Tupapa Maraerenga and Matavera-Ngatangiia faced off on Saturday at Matavera Field, starting this year’s 2021 season on a high.
For the Tower Insurance premiership, Tupapa quickly got the match underway scoring their first goal through the boots of the young striker Maru Tearaitoa in the early minutes of the game, putting them ahead 1-0. Hungry to put themselves on even terms, Matavera’s Pita Senibiakula snuck the ball through the legs of Tupapa’s backline leveling their scores 1 to 1. Wanting to break their tie with Matavera, Tearaitoa then scored again putting them ahead 2-1, not long after captain Pavo Mustonen found himself in front of the goal setting the half time score to 3-1. As the match continued, the intensity built up after Matavera’s Paul Poila snuck through a goal in the first few minutes of the second half. Pavo Mustonen took advantage of the penalty goal given to them by Matavera, finishing their match Grover Harmon confused the Matavera goal keeper nipping the corner of the goal post, leaving their final score at 5-2.
The football favourites Nikao Sokattak beat Avatiu FC 2-0 in their first game.
In The Islander senior women’s competition, Tupapa Maraerenga and Matavera-Ngatangiia also went head to head in an intense game, where Tupapa kept possession of the ball but Matavera’s keeper kept denying them their goals in the first half of the game, but Tupapa’s striker Kuramaeva Tare secured them their first win by scoring in the second half.
Then on the other side, Nikao Sokattak came on top beating Avatiu 1 nil.
FULL RESULTS FROM ROUND 1:
Matavera-Ngatangiia FC – Tupapa Maraerenga FC
Premier Men 2-5
Senior Women 0-1
U-18 Men 2-2
U15 Girls 3-0
U15 Boys 0-3
Nikao Sokattak FC – Avatiu FC
Premier Men 2-0
Senior Women 1-0
U18 Boys 4-0
U15 Girls 0-4
U15 Boys 0-2
