Mangaia and Mauke’s clash ended in 10-all yesterday. Image: CALEB FOTHERINGHAM/22100621
A new men’s champion will be crowned in the Cook Islands Games rugby 7s final tonight after defending champions Pukapuka failed to reach the semi-finals.
Mauke and Atiu have become the best bets in the men’s rugby 7s open competition after topping their groups.
The semifinals and the final will be played this afternoon at the Nikao National Stadium.
Mauke got off to a brilliant start in Group A beating Mangaia 12-5 before drawing with Mitiaro 5-5. In their final pool match, Mauke defeated Pukapuka 31-5.
Mangaia finished second in the group after two days of competition, beating Pukapuka 34-0 and Mitiaro 17-14 in a close clash.
In Group B, Atiu finished on top with a 22-0 victory over Aitutaki, followed by a 36-7 win against Rarotonga and 27-14 against Manihiki.
Aitutaki finished in second place after beating Manihiki 19-17 and Rarotonga 25-7.
In the first men’s semifinals open at 4:36 p.m. today, Mauke will face Aitutaki, while Mangaia will play Atiu in the second semifinals at 4:54 p.m.
In the women’s competition, Mitiaro leads with wins over Mangaia 31-5 and Aitutaki 32-5. Mauke defeated Aitutaki 22-5 before drawing with Mangaia 10-1.
Mangaia will face Aitutaki today at 17:12, followed by Mauke versus Mitiaro at 17:30.
The latest medal tally and results were not made available to Cook Islands News at the time this edition went to print last night. According to the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee (CISNOC), the official medal tally and results will be available at 9am each morning.
At 9 am yesterday, Mangaia maintained her first position in the opening medal table of the Cook Islands Games. The team led with 19 gold, 12 silver and 12 bronze medals, accumulating 143 points. Aitutaki was in second place with nine gold, 14 silver and 10 bronze medals and 97 points. Atiu placed third with 10 gold, eight silver and nine bronze medals and 83 points.
Mangaia also led in the Junior and Masters categories.
Results
U14 – Atiu 24 Rarotonga 7, Atiu 24 Rarotonga 0; U18 – Aitutaki 17 Mauke 5, Atiu 0 Mangaia 19, Mangaia 10 Aitutaki 20, Pukapuka 12 Mauke 12, Pukapuka 17 Mangaia 12, Aitutaki 26 Atiu 5, Atiu 24 Pukapuka 12; Women – Mauke 22 Aitutaki 5, Mitiaro 31 Mangaia 5, Mangaia 10 Mauke 10; Aitutaki 5 Mitiaro 32;
Men – Mitiaro 48 Pukapuka 8, Mangaia 5 Mauke 12, Atiu 22 Aitutaki 0, Rarotonga 10 Manihiki 7, Mauke 5 Mitiaro 5, Mangaia 34 Pukapuka 0, Aitutaki 19 Manihiki 17, Atiu 36 Rarotonga 7, Pukapuka 5 Mauke 31, Mitiaro 14 Mangaia 17, Aitutaki 25 Rarotonga 7, Atiu 27 Manihiki 14.
This day
Badminton (Indoor National Pavilion): 16:00 – 20:30; Darts (Tupapa Maraerenga Room): 9:00 – 20:30; Golf (Rarotonga Golf Club): 7 am – 6 pm; Lawn Bowling (Rarotonga Bowling Club): 5:30pm – 7:30pm; Rugby Sevens (National Stadium): 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.; Navigation (Muri Beach): 9am- 4pm; Tennis (Nikao Tennis Courts): 9 am – 6 pm.