Sharks defeated the visiting Sea Eagles team 26-24 in front of a roaring crowd estimated at more than 600 people at Vaipae field.

Aitutaki Sharks executive member and game commentator on Friday Rere Mataiti reports that the Sharks dominated the match from the outset.

“The Sea Eagles never had a chance – they did catch up and were behind by just a couple of points but the Sharks were dominant from the start,” says Mataiti.

At the half time break the Sharks, under the stewardship of captain Nga Teiti and seasoned campaigner Messine Manapori, had a clear 16-6 lead.

In the second half the Sea Eagles found their form but Mataiti reports that it was the outstanding defence of the Sharks that shut out the Sea Eagles’ key players.

Solid Sharks workers Taio Rio and Daniel Tutai were reportedly devastating in both attack and defence with both men bruising the Sea Eagles pack.

The team’s first win of the season will go a long way to boosting their confidence as they prepare to return to Rarotonga next weekend to face their next opponents – the ever improving Titikaveka Bulldogs.