Blues win CIRL Interstate Origin Series title

The Town Blues clinched victory in the CIRL Interstate Origin Series following a thrilling end to match three at Nukupure Park on Saturday.

With the help of their star players, coaches Clive Nicholas and Darren Pirie’s strategic approach paid off in the final.

The Blues started the first half slowly, allowing the Country Maroons to take a 12-8 lead into the break. The Maroons showed toughness and speed, with guard Brian Akava effectively controlling the game for his team.

However, the Blue team fought back steadily and scored twice more to take the lead. The Maroons fought back strongly, got past the Blue team’s defense and tied the score with 15 minutes left.

The score was 18-20 and the game was still too close to call. Both teams showed strong defensive abilities and finished the game in the middle, making it hard to predict who would be the winner. With five minutes left, the Blues made a crucial breakthrough and extended the lead to 26-18 in the final minute, just before the final whistle.

Coach Nicholas expressed his satisfaction with his team’s performance at the weekend, saying: “Darren and I are really pleased with our performance at the weekend, especially as this was the first time this kind of competition and we knew it was definitely not a one-man race.”

“The last three weeks have been tough, especially with our squad changing every day. We’ve had different squads in training due to injuries, work and family commitments, so it’s been frustrating for Darren and me.

Maroons coach Dion Nepia appreciates the opportunity the series provides for Rarotonga to showcase young talent.

“This format makes the competition lively and draws support from the community,” he said, thanking CIRL executives for their excellent organization of the tournament.

In a thrilling women’s match, the Country Blacks defeated the strong Town Whites, creating a major upset by winning 14-10 in the final game of the series.

Although the Whites were expected to win the first two games, the Country Blacks put in an amazing performance, showing their resilience and skills. However, with the previous win, the Town Whites still won the first two games and became the series champions.

Prime Minister Mark Brown, who presented the trophy, also expressed his feelings, noting: “It’s great to see so many young players, it’s great to see so many young talents. Special mention must be made of the women’s league, which is getting stronger every year.”

He went on to congratulate everyone on their successful attendance.

Tamar Nicholas was once again named Series MVP and was recognized as one of the hardest working players for the Blues. He consistently displayed great rugby skills throughout the tournament, contributing greatly to the team’s performance and proving himself to be a standout talent in the CIRL Interstate Origin Series.