The Tupapa Maraerenga Panthers have won the 2021 Cook Islands ‘League in Paradise’ Nines held at the National Stadium in Nikao over the weekend after defeating the Avatiu Eels in the tournament Final.
Tupapa Maraerenga progressed through the tournament losing only one match, to the Arorangi Bears, in the group stages to claim their first Nines title since 2018.
The reformed Aitutaki Sharks finished the tournament in third, defeating last year’s Nines Champions, the Arorangi Bears, in the third Place Play-Off.
RESULTS:
Friday:
Avatiu Eels 30 d. Tupapa Maraerenga Panthers II 6
Ngatangiia – Matavera Sea Eagles 4 l. Titikaveka Bulldogs 21
Arorangi Bears 10 l. Aitutaki Sharks 22
Tupapa Maraerenga Panthers I 51 d. Tupapa Panthers 2 10
Avatiu Eels 17 d. Aitutaki Sharks 14
Ngatangiia – Matavera Sea Eagles 6 l. Arorangi Bears 22
Tupapa Maraerenga Panthers I 35 d. Titikaveka Bulldogs 6
Tupapa Maraerenga Panthers II 12 l. Aitutaki Sharks 27
Avatiu Eels 29 d. Ngatangiia – Matavera Sea Eagles 8
Tupapa Maraerenga Panthers I 39 d. Aitutaki Sharks 25
Titikaveka Bulldogs 10 d. Arorangi Bears 8
Tupapa Panthers 2 12 l. Ngatangiia – Matavera Sea Eagles 40
Saturday:
Arorangi Bears 15 d. Tupapa Maraerenga Panthers I 9
Aitutaki Sharks 25 d. Ngatangiia – Matavera Sea Eagles 20
Titikaveka Bulldogs 8 l. Avatiu Eels 16
Tupapa Maraerenga Panthers I 43 d. Ngatangiia – Matavera Sea Eagles 17
Avatiu Eels 23 d. Arorangi Bears 0
Titikaveka Bulldogs 39 d. Tupapa Maraerenga Panthers II 20
Tupapa Maraerenga Panthers I 16 d. Avatiu Eels 13
Arorangi Bears 44 d. Tupapa Maraerenga Panthers II 16
Titikaveka Bulldogs 12 drew Aitutaki Sharks 12
Semi-Finals:
Tupapa Maraerenga Panthers I 29 d. Arorangi Bears 17
Avatiu Eels 29 d. Aitutaki Sharks 14
Third-Place Play-Off:
Aitutaki Sharks 20 d. Arorangi Bears 19
Grand Final:
Tupapa Maraerenga Panthers I 34 d. Avatiu Eels 26
