College sport: Kelston first five saves the day

Kelston's Brett Clarke powers away from Grammar's Samisoni Fisalau for the first try in their semifinal clash. Picture / Martin Sykes

First five-eighths John Avaki is the toast of Kelston Boys High after calmly slotting a drop goal to secure his side a place in the final of the Auckland 1A competition against King's College on Saturday.

Kelston, who have not won the title since 1998, trailed semifinal rivals Auckland Grammar 18-17 with 11 minutes to play before Avaki came through in the dying seconds to win his side the match 20-18.

Kelston scored first through centre Brett Clarke after Avaki created the space for him to crash through. Grammar scored the next two tries, with halfback Samisoni Fisalau and centre Meke Unasa touching down to put their side out in front.

Grammar's defence proved difficult until halfback Wayne Ngaluafe barged over then kicked his own conversion to give Kelston a 17-15 lead.

Ashley Moeke's penalty put Grammar back in front before Avaki's last-ditch attempt won his side the match.

King's road to the final was slightly less dramatic after tries to Randall Kamea, Bradley Cameron and Hamish Paterson helped them out to a comfortable 17-0 halftime lead over St Paul's.

King's allowed St Paul's in for a late consolation try which they converted.

In the North Harbour competition, Massey and Westlake will meet in the final on Saturday at Windsor Park at 2.30pm. In the semifinals, Westlake beat Rosmini 19-3 and Massey dominated Takapuna 31-6.

In the final of the Counties Manukau competition, Wesley College's 1st XV beat their college's 2nd XV 39-8.


Hockey


It is semifinals time tonight in the Intercity competition.

In the boys competition, King's face Massey at Lloyd Elsmore Park at 6pm and Westlake play Auckland Grammar at Grammar at 7.10pm.

The unbeaten King's side wrapped up their final round-robin game with a convincing 4-0 win over Mr Roskill. Captain Hitesh Dahya smashed two into the net and Chris Goldsbury and Simon Child scored one each.

Massey trounced Waiuku College 9-1.

Westlake face Auckland Grammar, unbeaten in Pool B, in the semifinals.

In the girls semifinals, Westlake face Diocesan at Auckland Grammar at 5.30pm and Kristin meet St Cuthbert's at Lloyd Elsmore Park at 5pm.

Westlake face a hard road against the impressive Diocesan side, who have not had one goal scored against them all season.

Netball


Avondale College held a special assembly last week to celebrate the success of sisters Rachel and Grace Rasmussen, who were part of the New Zealand under-21 netball side who won the World Youth Cup in Fort Lauderdale.

The team were unbeaten in the 10-day tournament. In the final they trounced England 53-39.

Rachel was a student at Avondale until 2002 and helped them to two New Zealand secondary school netball titles. Grace is in the seventh form and has claimed national secondary schools titles for Avondale in basketball and netball. She is also a member of the touch team.


Soccer


Liston College had their first win in Auckland's senior A1 competition over the weekend, beating top-of-the-table Mt Albert Grammar 2-1.

In what was possibly a case of taking their opposition too lightly, Mt Albert had their chances but came off second best against an elated Liston.

Westlake Boys made inroads into Mt Albert's pole position by beating neighbours Rangitoto College 3-2, and Auckland Grammar improved on their first-round loss to King;s College with a nil-all draw.

In the round's other match, Kelston beat St Peter's 2-0.

In the girls competition, Avondale meet Epsom in the final of the senior division and Westlake face Epsom in the junior division today at Mt Albert.


Table tennis


Macleans College dominated the boys divisions, winning the senior and junior singles titles.

In the hotly contested senior boys final, Steven Zeng edged out Auckland Grammar's Binbin Zhu.

With both boys having represented New Zealand in the Oceania leg of world junior table tennis championships in Fiji, the match was always going to be close, and it was before Zeng emerged as the winner.

In the junior boys, Macleans' Ethan Luo finished first ahead of Mitchell Baker (Long Bay) and Jackson Chu (Westlake Boys).

Sophie Shu (Diocesan) won the senior girls title and Westlake's Tara La Grange won the junior title.

Today: Intercity hockey semifinals, boys, King's v Massey at Lloyd Elsmore Park No 1 6pm, Westlake v Grammar at Grammar 7.10pm, girls, Westlake v Diocesan at Grammar 5.30pm, Kristin v St Cuthbert's at Lloyd Elsmore Park No 1 5pm. Soccer, girls finals, senior, Avondale v Epsom at Mt Albert's Phyllis Reserve 4pm, junior, St Cuthbert's v Epsom also at Mt Albert at 2.30pm.

Saturday: Auckland rugby finals 1A Kelston v King's Eden Park 2.30pm, 1B St Kent's v Onehunga Eden Park 12pm. North Harbour rugby finals 1A Massey v Westlake at Windsor Park 2.30pm, 1B Rangitoto v Mahurangi at Windsor Park 12.30pm.

Monday: Auckland girls rugby final Onehunga v Papakura, Unitec 3.30pm.