Cook Islands Moana Triumphs Over Orchids in Pacific Bowl Opener

Cook Islands Moana launched their Pacific Championships Bowl campaign with a decisive 34-6 victory over the Papua New Guinea Orchids on October 19, 2023, at the Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby. The win marked an impressive start for the Moana, who were led by veteran captain and fullback Kiana Takairangi.

The Moana team showcased their offensive prowess, scoring seven tries against the Orchids’ single score. Winger Paulina Morris-Ponga was a standout performer, notching a hat-trick and contributing a total of 12 points to the team’s tally. Playmaker Chantay Kiria-Ratu also shone, with her skillful control of the game and a personal score of 12 points.

The Orchids had previously defeated the Cook Islands 28-20 in their only prior meeting in 2023. With this victory, the Moana improved their record, having only won one of their last five tests before this match.

The first half began with the Cook Islands taking an early lead when Emily Veivers scored under the crossbar, converting her own try for a 6-0 advantage in the seventh minute. Morris-Ponga soon followed with her first try, running wide and then back towards the posts to level the scores at 6-6 in the 11th minute.

Kiria-Ratu’s impressive dummy and run through a gap allowed her to score untouched in the 16th minute, bringing the score to 12-6 after her successful conversion. Morris-Ponga added her second try in the 21st minute, and Hannah Makira extended the lead further with a try in the 33rd minute, resulting in a halftime score of 20-6.

The match conditions were challenging, with temperatures around 31 degrees Celsius. The Orchids struggled to find their rhythm, managing only a brief moment of success early on. In contrast, the Cook Islands displayed seamless teamwork. Debutant Memory Paitai scored in the 42nd minute, pushing the Moana’s lead to 24-6.

As fatigue set in, the Moana continued to dominate, with Kerehitina Matua scoring in the 59th minute. Kiria-Ratu’s conversion increased the score to 30-6. Morris-Ponga capped off her impressive performance with her third try, solidifying the Moana’s victory.

Match statistics highlighted Cook Islands’ dominance, with 58 percent possession and a 78 percent completion rate compared to the Orchids. The Moana completed 189 passes, while Papua New Guinea managed only 125.

Looking ahead, the Cook Islands will face Tonga XIII on October 26, 2023, in the second round of the Pacific Bowl. Meanwhile, the Fetu Samoa team is set to meet New Zealand in Auckland on the same day, marking the first women’s clash of the Pacific Cup competition.