{"id":1995,"date":"2014-11-18T16:15:51","date_gmt":"2014-11-18T03:15:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/?p=1995"},"modified":"2014-11-18T16:19:56","modified_gmt":"2014-11-18T03:19:56","slug":"how-the-cook-islands-report-their-historic-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2014\/11\/18\/how-the-cook-islands-report-their-historic-win\/","title":{"rendered":"How the Cook Islands report their Historic Win …."},"content":{"rendered":"

Follow @RedefinedRugby<\/a><\/p>\n

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Cooks edge out Heartland XV<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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Travel Tou rises with a smile on his face after a scoring a try \u2013 a result of sustained pressure on the Heartland line. 14111615<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Against all odds, the Cook Islands selection XV side defeated the touring New Zealand Heartland side 33-20 in their second encounter on Friday evening.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The win for the Cooks spoiled a Kiwi clean sweep and made local rugby history.<\/p>\n

After suffering an embarrassing 64-6 hiding in their first meet a pumped Cooks resident side turned up with plenty of intent and heart on Friday night.<\/p>\n

The historic 33-20 Cooks victory was based on a massive defensive-effort especially in the 2nd half of this match.<\/p>\n

After 10 minutes of play the New Zealand Heartland team raced out to a 14-3 lead with tries to Number 8 Jon Dampney and first 5\/8 James Lace.<\/p>\n

Things looked to be repeating themselves from the Tuesday match with the Heartland forward pack asserting their authority at set-piece time with ace first 5\/8 James Lash running the show.<\/p>\n

Then the local lads regrouped and under the leadership of legendary first 5\/8 Vase Samania they tighten-up their defensive systems and their work in the contact-area, with the pick and go there best weapon of attack.<\/p>\n

Strong-running CIS midfielder Meki Mangele and Number 8 Travel Tou Jnr score tries and together with the magical boot of 19 year old halfback Tiano Arona who kicks the goals, CIS found themselves leading at halftime by 26-20.<\/p>\n

Early in the 2nd half Cooks left winger Totoa Auvaa scored a solo effort 2nd half try and together with the side line conversion from Arona put the Cooks in the lead by 33-20, which stays that way until the final whistle for this historic first-time win against a NZ Regional touring team.<\/p>\n

Just how this same group of fine young men, thrashed 64-6 three-days earlier, were able to pick themselves up and reverse a 58-point deficit, is an incredible achievement and a proud Cook Islands rugby moment.<\/p>\n

Hopefully this will encourage and inspire others of what can be achieved when you have that \u2018desire and hunger\u2019 to achieve your goal.<\/p>\n

Thank you to the NZ Heartland team for touring the Cook Islands and we look forward to seeing more NZ teams visit our shores which will \u00a0help and assist with local development.<\/p>\n

Former Cook Islands News reporter Moana Moeka\u2019a shares his view on the Cooks road to history making history against the Heartland side—->http:\/\/www.cookislandsnews.com\/sport\/rugby-union\/item\/49246-cooks-claim-historic-rugby-win<\/a><\/address>\n
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Cooks claim historic rugby win<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Monday November 17, 2014 <\/span> Written by Moana Moeka’a <\/span> <\/span> Published in Rugby Union<\/a> <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Cook Islands captain and rugby legend Vaivase Samania holds his own as two Heartland defenders take him out during the Cooks history winning match against Heartland on Friday afternoon. 14111614<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Former reporter and rugby enthusiast Moana Moeka\u2019a looks back at the build-up to the recent tour by the New Zealand Heartland XV which ended in a historic 33-20 win to the Cook Islands Resident\u2019s side last Friday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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If you had asked me how the local boys would fare against the NZ touring side seven days out from the first game on November 11, I would have told you they were in for a hiding.<\/p>\n

Only nine guys \u2013 two of them with injuries \u2013 turned up for training on Monday November 3up in the Happy Valley.<\/p>\n

It was probably understandable.<\/p>\n

Most of the players had played during the international sevens event and there were a number of wrap-ups scheduled for that Monday evening.<\/p>\n

I had read the search article by the 1988 national coach Lester Elliot on preparing a side for two games against the NZ Divisional XV that year.<\/p>\n

Almost all the concerns he outlined in the article were also cause for concern for me 26-years later!<\/p>\n

Fitness levels, the set pieces, inexperience, and the discipline to commit throughout the training period, were some of the issues Elliot had to contend with at the time.<\/p>\n

As the 2014 campaign wore on, the unavailability of some of the country\u2019s top players was a worry as the low numbers at training made it hard to run as a team.<\/p>\n

Four of the players who we had earmarked for the side were committed to league games which were being played on the same week as the Heartland games.<\/p>\n

At the first squad meeting at Avatiu on September 27, as the Cook Islands Rugby Union representative I asked for commitment from those who answered the call.<\/p>\n

For a couple of them who attended the meeting, that was the last time that we saw them. A couple more dropped out two weeks later due to work.<\/p>\n

Ironically the Avatiu sevens team was also having its first run at the same time as the meeting. It was disappointing that only four players from the club that I am associated with, fronted throughout the Heartland campaign.<\/p>\n

Of the four, Peter Tare and Avatiu\u2019s player of the year Jackson Martin both suffered injuries and did not play in the Heartland games.<\/p>\n

Nine was the average number of players who would regularly turn up to training when sessions shifted to Takuvaine on October 6.<\/p>\n

Three of the more consistent attendees all lived in Titikaveka, while another would bring his toddler and pre-schooler to every run.<\/p>\n

Only on two occasions in the first four weeks did we have sufficient players to run as a team but we still didn\u2019t have enough numbers in the backline and lacked a genuine first five-eighth.<\/p>\n

Twice training was called off after only a handful of players turned up.<\/p>\n

The veteran Vase Samania was brought in to help Walter Tangata Snr with the team.<\/p>\n

We did put some pressure on him to play and direct proceedings from the pivot position however he was not really committed three weeks out from the game.<\/p>\n

This led to the CIRU requesting the services of 19-year-old Tiano Arona \u2013 the son of \u2018Pops\u2019 Apii who had played for Arorangi during the 1980s \u2013 who was a halfback\/five-eighth playing in Northland, New Zealand.<\/p>\n

Our numbers problem was somewhat alleviated when national sevens rep Harvard Ioane said that he would stay on after the international sevens event and 15s stalwart Nick Connal indicated that he would be holidaying in Rarotonga at the time of the two games.<\/p>\n

It was also arranged for Aitutaki sevens representative Mano Tekopua to fly in for the games \u2013 his colleague and national sevens player Teu Paerau making himself unavailable.<\/p>\n

On Monday November 10\u2013 one day before the first game \u2013 there was a glimmer of hope with nearly 30 players turning up.<\/p>\n

However it was a bit too late to put combinations together.<\/p>\n

And it showed during the first game, with the local side being thumped by a rampant Kiwi side which dished out a lesson in the art of rugby.<\/p>\n

The visitors scored nine tries to Arona\u2019s two penalties in the 64-6 demolition.<\/p>\n

It bucketed down before the game and showered throughout which probably helped the NZ side\u2019s cause.<\/p>\n

On the Wednesday it was a huge surprise to see all the players at training — less three of the Samoans \u2013 Meki Magele, James Tofilau and Logan Perenise, who were nursing injuries. Takuvaine number eight Travel Tou Jnr also joined the group.<\/p>\n

The session was basically taken up by defensive drills and I sensed some urgency in the players as they took turns to hoe into each other.<\/p>\n

On Thursday it was a lighter and shorter session with the first fifteen running through its moves against the rest.<\/p>\n

Arona kicked a penalty to put the Residents in front 3-0 four minutes into the second game. However the Heartland team put on two tries in quick succession \u2013 the second to first five-eighth and kicker James Lash (14-3).<\/p>\n

Centre Magele scored a brilliant try in the left hand corner on the end of a sweeping movement in the 16th minute following good work by the forwards.<\/p>\n

Tou then went over a couple of minutes later after sustained pressure on the Heartland line. Arona landed both conversions (17-14) and then kicked three further penalties \u2013 the last on the stroke of halftime \u2013 to have the Residents lead 26-20 at the break.<\/p>\n

Winger Totoa Auvaa scored to the right of the posts in the 50th minute and Arona was to kick the conversion for the final points in the match. It was a game of attrition from that time on with the visitors turning down the opportunity to kick for goal and going for five-pointers.<\/p>\n

Magele was sent off for a high tackle three minutes from time but the damage had already been done despite the Residents encountering problems in the scrums and lineout throughout the 80 minutes.<\/p>\n

The Cooks scored a historic victory (33-20) \u2013 the first in six matches against Divisional sides since 1988. More importantly the team had won the match after being thrashed by 58 points in the first game three days earlier.<\/p>\n

The Cook Islands Residents squad was as follows: Tupou Faireka, Storm Ruatoe, Richard Tane, Vaike Potoru, Teariki Faireka, Joshua Tawakedrau, Ben Tautu, Mano Tekopua, Nick Connal, Mana Havi, Tom Weeks, Walter Tangata Jnr, Travel Tou Jnr, Vat Mitiau, James Tofilau, Tiano Arona, Vaivase Samania (capt), Meki Magele, Geoff Magele, Logan Perenise, Totoa Auvaa, Tautua Solomona, James Tofilau, Teina Savage, Harvard Ioane, Apii Vakai, Feleti Iona, Oceania Mataiti, Barry Ta\u2019ala, manager Charlie Hosking, physiotherapist Pare Tangata, masseur Marie Allan and coaches Wally Tangata and Vaivase Samania.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Monday November 17, 2014 <\/span>Written by Ruck & Maul <\/span><\/span>Published in Rugby Union<\/a><\/span><\/address>\n
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Follow @RedefinedRugby Cooks edge out Heartland XV Against all odds, the Cook Islands selection XV side defeated the touring New Zealand Heartland side 33-20 in their second encounter on Friday evening. The win for the Cooks spoiled a Kiwi clean sweep and made local rugby history. After suffering an embarrassing 64-6 hiding in their first…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1297,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"How the Cook Islands report their Historic Win ....","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1995","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rugbyheartland-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/rhlad_news1.jpg?fit=1024%2C356&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4wlzH-wb","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1986,"url":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2014\/11\/17\/cook-islands-residents-xv-defeat-heartland-xv-33-20\/","url_meta":{"origin":1995,"position":0},"title":"Cook Islands Residents XV defeat Heartland XV!! 33-20","author":"admin_hland","date":"November 17, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Follow @RedefinedRugby Questionable ref decisions dampen end of season THE New Zealand Heartland XV left Rarotonga shaking their heads after some strange refereeing decisions and off-the-field manoeuvring contributed to their 33-20 loss to a Cook Islands Selection XV on Saturday afternoon. 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The 24-strong squad will play New Zealand Marist XV on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Heartland Championship"","block_context":{"text":"Heartland Championship","link":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/category\/heartland-championship\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/rhld_nzNews.jpg?fit=1024%2C356&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/rhld_nzNews.jpg?fit=1024%2C356&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/rhld_nzNews.jpg?fit=1024%2C356&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/rhld_nzNews.jpg?fit=1024%2C356&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1972,"url":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2014\/11\/13\/heartland-xv-thump-the-cook-islands\/","url_meta":{"origin":1995,"position":3},"title":"Heartland XV thump the Cook Islands","author":"admin_hland","date":"November 13, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Follow @RedefinedRugby The New Zealand Heartland XV has thrashed a Cook Islands Residents rugby team by 64-6. 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