Motu Koita Lagatois, Cook Island Residents draw

THE Motu Koita Lagatois drew 26- 26 with the Cook Island Residents 13 in Rarotonga over the weekend.
The Lagatois are into their final week of their tour of the Cook Islands.
Lagatois’ Maxwell Doriga was named man-of-match.
In the opening minutes, the Cook Islands didn’t waste time in spreading the ball and were rewarded with an unconverted try out wide after the Lagatois conceded a penalty for being inside the 10m.
Determined to hit back, the visitors opened their account when Andrew Homoka produced a brilliant short pass to send Buli Hino over for a try.
Doriga gave the Lagatois a 6-4 lead with his successful conversion.
The Cook Islands went into the break with a 14-12 lead after bagging two more tries and a conversion.
In the 42nd minute, Whallen Tauloi pounced on a handling error and scooted over for a try.
Doriga converted to push the visitors’ lead out to 18-14.
Homoka added another try off a scrum deep in the Cook Islands’ territory, with Doriga converting to give the Lagatois a commanding 24-14 lead.
Not to be outdone, Cook Islander Tua Ravula crossed over to reduce the scores to 24-18.
Soon after, the home side levelled the scores through Toru Katuke.
With an eye on victory, Doriga pushed the Lagatois ahead via a penalty conversion.
But the Cook Islands had other plans three minutes from full-time when Tyson Oaariki levelled the scores after receiving a penalty in front of the posts.