Wairarapa College's Felicity Reidy celebrates a goal during her side's 2-1 hockey victory over Diocesan in the Federation Cup final. Photo / Dean Purcell
A handful of first-time winners brought added interest to the national winter tournament week with honours again evenly spread as Auckland schools again dominated.
The annual sportsfest - involving schools in contests from Whangarei to Invercargill - is a logistical headache but an ongoing tribute to the thousands of participants, organisers and volunteers.
Among the first-time winners in the top grade were Rosmini College, Sacred Heart College and Otahuhu College.
Rosmini were probably the biggest surprise. Yet to play in the hotly contested Auckland premier basketball league, the Takapuna school gave a hint they might be on the verge of something special with their recent win in the local zone final - beating AGS and WBHS along the way - but the pressure of the national championship was seen as a step up.
No problem. In a reverse of the zone play-offs, Rosmini beat WBHS in the semifinals and AGS, by an amazing 17 points, in the final.
Otahuhu went to the national league tournament with high hopes but fully aware that in St Pauls and MAGS they faced two highly fancied teams.
MAGS were out of contention before the semifinals - where Otahuhu beat Aorere - but St Pauls, chasing a ninth straight title - loomed large in the final.
On the back foot for much of the game, Otahuhu rallied, converted a last-ditch try for 22-22 and then claimed a breakthrough victory with a golden point try.
Sacred Heart finished fourth in the always keenly contested Auckland premier soccer race but, when at full strength, showed they were a more than useful outfit and, in a season when perennial front-runners MAGS and AGS were not perhaps as strong as recent years, always rated a chance.
A solid run through the Lotto Premier Tournament in Napier - including a 4-3 semifinal win over AGS - booked Sacred Heart their place in the final and a shot at a first title. They duly coasted to their second win over St Pat's Silverstream in the week and into the history books. AGS edged MAGS for bronze.
Elsewhere, MAGS retained their Upper North Island netball crown in Mt Maunganui; Macleans, WBHS and WGHS dominated the national badminton in Hamilton and Kings made light of the trip to Invercargill to claim hockey's Rankin Cup.
Rangitoto finished third in the girls' AA basketball; Diocesan lost hockey's Federation Cup final to Wairarapa College (St Cuthberts were equal third); Rangitoto's Colin Williams was beaten in the semifinals of the indoor bowls championship; Rangitoto were edged in the final of the Lotto Premier girls soccer (beaten 2-1 by St Peter's School in Taupo) with EGGS upsetting MAGS in the bronze match.
BASKETBALL
Brushed off as outsiders who managed to fluke their way into the National SS tournament, Rosmini College had plenty to prove heading into the AA championships in Palmerston North.
Predictions were that they would not make it out of the first rounds playing the stronger Hamilton teams and what was meant to be a Cinderella story would end up an early exit.
But the players, coaches and support crew were confident and happily grabbed the underdog tag. From their first game, Rosmini made their intentions clear. While there were a few speed bumps along the way, their victories were clinical and decisive with winning margins consistently in double figures.
In reaching the quarter-finals, Rosmini came up against a hard-nosed and confident Fraser High team intent on defending their title. Last year's champions dispatched by 11 points. A rousing haka from the Fraser team at the conclusion of the game showed Rosmini that they had earned the previous champions' respect.
That win booked a clash with old rivals WBHS who had revenge on their minds after losing to Rosmini in the regional final.
WBHS scored two early baskets before Rosmini hit their straps and raced to a 30-point lead and coasted into the final and a date with AGS.
AGS made the early running, ending the first quarter with a handy 21-8 lead. Rosmini then dug deep and, largely through the efforts of Anamata Haku and Elliot Bryers, along with huge defensive contributions from Tohi Smith-Milner, Joseph King and Steven Robertson, pegged back the advantage to lock it up 33-33 at halftime.
Heartened by that, Rosmini maintained the pressure, eventually going on to claim an impressive 82-65 victory.
The players from both teams were emotionally and physical drained but the Rosmini team were understandably happy with both their surprise victory and in having Elliot, Tohi and Ana named in the tournament team and Ana acclaimed as the tournament MVP.
HOCKEY
Kings ended a six-year drought with their convincing 3-1 win over WBHS in the Rankin Cup final in Invercargill.
Goals scored by Hamish Wu, captain Ben Horne and Michael Ritchie laid the foundation for Kings' first triumph in the tournament contested by the top 16 boys' schools in the country. It was the school's fifth Rankin Cup victory following wins in 1980 (shared), 1993, 1999 (shared) and 2005.
The win also ended a perfect season for the team who were unbeaten in their 20 matches as they claimed the Auckland SS Championship, the Kings v AGS Challenge Shield, the Auckland Inter-City Championship and the Rankin Cup.
The success for the team, coached for the last time by stalwart Keith Rowley, was based on a total team performance with all players used throughout the tournament and all 16 players having game time in the final.
Midfielder Jared Panchia was voted Kings' player of the tournament while Cameron Gibbons, Ben Radovonich, Kim Kingstone, Cameron Mackie, Horne and Ritchie turned in commanding displays throughout, with Ritchie the tournament's top goalscorer with 12 goals in six games.
Having beaten WBHS twice earlier in the season - 2-1 in Inter-City pool play and 4-3 in that final, Kings went into the final against the Steve McCracken/Charlie Meredith- coached team as slight favourites.
Kings took the lead in the 12th minute when Wu was on hand to force the ball over the line. Westlake fought back and forced two penalty corners but goalkeeper Nick Klass, who had a fine tournament, was equal to the task and ensured Kings went to the break ahead by that one goal.
From their first penalty corner of the match - three minutes into the second half - Horne rifled home. Ritchie iced the cake with an excellent opportunist goal in the 43rd minute. Westlake, with Sanjay Lala as their outstanding player, grabbed a consolation goal through Matt Lucas as the final buzzer sounded.
The win was also a personal triumph for four of the players in the Kings team. Ben Radovonich, son of former Black Stick striker John Radovonich, uniquely claimed his second successive Rankin Cup title (with different schools) having been part of the Christchurch BHS success last year.
Panchia, brother of current Black Stick Arun Panchia, claimed his third national title in six weeks, having won the National Under-18 tournament with Auckland last month and then being part of the Auckland victory in the Ford NHL this month.
Kingstone completed a notable family double in following brother Kieran in winning a Rankin Cup. Kieran was in the winning 2005 team.
Horne, son of former cricket international Phil Horne, has been part of two successful teams, having played for Kings in the team who won last season's Gillette Cup in cricket and now hockey's Rankin Cup.
Rowley can take some pride as he steps down. The Kings 1st XI lost only one game in two years - last year's Rankin Cup semifinal - and only three in the past three seasons.
INDOOR BOWLS
After finishing runner-up in the NZ junior singles the previous day, Teri Anderson, from the Te Kura Correspondence School, claimed the singles title at the fourth NZ SS Championships in Wellington.
In a one-sided final, Anderson beat Joseph Duncan (Twizel Area School) 10-2, 6-0.
In the semifinals Anderson beat Gore's Sheldon Bagrie-Howley 6-3, 7-0 while Duncan ended Auckland hopes with his 6-4, 8-2 win over Collin Williams (Rangitoto).
A total of 58 players contested the singles while 31 pairs chased that title in which Bagrie-Howley and Cameron Tremaine retained their title by beating Anjela Frost and Shayna Heal (Stratford HS) 4-1, 6-0 in the final.
Bagrie-Howley was named the player of the tournament after finishing equal third in the singles.
LEAGUE
A try in golden point extra time won the day for Otahuhu College as they upset hot favourites St Pauls 26-22 in a thrilling final at the NZSS Tournament at Papakura's Bruce Pulman Park.
Underdogs Otahuhu had to come from behind to claim the victory in a game in which they trailed early, were still behind at halftime and, amazingly, down 22-12 well into the second half.
Sione Maasi gave St Pauls their early lead with a try. Hooker David Ryan then crossed and with Jamon Peua's conversion St Pauls shot to a 10-0 lead. Centre Joshua Tafili joined the try-scoring action for 14-0 - an eighth straight win for St Pauls firmly on the cards.
Then came the fightback. Jacob Paulo and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck crossed and with Phoenix Paeu adding the extras, Otahuhu were back in at 14-12 going to the break.
St Pauls wasted no time in stretching their lead after halftime, Christopher Safae scoring and Peua converting. A Semisi Havili penalty took St Pauls to 22-12.
Again, Otahuhu dug deep. Tries to Sione Feao and centre Viliami Lolohea and a Paeu conversion after the final hooter locked it at 22-22.
After a short break play resumed and Otahuhu attacked St Paul's line, but chose not to take what appeared to be an excellent opportunity for a field goal. St Pauls' defence held firm and they soon had the ball down the other end but could not score.
Otahuhu brought the ball back hard and fast and when Watson Heleta kicked through the line everyone held their breath. The ball bounced his way and Otahuhu had scored the golden point match winning try.
The Bill Sharp Golden Boot award was presented to Paeu, who kicked 20 goals during the tournament.
The Manukau Institute of Technology Most Valuable Player of the Tournament award was won by Lolohea.
RUGBY
National Finals: They failed in their bid to win the Auckland crown but KBHS ended their season on a high as national top four champions with a resounding 24-14 win over a strong Wesley College XV.
Ironically, neither finalist had won their respective championship and were only given their chance to play in the nationals after St Kentigern and Manurewa had opted for the co-ed competition. Manurewa lost out to Cambridge HS in the Chiefs' play-off.
Sunday's final at Rotorua BHS was a blast from the past - 1989 in fact - when the two powerhouses last met in the final.
With their win, Kelston join Wesley as five-time winners.
The final, played on a firm ground between two largely Polynesian teams was all about ball movement.
The first half was a close affair ending 10-7 in favour of KBHS after captain Tayler Adams landed a penalty and converted the try scored by soon-to-be-named NZSS fullback Lolagi Visinia - his 11th of the season.
Wesley replied with a try from second-five Blessing Mulitalo-Malu. The conversion closed the gap to three points.
The second half was played at a startling pace with only some individual KBHS brilliance being the difference, provided by Kiwis under-18s centre David Fusi'tua.
With fatigue setting in after two days of hard rugby, substitutions became more pivotal towards the end of the game. Nathaniel Apa was able to make a run for the line, but in his celebrations and step, fell short, only for Rameka Uitime Paraki to support and cross the line. That try allowed Kelston to clear out to a 24-7 lead.
Wesley continued to throw everything at the Aucklanders and were rewarded with a converted try but it was too little too late.
St Kentigern completed the Auckland double with their runaway 51-24 win over Cambridge HS in the co-ed schools final.
Locked 24-24 at the break, St Kentigern ran in 27 unanswered points in the second half to claim victory.
CONDOR SEVENS
An experienced MAGS team won the Auckland SS sevens for the second time in three years proving too strong in beating arch-rival AGS 19-7 in the final.
Speedster Fred Stewart, playmaker Jarrod McAlister-Poi and blockbusting Damon Niko scored in the first half to give MAGS an unassailable 19-0 lead at the break.
With a dominance of possession, MAGS controlled play throughout the second spell, displaying outstanding patience and teamwork, though were not able to score again. However, they shut out AGS until after the final hooter, when Chris Tau'alupe grabbed a consolation touchdown.
MAGS and AGS will contest the BNZ Condor Sevens final in Auckland later in the year, joining Whangarei BHS, Napier BHS, NPBHS, Feilding HS, Rosmini and nine yet to be determined schools on December 4.
AGS put away Kelston, who were without most of their top squad, 26-14 in their semifinal. AGS will return to contest the national secondary schools sevens they last won in 1987.
Auckland Sevens coach Wayne Pivac was an interested spectator at the Marist RFC grounds in Mt Wellington.
"It's good for the schools that are not in the premier grade to get an opportunity at this level," said Pivac. "There certainly are some players of the future here and the next step is for these guys to play club sevens through November ahead of the nationals in Queenstown in January."
Further qualifying tournaments will be held in Counties-Manukau, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Wellington, Tasman, Canterbury, Otago and Southland over the next two months.
SOCCER
Sacred Heart handed themselves the perfect dress rehearsal for this week's Auckland Knockout Cup final with a 4-1 win over St Pats Silverstream in the final of the Lotto Premier Boys' Tournament at Napier's Park Island.
The win completed the tournament double for Sacred Heart who beat St Pats in their first (2-0) and last matches at the tournament.
MAGS, who will play Sacred Heart in Saturday's final at Bill McKinlay Park, have to bounce back from the disappointment of a fourth place finish - and a 1-0 loss to arch rivals AGS in the bronze match - if they are to complete the Auckland league/cup double.
With the passion both of these teams have for their schools, this was always going to be an intense final.
What St Pat's might have lacked in sophistication they made up for with sheer determination and tenacity at times harassing and bustling Sacred Heart from their quick-passing game.
Sacred Heart took the early advantage when Michael Durkin scored after being fed by Luke Bulay.
Midway through the first half, St Pats levelled with a back post header. There was no addition as the teams turned at 1-1.
Mid-way through the second half Tim Payne cleverly latched on to an errant back pass to snatch the lead.
Ricky Lines made some piercing runs and set up Steven Carmichael for his sixth goal of the tournament and a 3-1 lead. Lines added the icing with a fourth in the dying moments.
Payne turned in another man-of-the-match effort and within hours was on his way to England for trials at premiership club Blackburn Rovers.
SWIMMING
Strathallan's Liana Smith was the individual star of the inaugural NZSS Championships in Hamilton.
Smith won six individual titles as well as two wins in the Skins event at the three-day championships at Waterworld.
The first school's event, run by Swimming New Zealand, attracted 320 swimmers from 107 schools from Otago to Northland.
Wellington College were the leading school overall ahead of St Peter's School and Hamilton BHS.
Smith, from the Pukekohe club, headed Emily McGill (Chilton St James) who won five individual finals and two Skins. Best of the boys was Joshua Asplin (Rosehill) also with five individual titles.
He headed a group who claimed four wins, Max Polianski, Erik Kahr, Hayden Church and Kelsi Boocock who have all enjoyed a strong year with success at the New Zealand and Australian age group championships.
SNZ events manager Kent Stead said both the organisation and schools were delighted with the championship.
"The response ... exceeded our expectation," said Stead. "It was a great opportunity for swimmers to be recognised within their schools."
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