A SET move from a scrum, used to great effect throughout the tournament, was enough for wounded Tupapa Maraerenga Panthers to win the Rarotonga Nines final.
The manœuvre involved an inside back kicking ahead after a scrum win with a speedy team-mate racing through to regather and dive over. It worked spectacularly just before halftime in the final against Avatui Eels at BCI Stadium on Saturday.
And given that the Panthers limped into the decider after going through the pool rounds and play-offs undefeated, it was just what they needed to overcome the fast-finishing Eels.
The Panthers got the ball back from the kick-off and scored within seconds of the decider commencing- but were soon ringing in the changes as players limped off the arena after a draining weekend.
With just over a minute to go, the Eels scored between the posts for the bonus point and left Tupapa fearing they would snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. But in the end, the clock beat the underdogs as the shadows lengthened in the Pacific.
Titikaveka Bulldogs won the women’s tournament, outpointing the Panthers 18-4 in the final.
And in the first staging of an Under 18s competition, Tupapa finished first-past-the-post with no final.
