The Cook Islands netball team comfortably beat Tokelau 63-31 on Saturday to win the bronze medal.
The standout player in the Cook Islands team was goal attack Curley George and defenders Luciana Matenga and Pori Rongokea.
The gold medal match between Fiji and Papua New Guinea was the best netball game seen all tournament with Fiji managing to edge out a very tough and competitive PNG side 58-51 sending the Fiji supporters into a frenzy of celebrations.
Among the Fijian players was the team’s under-21 goal shooter Cecilia Sorby who shed a tear on the podium when she received her gold medal.
The youngster finally got to taste gold medal victory as she proudly stood on the podium along with her team mates singing the nation’s national anthem.
Papua New Guinea were also thrilled to be taking home the silver medal with the achievement sweeter after defeating the Cook Islands earlier in the week to take a grand finals spot.
The Cook Islands players on the other hand had to put on a brave face to receive their bronze medal after a turbulent mini games campaign.
But earning a spot higher than the 2007 Samoa Pacific Games team was certainly something to smile about.
In fact, the two players that beamed from ear to ear were the two talented under 19 players from Avatiu, Odile Pauka and Mariana Ngaputa, who never even took to the courts spending most of their time sitting on the bench.
Despite the disappointments at missing out on the gold medal, the local girls will no doubt be very pleased to have ended their mini games campaign with a medal – albeit a bronze medal. - Matariki Wilson: Cook Islands News