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Tupapa defeated Awatiu 37-35 in the NCI Premier League netball semi-final on Tuesday. 24070311
Titikaweka Pearls defeated Arorangi 61-51 in Tuesday’s semi-final and will face Tupapa in the Cook Islands Tennis Premier League final today.
Led by international player Alana Smith, Titikaweka used its young midfield to strengthen its performance against Arorangi in the final quarters of the game. Arorangi fought hard until the third quarter to pull one back.
Despite Arorangi’s strong defence, they were no match for the two fast-moving players, who managed to knock out 10 turnovers and take a 10-goal lead in the final minute of the game.
Michela Matapo played well, cutting off the young shooters of Arorangi and forcing them to shoot from distance, which was successful. The full-time score was 61-51.
The semi-finals set a high standard for the finals, with Tupapa playing a thrilling game against Awatiu, winning 37-35.
The match is exciting and interesting as Avatiu has a strong and experienced squad to take on Tupapa.
They have players like international Curly Taripo, New Zealand-trained defender Penny Crocombe and agile defensive goalkeeper Nicol Tiaore, who has just returned from a successful season in the Singapore National League.
Tupapa has a wealth of experience in local club player Mii Savage, who excels on the wing and at centre, and can hold the middle strongly.
Savage had a firm grip on the midfield with an average of 10 centre passes and assists per game, while young New Zealand centre Nicole Malule was involved in almost every pass throughout the match.
Tupapa’s shooters performed exceptionally well, with Riiana Nicholas making a strong comeback from injury. Although it took some time for her to recover and get back to her best form, she was in great form and became a reliable receiver under the posts for Tupapa, making it difficult for the Awatiu defenders to initiate interceptions, while Tashi Kopu maintained an amazing 90% accuracy rate.
Avatiu battled hard with Tupapa and maintained their lead until the very last minute. With just one minute left in the game, Tupapa led by a narrow margin of 35-37.
Although Awatiu tried to pass the ball to the tall striker Taripo, Tupapa’s young versatile defender Mere-Jean Piri defended tightly and Tupapa sealed the victory with Kopu’s last-second shot, grabbing the final goal.
As the competition heats up, all eyes will be on Tupapa and Titikaweka, with both teams showing great desire to come out on top in the finals.
The final is expected to be a fascinating display of skill, strategy and sportsmanship that will keep netball enthusiasts on the edge of their seats.
Anticipation for this match is high as both teams have shown great skill and perseverance throughout the tournament. Fans are eagerly waiting to see which team will emerge victorious in what is sure to be a thrilling final. The stage is set for a thrilling clash as both teams are determined to take home the title.
The final will be held at Tupapa Auditorium today at 5pm.
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