By JENNI RUTHERFORD
Mt Albert Grammar's first XI soccer team are treating their Chatham Cup match against University-Mt Wellington as an adventure.
With two 14-year-olds in the side, a midfielder and a goalkeeper, and the average age of the players just 16, coach Kevin Fallon entered the team at the start of
the competition as a way to get some pre-season practice, and to have some fun.
But they now face the third-placed national league side Uni-Mt Wellington at their home ground in the last 16, a rare chance for schoolboys to meet experienced professionals.
And Fallon's lads will throw everything at the senior side. "In soccer, anything can happen, though if we win on Sunday I'll start believing in miracles."
RUGBY LEAGUE
Kelston Boys High School find themselves in the senior first XIII final against St Paul's College at Carlaw Park tonight after beating traditional finalists Mt Albert Grammar 17-8 in the semifinals.
A try in each half by Hame Lauaki, and Kenny Papa's touchdown in the first half, enabled Kelston to progress into unfamiliar territory.
In the other semifinal, St Paul's had little trouble overcoming Otahuhu College 38-4.
St Paul's will also have teams in two other finals. The college's senior first XIII narrowly defeated Papatoetoe High School 20-18 to set up a finals berth with Marcellin College, who downed Waitakere High.
Avondale and Aorere College will meet in the college A grade, while St Paul's will play Mt Albert Grammar for the under-15 nine-a-side Graham Lowe Cup.
GYMNASTICS
Reigning national secondary schools champion Daniel Good will defend his title this weekend.
The St Kentigern College student had scores of nine or better in five of the six apparatus last year and will be hoping for a similar performance at the Counties-Manukau Gymsport and Recreation Centre on Saturday.
Meanwhile, NZ's two leading gymnasts, Alethea Boon and Nikki Wells (both from Westlake Girls High School), will turn out with other members of the 2002 Commonwealth Games training squad.
RUGBY
De La Salle's season took a turn for the better when they won the Moascar Cup from St Paul's College three weeks ago.
With just one win from four outings before they won the cup, the small Mangere College is now growing in confidence, having successfully defended the silverware against Sacred Heart and Mt Albert Grammar.
De La Salle's latest win saw Mt Albert downed 11-3, allowing De La Salle to hold on to the prized trophy for another week and move to within striking distance of the top four.
Aukuso Sioli scored the only try of the match and the home side led 8-3 at halftime. Fullback John Pelenato's penalty kick was the only points of the second half, although Mt Albert were in real try-scoring mode with 17 minutes to go.
SWIMMING
Records tumbled at the inter-collegiate short-course championships, with 16 new times set.
Carrisa Thompson (Diocesan) and Natalie Bernard (Rangitoto College) each broke three records in the 14-15-year age group, while Brook Jackson from St Cuthbert's College picked up a hat-trick in the 13 years and under category.
Thompson improved from last year's showing, breaking her own 50m breaststroke record. She also beat Alice Lee by over a second to end her three-year reign as the 100m breaststroke record-holder.
Meanwhile, Bernard pipped Thompson to the wall in the 100m butterfly - and in record time.
Timothy van der Kraay (Mt Albert Grammar) cracked the senior boys 50m freestyle record in one of three boys records to fall.
ATHLETICS
The New Zealand youth athletics team left for Hungary via Australia yesterday to compete in the under-18 world championships.
One of the brightest hopes for a top placing is 16-year-old thrower Valerie Adams. The Southern Cross College student holds the New Zealand senior title for the shot put and the under-20 trio of the shot put, hammer and discus.
This week:
TODAY
Intercity boys hockey.
Auckland: rugby league finals, Carlaw Park from 4.15 pm.
Counties Manukau: netball.
TOMORROW
Intercity girls hockey.
FRIDAY
Term two ends.
Auckland: premier basketball, squash, badminton.
North Harbour: badminton.
SATURDAY
NZ secondary school girls basketball championships, June 30-July 5, Blenheim.
NZ secondary schools gymnastics championships, June 30-July 1, Auckland.
Lenco Cup rugby.
SUNDAY
North Island cycling championships, Ngaruawahia.
NZ Area schools sports tournament, July 1-6, Hamilton.
Chatham Cup: Mt Albert Grammar v University-Mt Wellington, 2 pm, Bill McKinlay Park.
MONDAY
NZ junior secondary school rugby tournament, July 2-4, Rotorua.
Northern region secondary school rugby tournament, July 2-7, Auckland.
