Perfect Matich - scholarship rewards sport, study honours

On and off the field, Ruawai's Matthew Matich has always set his sights high and been willing to work hard for the rewards - now the hard  work has paid off.
The Mount Albert Grammar School boarder was awarded the first John Drake Memorial Scholarship, jointly presented by the University of Auckland and University Rugby Football Club.
"I was a bit shocked as they rang me two hours after the interview - I didn't really get it until I had hung up," the laidback 18-year-old said.
The annual $5000 scholarship is awarded to a school leaver who has excelled both in rugby and academically with the potential to emulate the attitude and success of former All Black John Drake, who passed away suddenly in December.
From hundreds of applicants only three candidates were interviewed for the scholarship which MAGS headmaster Dale Burden said the school hostel's head boy richly deserved.
"He's [Matich] got a very balanced perspective on life which is why he's won this particular scholarship.
"Like John Drake, he could take or leave rugby, and he brings an intelligence and discipline to his rugby game which is highly desirable.
"And one hopes that sort of player becomes greater in number in the top Auckland teams of the future, rather than ending up with the Crusaders," he said.
Matich's list of achievements began  from a young age - he was dux of Dargaville Intermediate School and sports captain.
In year nine (third form), Matich left Ruawai to board at MAGS and while he had been based in Auckland for the past five years, the North was still home, he said.
"I try to go back North every holidays as my family are still there."
On the rugby field, Matich has excelled in the game he has played since he was four.
He has played blindside flanker for MAGS First XV for the past two years, and this year helped lead the side to victory in the 2009 Auckland Secondary Schools Championship, as well as being selected for the Auckland Under-18s and the New Zealand Secondary Schools Sevens tournament team.
Next year, Matich would be joining University Rugby Football Club, which he was looking forward to.
He continues to excel academically and  this year he achieved highly in mathematics and physics.Next year he planned on starting an engineering degree, possibly concentrating on civil engineering.
With exams looming in three weeks, Matich's days have been frantically busy fitting in all his commitments.
While last year he struggled with his time management - which was "pretty hopeless" - this year he just got on with things.
"At the hostel they make you do two hours of homework every night - so I get all my work done then - it hasn't been a problem this year, I just do it."
If it ever came down to choosing between rugby and studies, Matich said rugby would be his top priority.
"You only get one opportunity. I can always be an engineer and  go back to study."