Sports News

8 games of fun in the sun at touch today
Young sailors back home to polish skills
Primary school football tourney kicks off
Sports minister pleased with CISNOC progress
‘Govt cannot direct changes’
Puaikura-Titikaveka on track at T20
D-league is a knockout!
Sports minister gives credit to Blake
Big hits and runs at the Swamp and Raemaru Park
Sharks prove worth despite loss
Swim series continues in Tikioki
Big guns to pick new national team
Thriller league
Experienced heads score runaway wins
Pressure mounting in 20/20 cricket
Cookies in ‘Ethkick’ soccer tourney
Masters up the tempo in curtain raiser
Keith Lulia ready for baptism of fire
Primary school soccer kicks off
Aitutaki league president supports CIRL president
Rally call to ‘masters’ athletes
Foster reappointed as CI netball coach
Heath in line for Olympic team
Badminton going strong
Just Play soccer heads to Aitutaki
Sharks and Bears in showdown

Smiles and fast tries will be all on at the Nikao field this afternoon for the next round of touch rugby games. 12021607

Eight touch rugby matches are scheduled for today in the open and mixed divisions of the 2012 season.

As the season is still fresh – some players, especially in the social mixed division, will still be finding their feet while gun teams like the Rebels, Rama and Bounty Hunters will want to improve on their already great form.

Games kick off at 5pm at the Nikao field and all are welcome to join the teams for some fun under the sun.

Today’s draw – (women) 5pm on field one Nikao Youth vs Bounty Hunters, on field two Isotonics vs FBI, (men/mixed) 5.30pm on field one Rama vs TKV, on field two Rebels vs FBTonics, (mixed) 6.00pm on field one TKV vs Mongoose, on field two Kings vs Nikao Youth, (mixed/men) 6.30pm on field one Rama vs OPM, on field two Rebels vs Nikao Youth.

• Matariki Wilson

Back to basics! Top sailors Helema Williams and Taua Elisa have some fun in an Optimist at Muri lagoon before they knuckling down for their final attempt to qualify for the Olympics. / / 12022115

The final Olympic qualification regatta for local sailors Helema Williams and Taua Elisa is just around the corner and the pair are back home to polish up for the event to be held in Germany in May.

For the past four years the pair have been chasing their dreams of representing the country at the Olympics and this year is their chance to make that dream a reality.

But the road to reaching the Olympics has been a tough one for the sailing crew who in recent years have spent more time overseas competing in top level regattas as they work to achieving their Olympic dreams.

Williams and Elisa are back home after months on the road through Australia and New Zealand where the sailors competed in a number of regattas including the World Champs in Perth.

That event was one of a number of Olympic qualifying events where 27 countries qualified and 13 countries fell off the qualifying list.

In the women’s division, there are currently nine spots remaining for sailors to attend the Olympics and 20 countries vying for those spots – one of which Williams hopes to secure in her next regatta in Germany.

Williams says after her performance in Perth and at races in Wellington and Auckland she is feeling confident ahead of the final Olympic qualifier.

For Elisa the task of qualifying is much tougher with 14 spots remaining for the men’s sailing with well over 20 countries vying for those spots.

Rather than stew about their chances of qualifying – Williams and Elisa are fizzing with the excitement of full on training days at home and heading to Germany to give it their all.

Helping them with their final stages of preparations will be top UK sailing coach Ben Paton who has coached numerous top sailors.

Most the two sailors’ training sessions will be done outside the reef where they will experience a wide range of sailing conditions and winds.

As they get ready to knuckle down after a deserved short break – they are ready for some intense and hard training sessions.

Of course Williams and Elisa can apply for a wild card to compete at the Olympics if they don’t qualify but the sailors were not interested in talking about the option as they would much rather qualify on their sailing skills.

As they prepare for the final journey to achieving their dreams – Williams and Elisa would like to thank all their sponsors who’ve assisted them on their journey to the Olympics including Turtles, Sailing Cook Islands and of course their family and friends for all their support.

• Matariki Wilson

Senior Boys of Nikao Primary School in action last year against Avatea Primary School. 12022110

The annual Primary School Round Robin Soccer competition for forms one and two senior students will kick off tomorrow at the CIFA Complex in Matavera after school.

Avarua, Arorangi, Nukutere, Avatea, Te Uki Ou, Imanuela, Papaaroa, Titikaveka and Nikao will battle it out on the field in both girls and boys division to see who will dominate this year’s Primary School Soccer Tournament.

Both the boys and girls divisions schools are split into two groups where they will play each school to determine which school will go through to the play-offs before heading to the finals to find the winner.

Avarua School won the first Senior Primary School Soccer Competition in the boys and girls division when it first kicked off in 2009, however Nikao stole the limelight in the boys division against Avatea last year to take the title while in the girl’s division Avarua School retained their title for another year.

The vocal support from teachers, parents and supporters will without a doubt boost the students to play well and confident for a win for their school team.

Today’s draw at the CIFA complex – 2.45pm (girls) on field 1-Arorangi vs Titikaveka, on field 2-Avarua vs Nukutere, on field 3-Nikao vs Imanuela, Avatea on a bye, 3.20pm (boys) – on field 1-Arorangi vs Papaaroa, on field 2-Avarua vs Nukutere, on field 3-Avatea vs Titikaveka, on field 4-Nikao vs Te Uki ou/Imanuela.

• CIFA Media

Government wants the best outcome for sports, says minister of sport and finance Mark Brown commenting on the current financial state of the national sports body CISNOC (Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee).

“That means that we want to see people participating in sports, and be able to provide a pathway to compete at the most elite level,” says Brown.

He says for this to happen it is vital that CISNOC overcomes its current financial problems.

“Government is using its leverage with the appointment of advisors to the board – Richard Neves (finance secretary) and Bredina Drollet (internal affairs secretary) – to help CISNOC put in place the necessary financial discipline to ensure the organisation operates efficiently and maximizes its support to the development of sports by its member sporting bodies.

“I would expect CISNOC now as a federation to move forward to fix those issues and lead the way for sport in the nation,” says Brown.

Brown says for CISNOC to move forward, it must address the back log of issues including paying off creditors.

“Use of the All Sports Fund collected by government for passing on to CISNOC to meet the creditors ensures that all debts are paid and reduces a further call on public resources. This is expected to be a temporary measure for this year only with normal resumption of the fund expected in the future.”

Since the surfacing of the financial issues in CISNOC, Brown says government is pleased with the progress that the national sports body has made including a thorough review of its accounts which has helped shaped the current “no-frills” budget for the remainder of year. “Items such as Koru membership are not provided for in that membership and are not expected to be included in future budget plans.”

On questions of why government continues to bail out the organisation despite what some national federations claim to be a ‘culture of extravagance’ within the sport body, Brown says no one has bailed out CISNOC.

“If you look at what the government has actually done it was to ensure that athletes got to attend the Pacific Mini Games in New Caledonia, we have loaned the money to CISNOC and that debt still remains.

“CISNOC’s operations will be supported but nowhere near the numbers that were quoted earlier, and we will ensure that our athletes attend the London Olympic Games this year by advancing the money for their attendance which will then be refunded from the Olympic Games Organising Committee – as a result of new funding arrangements.”

“If there is anyone out there suggesting that they should not go, I will let those people try and explain what their rationale is,” adds Brown.

• Matariki Wilson

Dissatisfaction with the way the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee (CISNOC) manages its finance has resulted in threats of legal action by the tennis and triathlon codes.

Both the tennis and triathlon codes confirm they have threatened to make an application with the high court for the winding-up of CISNOC and believe that the sports body’s commitment to paying out Olympic code funding is a result of its anxiety over possible legal action.

Minister of finance and sport Mark Brown believes that legal proceedings against CISNOC may have unintended longer term impacts including the worst case scenario of losing the national sports body’s International Olympic Committee membership.

“If we were to lose our privilege of competing at the Olympic and Commonwealth Games then it would be a backward step for sports generally in this country,” says Brown.

“Being a member of the IOC and CGF provides the Cook Islands with an additional funding stream for sports, in the absence of those funding streams there would be an expectation rightly or wrongly that government would pick up the tab.

“The budget cannot pick this up as the government already operates under enormous pressure in delivering public priorities.

“The government is keen to avoid this scenario by helping CISNOC improve its financial management,” adds Brown.

Brown says that even with the progressive improvements made, it is understandable that the broader membership of CISNOC, the sporting federations themselves, may be frustrated that more change is needed now.

“Government cannot direct changes to CISNOC, only the members of CISNOC can.”

Brown is encouraging all national federations and sports people that feel aggrieved by the woeful state of finance within the sport body to attend the CISNOC special meeting on February 29 and the national sport body’s annual general meeting on May 4.

“All codes are encouraged to attend that meeting and demonstrate their rights as members to ultimately make changes it feels are necessary.”

• Matariki Wilson

Vaka Te-Au-O-Tonga will be looking to Toara ‘the tank’ Teinaki to go big with the bat on Friday when the side faces defending D-league champions Puaikura-Titikaveka. 12020540

Dramatic mid air catches, diving saves and ninja like reactions had batters in a daze during Friday night’s Turtles Domestic League III cricket competition at the BCI Stadium.

Batters found it hard going as bowlers carved through the batting line ups to take centre stage.

Te-Au-O-Tonga’s Jonathan Rowe had a stellar game taking two miracle catches in the field and collecting two wickets for four runs with the ball.

Together with Toara ‘The Tank’ Teinaki (three wickets for 13 runs) and Junior Ngatokorua (24 for four), they had the Puaikura-Titikaveka team in all sorts of trouble as a parade of blue shirts came and went in quick succession.

Enter Puaikura-Titikaveka’s in-form batter and man of the moment Pa Zekaria as he took the game by the throat and launched into some big hits to get his side through to 72.

Opening Puaikura-Titikaveka bowler Chauncey Flay had the fans screaming and the music pumping early when he picked up the big wicket of Hamish Weir in the first over.

He didn’t stop there as he collected another three wickets to end the match with figures of 19 runs for four wickets from his 4 overs.

Opening bowling partner Tuaine Mamanu used his left arm variation to absolute perfection as he kept scoring to a minimum at the other end.

Rowe added to his bowling and fielding efforts with the bat providing Te-Au-O-Tonga’s only attack scoring 33 runs from 27 balls.

Puaikura-Titikaveka’s fielding was sensational including a lightning quick stumping from national skipper Hori Miller to have Te-Au-O-Tonga all out for 54.

This Friday’s Turtles Domestic League III grand final will prove highly entertaining with the first ball due to be bowled at 6.30pm between defending champions Puaikura-Titikaveka and Te-Au-O-Tonga.

Fans will have their music blazing, BBQs cranking and shouts of support and in the case of the Puaikura-Titikaveka crew – they will be amping to win the Turtles League with an unbeaten record and retain the trophy.

Te-Au-O-Tonga captain Wayken Punga will be heading back to basics to inspire his lads to repeat their record match winning performance from game one to wrangle the trophy off Puaikura-Titikaveka.

• CIC/Matariki Wilson

12022018

Former All Blacks hooker Hika Reid is one of a handful of international stars supporting the local Turtles Domestic League III cricket tournament. He is pictured here sporting one of the D-league supporter’s dry-fit shirts which are available at the Cook Islands Cricket office in Taputapuatea. This picture of Reid, who was an All Blacks hooker between 1980 and 1986, was taken by Northern Districts Cricket umpire and Bay of Plenty (NZ) umpire training officer Colin Elstob.

Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee secretary general and women in sport chair Rosie Blake collects her woman in sport award for the region of Oceania at the 5th IOC World Conference on Women in Sport. 12022010

Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee secretary general and women in sport chair Rosie Blake (third from right) was one of six women honoured with awards for their work in advancing women in sport. 12022011

Participants at the 5th IOC World Conference on Women and Sport called on sports leaders to take a more proactive role in advancing the cause of women in and through sport as the event came to a close in Los Angeles, California, on Saturday.

Among the 800 delegates from 135 countries at the event was Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee secretary general Rosie Blake BEM.

As well as being in Los Angeles as the chairperson of the Cook Islands Women in Sport Commission, Blake was honoured with the woman in sport award for the Oceania region by the International Olympic Committee for a lifelong dedication to sports in the Cook Islands.

“This is a huge honour that has been placed upon the Cook Islands,” commented minister of sport Mark Brown.

“Let’s give credit where it is due. We are all too often quick to criticise our own people but slow to recognise the unseen and unreported good that has been done over many years by our own people.”

At the awards ceremony, Blake epitomised proud Cook Islands women in a strand of Manihiki black pearls and trade mark ei katu.

But it wasn’t all glamour as Blake, assisted by Lydia Sijp, presented to IOC delegates the progress of sport in the Cook Islands and the role it plays in the development of a positive society.

Blake also took part in a three-day conference, whose theme was ‘together stronger: the future of sport’.

The conference ended with over 800 delegates from 135 countries unanimously approving “The Los Angeles Declaration”, a series of recommendations aimed at promoting gender equality in sport and using sport as a tool to improve the lives of women around the world.

The declaration focused on two main themes – the need to bring more women into management and leadership roles and the need to increase collaboration and partnerships, especially with UN organisations, to promote gender equality.

IOC President Jacques Rogge assured the conference delegates that the Olympic Movement would act on the recommendations.

The conference declaration acknowledged that the Olympic Movement’s steady progress towards gender equality on the field of play had not been matched in sports leadership positions.

It called for more resources to support women in sports leadership roles and urged sports organisations to follow the IOC’s lead by adopting policies to advance gender equality.

The record number of delegates at this year’s conference included well-known figures from the world of sport, as well as representatives of civil society, government and academia.

The 2012 Women and Sport Awards were presented on the opening day of the conference, with India’s Manisha Malhotra winning the World Trophy for her commitment to helping disadvantaged girls progress through sport.

The five continental winners were Peninnah Aligawesa Kabenge (Africa), the Bradesco Sports and Education Progamme and Centre (Americas), Zaiton Othman (Asia), Aikaterini Nafplioti-Panagopoulos (Europe), and Roseline Blake (Oceania).

Held every four years, the aim of the World Conference on Women and Sport is to assess the progress made in advancing the cause of gender equality within the Olympic Movement and to define future priority actions to improve and increase the involvement of girls and women in this framework.

• MW/IOC

An Aitutaki Sharks player muscles big Francis Smith of the Bears to the ground but not before the experienced Bears player offloads the ball. 12021918

Massive rugby league action over the weekend kept fans on the edge of their seats with big hits, elusive runs and hard tackles.

At Raemaru Park the Sharks were mauled by the Bears 44-26 but not before the Sharks showed potential with a couple of outstanding tries and big runs from their hulking star Daniel Tutai.

At the Swamp the Sea Eagles got their game against the Eels off to a great start but were caught napping in the last quarter of the game for the Eels to run away with the win 28-18.

At Victoria Park – the Panthers slaughtered the Warriors 44-0.

Today we feature some of the action from Raemaru Park on Friday and the Swamp on Saturday.

• Matariki Wilson

Click to enlarge

Sam Hewitt of the Aitutaki Sharks pins his ears back and gaps it down the sideline to dot one down for the Sharks. 12021911

 

Click to enlarge

Prolific Eels tackler Papa Lee Ponini wraps himself around a Sea Eagles player at the Swamp. 12021920

 

Click to enlarge

Avatiu supporters erupt into cheers as one of their Eels players slips through to dot one down right under the Sea Eagles noses. 12021923

 

Eels forward Bilsy Gukisuva puts his head down to drive through the Sea Eagles defence line at the Swamp on Saturday. 12021922

The Aitutaki Sharks rugby league team’s body-on-the-line style of play and clinical tries have gone a long way to proving they belong in the national competition – although they were mauled by the Arorangi Bears 44-26.

The bruising encounter at Raemaru Park was the Sharks first outing of the season and they certainly put up a huge fight in the first half of the match forcing the Bears to lift the tempo of the game.

The Bears opened up the game with two quick tries to take the early lead 10-0 before the Sharks brought the Aitutaki flair to the park with two outstanding tries of their own.

The first try was a brilliant team effort started by Messine Manapori who directed the play towards the hulking Daniel Tutai on the wing who monstered his way through and over Bears defenders before offloading the ball to Sam Hewitt who pinned his ears back and bolted across the chalk.

The side’s second try was a carbon copy of the first and with Tutai acing the conversion the Sharks took the lead in the game 12-10, sending their large crowd of supporters into a frenzy of celebrations.

With the score so tight, the intensity of the match lifted with tempers flaring and a Bears player binned.

Despite being down one man the Bears’ young stars stepped up with a break through try coming via young Andrew Purua and re-establishing the Bears lead 16-12.

The final quarter of the first half was a tit-for-tat show with the Pita Ngatua dotting down for the Sharks before Rouru Une of the Bears replied on the half time hooter to give the Bears a slim 20-18 lead at the break.

The first half action and tight scores promised big things for the second half but the Sharks returned to the field with their eyes shut as the Bears ran in five unanswered tries – the majority of which came straight from the kick off.

Finally the Sharks woke from their slumber to dot down twice more but it was all too late as the Bears had already won the game early in the second half finishing off the Sharks 44-26.

The first half efforts of the Sharks were certainly impressive and gave supporters hope of a huge upset but their second half performance didn’t help their cause in proving their worth on the national competition.

The Sharks will face the slippery Eels this week – an Eels pack that’s growing into an anaconda as the defending champions establish their dominance.

At the weekend the Eels faced a sharp and young Ngatangiia-Matavera Sea Eagles pack lead by the able Willie Kauvai but after dominating proceedings in the early parts of the game had their wings clipped by the Eels who eventually won the match 28-18 with the forward pack of Bilsy Gukisuva, Mark Charlie, Papa Ta and Lui Nicholas playing a big role in the win.

Despite the Eels win they had their fair share of fumbles with numerous handling errors causing much eye rolling from the crowd.

Across at Tupapa the very polished Panthers demolished a demoralised Takuvaine Warriors side 44-0. After a very good performance by the Warriors in round one and two against the Eels and the Bulldogs losing both games in the last quarter, everyone was wondering whether they are still in recovery mode after those two tough games.

That fighting Warrior spirit was not there with the players who will need to find this before they face the Sea Eagles this coming weekend.

• Matariki Wilson

Click to enlarge

Hulking Aitutaki Sharks Daniel Tutai was in devastating form on Friday when he monstered his way over Bears players to help set up a number of the Sharks tries. 12021914

 

Click to enlarge

Sharks stalwart Messine Manapori draws in a Bears defender before popping the pass to Sam Hewitt to score a try. 12021903

 

Swimmers dove back into the water last Monday with an impressive number of athletes taking to the Tikioki lagoon for the re-commencement of the local open water swim series.

The swim series continues today at 5.15pm in Tikioki where last Monday a total of 15 swimmers donned their togs and goggles and tackled one or more of the three course distances on offer.

Last weeks swim series was taken out by Tereora College physical education teacher Vanessa Palmer who blitzed the 1500m course in 25.23 with John Beasley just over a minute behind Palmer in 26.08 while Kevin Henderson took out third in 26.56.

The current swim series is seen as a build up to the New Zealand Ocean Swim Series.

The Cook Islands Aquatics Federation will also consider the next 7 weeks of races as part of the series build up to the King of the Bays, Auckland, on March 31 which will be a 2.8km open water swim from Milford to Takapuna Beach.

The event is heralded as New Zealand’s premiere ocean-swim event and the top male and female winners, which will be determined by individual results over the whole of the 12-week series including last year’s Ocean Swim Series and National Championships, will represent the Cook Islands at this event. Full results below.

Results

• Matariki Wilson

National women cricket squad selectors Sabine Janneck, Selina Napa and Piakura Rupe at the ready to select a tough and talented squad for the first national women’s squad. 12021715

Passion, skills and fitness are the three key components selectors of the national women’s cricket team will be looking for in players that trial for the national squad.

The selection panel has been put together based on their experiences as elite athletes, experience in identifying potential in athletes and their passion for the game of cricket.

The panel is made up of five people from across the Cook Islands to reflect the unity and national pride that the sport has created across all the islands.

The women’s national cricket squad selection panel includes former national netballer and elite athlete Selina Napa, passionate cricket players Sabine Janneck and Piakura Rupe as well as Teata Atariano of Mauke and Taui Nooroa of Mangaia.

Napa is confident that the Cook Islands has the talent to form a strong national women’s cricket squad to represent the country at the East Asia-Pacific tournament in Vanuatu in May.

“The natural talent is out there we just have to take that through and spruce up the skills,” says Napa.

“We have a whole lot of talented women who have taken up cricket and are enthusiastic about the sport.”

Napa would like to thank Cook Islands Cricket for giving the panel of selectors the opportunity to test their own skills in identifying talent and selecting a national squad.

“It’s going to be a great challenge,” says Napa.

For Janneck, a passionate cricketer from Arorangi and current manager of the Titikaveka-Puaikura domestic league team – being named on the selection panel is an honour.

“I’m absolutely honoured to be part of this national selection panel – you can’t measure what that means to me,” says Janneck.

The first gathering of hopeful national women squad members will be on March 1 for a fitness test and training session.

Trial cricket matches will be staged after the fitness test where East Asia-Pacific high performance coach Tom Evans observe the trials and be part of the selection panel.

A squad of 20 will be initially selected for training before a final squad of 14 is confirmed to represent the Cook Islands in Vanuatu.

Currently a women’s head coach is yet to be confirmed however there is a shortlist of high calibre coaches which includes past and current White Fern players.

Once the head coach is confirmed – they will travel to Rarotonga to train the women’s squad and tour with them to Vanuatu.

• Matariki Wilson

The Swamp and Pantherland are the two spots to find this weekend’s rugby league action when the Panthers take on the Warriors at Victoria Park and the Eels host the Ngatangiia-Matavera Sea Eagles in Avatiu.

The Sea Eagles and Eels match is sure to be a thriller with the Eels wanting to continue their early season winning streak while the Sea Eagles will be searching for their first win.

So far this season the Sea Eagles have registered a 24-all tie against the Panthers and 8-18 loss to the Bears and they are more than capable of trouncing the Eels today.

At Victoria Park the same can be said for the Takuvaine Warriors who are also searching for their first win and can be giant killers when they are on form.

They face the Tupapa Panthers who are steadily grinding away and winning matches for a top three ranking and another chance at the champion’s trophy.

Games at both venues start at 1pm with the main premier game to kick off at 3.30pm at Victoria Park and 5pm at Avatiu.

The game of the weekend was played last night at Raemaru Park between the visiting Aitutaki Sharks and the hulking Arorangi Bears team.

Saturday Feb 18, Panthers vs Warriors at Victoria Park – 1.00pm-Under 16, Ref-P.Ngaroi assisted by Metu/ P.Strickland, 2.00pm-Under 19, Ref-T.Tuakana assisted by Metu/ P.Strickland, 3.30pm-Premiers, Ref-A.Emile assisted by S.Teiotu/P.Ngaroi (Sub Official-Philip Strickland). Saturday Feb 18, Sea Eagles vs Eels at Avatiu – 1.00pm-Under 13, Ref-J. Murray assisted by Club Official, 2.00pm-Under 16, Ref-Bishop assisted by P.Mitchell/J.Hosking, 3.30pm-Reserves, Ref-S. Willis assisted by J.Murray/J.Hosking, 5.00pm-Premiers, Ref-T.Manea assisted by P.Mitchell/A.Emile (Sub Official-J.Brown/S.Willis).

• Matariki Wilson

Ronnie Siulepa of the Kings mixed team is stopped in his tracks by Marissa Iroa. 12021602

One sided runaway games were a feature at Nikao field on Wednesday when open and mixed touch rugby teams played out round two of the 2012 season.

In the open men’s division, the star studded Rebels team thrashed the TKV team 8-0 but TKV never stopped trying to cross the line all afternoon.

Nikao Youth may have had the young legs but it was the experienced heads of Rama that saw them win the match 5-1.

The experienced Bounty Hunters open women’s team meant business when they took to the field and dealt out a 9-1 drubbing to team Isotonics who are improving with each game.

A close battle was seen in the match between the Nikao Youth open women’s team and FBI.

FBI managed to score one try against Nikao Youth who took out the game with three tries.

In the mixed division, team Rebels dominated TKV to win 9-1 while only one point separated OPM and Nikao Youth with team OPM edging out their opponents 3-2.

Rama battled with the Mongoose crew who despite dotting down three times were not good enough to defeat Rama, who eventually won the game 5-3.

A great match was seen between team Kings and FBTonics and despite both sides trading tries. Team Kings, made up by the likes of New Zealand High Commissioner John Carter and staff as well as secretary of finance Richard Neves and friends, won the game by default.

Round three of the touch season will be played at the Nikao field next Wednesday.

Results: (men) – Rebels 8 vs TKV 0, Rama 5 vs Nikao Youth 1, (women) – Bounty Hunters 9 vs Isotonics 1, Nikao Youth 3 vs FBI 1, (mixed) – Rebels 9 vs TKV 1, OPM 3 vs Nikao Youth 2, Rama 5 vs Mongoose 3, Kings 5 vs FBTonics 0.

• Matariki Wilson

Click to enlarge

Jonathan Rowe taps an opponent who tries to evade his defender. 12021605

 

Click to enlarge

Nikao field is the place to catch all the touch rugby action on Wednesday afternoons. 12021609

 

Click to enlarge

Financial secretary Richard Neves fires the ball out to a Kings team mate. 12021611

 

Click to enlarge

Mati Toru spins the ball out wide to her FBTonics wingers. 12021615

 

Ngatangiia-Matavera will be looking to their top batsmen including Alan Syme (pictured) to lift the tempo early to exert dominance over reigning champions Puaikura-Titikaveka this evening. 12021324

Defending D-league cricket champions Puaikura-Titikaveka sit at the top of the table with two wins from two games heading into their double-header tonight in the third week of the Turtles Domestic League III tournament.

While Puaikura-Titikaveka sits on the top spot, there’s plenty left to play for in the current Twenty/20 competition.

The reigning champions will face the big hitting Vaka Te-Au-O-Tonga squad who at the time of print were sitting on four points with a win from their two games.

Te-Au-O-Tonga’s only loss was suffered at the hands of the defending champions in a match which many thought the centrally based team should have won.

However, slack fielding and dropped catches let Puaikura-Titikaveka get away from them – Corey Fisher and Pa Zekaria making Te-Au-O-Tonga pay with a booming 70 run partnership which included 13 boundaries.

This will be a special match between the two teams as both sides have two of the top four Turtles tournament run scorers between them in Pa Zekaria and Corey Fisher for Puaikura-Titikaveka and Toara Teinaki and Melody Melota for Te-Au-O-Tonga.

Puaikura-Titikaveka will also face off against Tiri Toa’s Ngatangiia-Matavera side in their second game under lights tonight at the BCI Stadium.

After a slow start to the Turtles competition, the Ngatangiia-Matavera side have started to gather momentum and look to have Te-Au-O-Tonga under pressure in last week’s match before play was stopped due to rain.

Their batters especially will look to put the pressure on Puaikura-Titikaveka’s star studded bowling line up with the Turtles tournaments leading wicket taker Leli Takanova and Ben Sexton, Chauncy Flay and Tuaine Mamanu all in breathtaking form.

The Ngatangiia-Matavera boys will be looking to their key top four batters Vane and Sepa Tangimetua, Space Raumea and Alan Syme to lift the batting tempo early to exert dominance over Puaikura-Titikaveka and bowling Iro will be looking to carry on his recent fine form with the ball.

It’s free admission to the BCI Stadium to catch all the action.

Plus there will be a whole lot of fun with the Vaima Junior Bat Off and The Bond Store senior bat off happening between games at 8pm, so supporters come show the players how it’s done and collect a prize and a Turtles giveaway.

• Matariki Wilson

Cook Islands soccer players based in New Zealand will be competing in the ‘Ethkick’ tournament this weekend where 40 teams will speak the language of football in Palmerston North.

Teams from South America, Cambodia, Bhutan, Oman, Malaysia, England and a host of other ethnic groups have entered the tournament, now in its fourth year.

For the first time since the tournament’s inception, teams featuring players from the Cook Islands, Thailand and North Africa will take part.

The tournament, won by a Saudi Arabian team last year, features opening and closing ceremonies, entertainment and food stalls.

Chairwoman for the organising committee, Heather Tanguay, said there had been a good response from the community this year.

The tournament was created to promote friendship through football across cultures, she said.

“All around the world football is played. It doesn’t matter if it is played in a huge stadium with thousands of people or on a muddy field with a couple of tins for goals – everybody speaks the same language of football.”

The tournament had grown stronger with each year, Tanguay said.

Each team will field seven players on the field, and play five games each.

“It’s an operation to get those games running smoothly and it has got to be tight to get everything played on the same day.”

The event will kick off at 8am on Saturday NZR at Arena Manawatu.

• Manawatu Standard

Masters rugby league players gather for a friendly photo after battling it out on the Swamp. 12021620

It will be a big step up for masters rugby league players today when they play their first curtain raiser match before the Tupapa Panthers take on the Takuvaine Warriors at Victoria Park.

Depending on their game today, there could be other opportunities to play curtain raiser matches to a premier grade in the very near future.

With two games under their belt, the masters are now starting to gel with different players coming together from all clubs to form two teams for the game.

Strict rules are being enforced by the middleman (referee) during the game for the safety of all players and also allowing a good flow of the game.

A good game was had last Friday hosted by the Rutaki Sharks and it was great to see some new players on the field.

A very slick looking OD carved out wide with some slick moves.

Some big runs came from the Doggies Pres but seems to be targeting the Red and Gold shorts. Perhaps a bit colour blind thinking all players are wearing black shorts.

The Australian import, a former league player himself and controlling the country’s finance, had plenty of guts taking it up to the opposition and showcasing a glimpse of his former glory days.

The player of the day went to the Gold Shorts player Papa Pat for his defensive play and again stopping the fastest man on the field!

All players are being encouraged to wear the right coloured shorts on the field (40+ black, 50+ red, 60+ gold) to make it easier for the middleman to control the game and also for the safety of all players.

However, there are still some akari players turning up with other coloured shorts like blue, green, pink – now this is a real concern. Be advised the middleman will be enforcing this rule so wear proper coloured shorts or no game.

Today’s game kicks off at 4.15pm sharp so please be there on time as the premier reserves game kicks off 5pm.

• Slow & Steady

6ft 4in Cook Islands international Keith Lulia, pictured playing for his former Newcastle Knights, is ready to get in amongst the action for English club Bradford Bulls. 12021621

Keith Lulia declared himself ready for action against Wigan on Sunday and roared: “Bring it on!”

The close-season signing has yet to feature for the English league club Bradford Bulls due to a hamstring strain following his arrival from Newcastle Knights.

But the 6ft 4in Cook Islands international is edging towards full fitness and says he is ready to face Shaun Wane’s side.

Lulia’s availability would be a major boost to Mick Potter after Adrian Purtell was ruled out for six weeks with a chest injury.

“I’m ready to break some lines, make some tackles and show what I’m about,” says Lulia.

The former Penrith centre tore his pectoral muscle during last weekend’s victory at Castleford.

The 24-year-old Lulia insists he is fit to play.

The rangy centre said, “I’ve been running in the past couple of days and have pulled up really well.

“I’ve been training pretty hard and doing a lot of cardio and fitness work.

“It’s up to Mick if he picks me or not but hopefully I’ll get to play this weekend.

“I’m looking forward to it. I don’t bank on someone getting injured for me to get straight in the team because I want to earn my spot.

“It’s just unfortunate for Adrian but hopefully it will work out for me this week if I’m fit, which I feel I am.”

Lulia revealed the extent of the hamstring problem which wrecked his pre-season with the Bulls.

He explained, “It was my right hamstring, which I originally thought was just a little strain but ended up being a 20 centimetre tear.

“That set me back a few weeks but I had an injection of cortisone into the tendon which was giving me a bit of trouble and that settled it down straight away.”

During the Bulls’ pre-season games and two Super League outings, Lulia has been a regular spectator, albeit a frustrated one.

“The lads responded very well to the Catalan defeat at Castleford last week,” he said.

“They showed a lot of desire and learnt from their mistakes the week before.”

The Warriors have an abundance of talent within their ranks, not least mercurial full back Sam Tomkins.

“It will be good to go against the best England has to offer.

“I’ve played with some top players back in Australia and I like to challenge myself.”

• The Advertiser

Students at Rutaki Primary School watch CIFA’s Tony Jamieson take them through some dribbling skills. 12021632

The Cook Islands Football Association has kick started its annual school visits this week in preparation for the primary school football tournament which will begin next week.

CIFA’s technical department staff Tony Jamieson, Tuka Tisam and Paul-Luiz Van Eijk will be visiting schools around Rarotonga teaching and coaching the children the technical side of football and finishing with fun games.

The school programme will run till the end of term one starting with the very successful Primary School Round Cup for forms one and two students and wrapping up with the one day tournament for students in grades four, five and six.

Students from Avarua, Nikao, St Joseph’s, Arorangi, Rutaki, Te Uki Ou, Imanuela Akateimia, Takitumu, Papaaroa, Avatea, Titikaveka and Nukutere are taking part in the weekly visits and will surely take the opportunity to polish their football skills for the tournament.

The Senior Primary School Round Cup competition is in its third year and has proven to be very popular with the children, teachers, parents and supporters.

“It is always good to see teachers involving themselves in the activities on our visits, it motivates the students and they have fun while learning football,” says Tuka Tisam.

The primary school round cup is played after school at the CIFA complex over a period of five weeks starting next Wednesday, February 22, with the finals on March 28.

• CIFA Media

Aitutaki Rugby League president Mona Ioane says the Sharks give their unreserved support to Cook Islands Rugby League president Charles Carlson and commend him for his ongoing support of the club.

Ioane, MP for Vaipae/Tautu, spoke yesterday in defence of Carlson after reading a letter to the editor (‘League a politically driven mess’) in Monday’s edition of Cook Islands News.

In the letter, author ‘Viper’ said Carlson was at least partially to blame for incidents last week that saw the Sharks temporarily removed from the 2012 domestic season.

But Ioane rejected the claim put forward in the letter, saying Carlson had given nothing but support to the Sharks since they first joined the league.

Personally, Ioane said he also supported Carlson and backed him as CIRL president.

He said this should be obvious to anyone involved in the association – Ioane was the man to nominate Carlson for the role of president again.

• Eric Parnis

Masters men sprinters (from left) Vae Papera, Ben Teaka, David Lobb, Mike Mouauri, Paul Allsworth and Casper Mateariki in full flight. Allsworth is encouraging more retired athletes to take up athletics to stay fit and healthy. 12021504

The Cook Islands will host the Oceania Masters Athletics Championships in 2015 and master athlete Paul Allsworth is encouraging ‘ageing’ athletes to never stop and to keep going.

Allsworth was one of nine local athletes who attended the Oceania Masters Athletics Champs in New Zealand last week where he won two bronze medals in the 60m and 100m sprints. Anyone over 30 is classed as a master athlete.

Allsworth was amazed at the number of athletes at last week’s New Zealand gathering who were over 60 years of age.

“What amazed me and I suppose a lot of the so-called younger athletes at these games, was the high number of older athletes in their 60s to 90s,” says Allsworth.

Allsworth adds that one of the athletes at the event was a 102-year-old woman who competed in a number of events during the week-long athletics meeting.

From his experience in New Zealand, Allsworth is inspired to encourage retired athletes to keep doing what is best for you.

Do some physical training each day for at least 20 minutes, the more the better or put more in during the weekends,” says Allsworth.

“Eating the right food will help and this will keep your weight in balance with whatever activity you are doing.”

Allsworth is encouraging more masters and elderly folk to be more active and take up an activity or sport.

“It could be walking, running, jumping, throwing or swimming or whatever you are good at. The main thing is to enjoy it and stay fit at what you’re doing.”

Bendigo in Australia will host the next masters games and the Cook Islands will play hosts in 2015.

Those interested in joining masters athletics can contact David Lobb on 21007.

• Matariki Wilson

Re-appointed national netball head coach Marg Foster with minister of sport Mark Brown when she was first appointed as head coach in January last year. 11012503

Former Silver Fern netballer Marg Foster has been re-appointed as the Cook Islands National Netball head coach.

Foster was first appointed as the national netball head coach in January last year.

This year she was one of three people who applied for the position.

Lynnette Hagai has also been re-appointed as the national squad manager.

Foster has four months to train, trial and select a national netball squad to play at the Pacific Netball Series to be hosted by Fiji.

The series will be an opportunity for the Cooks to improve on its current rank of 10th in the region.

This year’s Pacific Series is not a qualifier for the World Cup but next year the Cooks will be gunning to qualify for the event.

Dates for Foster’s return to Rarotonga and training schedule for potential national squad players will be confirmed over the next few days.

Meanwhile last night a meeting of all netball clubs was held to confirm the start date and structure of the 2012 netball season and CINews will bring you details on this over the next coming days.

• Matariki Wilson

Cook Islands beach volleyball player Brendon Heath, pictured here in action at the Pacific Games in Noumea, is currently in NZ where he is the first reserve for New Zealand team going through the Olympic qualification process this week. 12021518

Cook Islands national beach volleyball player Brendon Heath is currently in New Zealand where by chance he has been drawn in as New Zealand’s first reserve player for the team’s Olympic qualifying campaign this week.

The two New Zealand teams going through the qualification process for the Olympics are Jason Lochhead and Sam O’dea, and Kirk Pittman and Ben O’dea.

During the New Zealand Beach Volleyball Open tournament last weekend, Lochhead sustained an injury which gave Heath the opportunity to pair up with Sam O’dea and take to the sand court in Mt Maunganui.

The pair played extremely well together defeating a former Olympic team and world number 16 pairing from Norway.

Heath, who is normally a front court player specialising in blocking, played the back court and enjoyed the new experience.

The international teams playing in the New Zealand Open are the best in the world and include the second ranked team in the world from Germany.

Men’s and women’s teams from Vanuatu, the United States, Spain, Norway and the Netherlands are also playing in the tournament.

The Olympic Oceania qualifier, also being held at Mt Maunganui, began yesterday.

• Matariki Wilson

Badminton is loads of fun and a great workout for people of all ages and fitness level. Get your badminton on at the Princess Anne Hall every Monday from 6pm onwards. 12020541

The newly revived sport of badminton is enjoying a strong following with around 60 people gathering at Princess Anne Hall for the weekly hit out.

Monday evenings have been established as badminton night however due to the Princess Anne Hall at Avatea being double booked on Monday – this week the games were held on Tuesday.

Despite the last minute change – a decent crowd descended on the hall for a great sweat out on the badminton courts.

Those who have yet to experience the fun of badminton are encouraged to join the regulars at the Princess Anne Hall at 6pm next Monday when a mini tournament will begin for those who’ve become keen on the sport.

This mini tournament will give newcomers a good idea of the rules of the game although fun is the main aim of badminton.

• Matariki Wilson

The fun and festivities of the Just Play programme will now head to the outer island of Aitutaki. 12021516

The popular Just Play football programme spearheaded by project manager Michelle Paiti and assisted by CIFA development officer Tuka Tisam, will be heading to Aitutaki for a week-long workshop to deliver the programme to school teachers and community leaders on the outer island.

The workshop is scheduled to take place on Monday and Tuesday February 20-21.

Following this Paiti and Tisam will visit schools and communities to assist the new facilitators to deliver the programme while running festivals within the schools. They look forward to a week of fun and participation with the children.

Cook Islands Football Association first launched the Just Play Grassroots Programme in March last year at the Takitumu Primary School where a memorandum of understanding was signed between CIFA president Lee Harmon, Oceania Football Confederation president David Chung, minister of sports Mark Brown and secretary of education Sharyn Paio.

Just Play was initiated by the Oceania Football Confederation.

It is a social development grassroots programme based on participation and fun.

It offers everyone the chance to play without discrimination.

The programme is not only for schools but also for the wider community and youth groups.

It promotes an active lifestyle among our young people who come from disadvantaged areas or have limited access to sports clubs.

After returning from a recent trip to Auckland, Paiti shared her experiences with seven other project managers from within the Oceania region and will no doubt draw on those experiences to deliver the current Just Play manual to the participants in Aitutaki with topics such as learning skills, gender opportunity and social inclusion

“Fifteen participants have been confirmed to take part in next week’s course to become facilitators to deliver this programme in schools and the wider community of Aitutaki,” says Paiti.

“We look forward to working with the community of Aitutaki with the group work, discussions, practical sessions and most of all to have fun with Just Play.”

Just Play equipment including bibs, balls, cones, rings and whistles along with the Just Play manual will be handed out to the participating schools and community organisations and will no doubt motivate facilitators to promote Just Play to the wider community of Aitutaki.

We would like to acknowledge Air Rarotonga for their assistance in discounting freight costs to transport the equipment to Aitutaki.

Just Play is funded by the Australian Government (AusAID), UEFA and Oceania Football Confederation.

• CIFA Media

Danny Heather and the Arorangi Bears, who have registered one win and one loss so far this season, will take on the Aitutaki Sharks this Friday – and you can bet the Sharks will be bringing their A-game to Raro. 12021226

The Sharks are coming – the fierce Aitutaki Sharks rugby league team that is!

After the shenanigans of the Sharks being kicked out of the national season then reinstated – you can bet your bottom dollar they will have their teeth sharpened when they take to the field to play the Arorangi Bears in their first game of the 2012 season.

This match is expected to be a bruiser and will be played out tomorrow at 5pm at Raemaru Park in Arorangi.

While the Arorangi Bears premier grade rumble with the Sharks – the baby bears junior grades including the reserve grade will play the Titikaveka Bulldogs.

In fact, it’s going to be a busy end of week for rugby league with round three games kicking off today at Raemaru Park when the Bulldogs under 19 and reserve grades take on the Bears.

Also on Friday the league masters match will be played at Victoria Park in Tupapa along with the reserve grade match between the Takuvaine Warriors and Tupapa Panthers.

Remaining fixtures for the weekend are all worthy of ‘main game status’ with the Avatiu Eels heading east to take on the Ngatangiia-Matavera Sea Eagles at Nukupure Park while the Warriors from the Takuvaine Valley rumble with their Panther cousins from Tupapa at Victoria Park.

Whichever club you support – it’s going to be a big weekend of league on the island.

All Aitutakians on Rarotonga are being called to don your island colours and get along to Raemaru Park and support your boys in proving why they belong in the national competition.

- Matariki Wilson

Round 3 draw:

Thursday Feb 16, Bears vs Bulldogs at Raemaru Park – 4.30pm-Under 19, Ref-T.Manuel assisted by T. George/T.Tuakana, 5.30pm-Reserves, Ref-T.Tuakana assisted by T. George/T.Manuel.

Friday Feb 17, Bears vs Sharks at Raemaru Park – 5pm-Premiers, Ref-S. Willis assisted by T.Manea/J.Whitta (Sub Official-P.Ngaroi).

Friday Feb 17, Panthers vs Warriors at Victoria Park – 4.15pm-Marsters, Ref-J.Murray assisted by Papa Pat/Papa Anau, 5.00pm-Reserves, Ref-T.Benioni assisted by J.Murray/B.Bishop.

Saturday Feb 18, Panthers vs Warriors at Victoria Park – 1.00pm-Under 16, Ref-P.Ngaroi assisted by Metu/ P.Strickland, 2.00pm-Under 19, Ref-T.Tuakana assisted by Metu/ P.Strickland, 3.30pm-Premiers, Ref-A.Emile assisted by S.Teiotu/P.Ngaroi (Sub Official-Philip Strickland).

Saturday Feb 18, Sea Eagles vs Eels at Nukupure Park – 1.00pm-Under 13, Ref-J. Murray assisted by Club Official, 2.00pm-Under 16, Ref-Bishop assisted by P.Mitchell/J.Hosking, 3.30pm-Reserves, Ref-S. Willis assisted by J.Murray/J.Hosking, 5.00pm-Premiers, Ref-T.Manea assisted by P.Mitchell/B Bishop (Sub Official-J.Brown/S.Willis).