College sport: Grammar teams face off

By DAVE WORSLEY

Mt Albert Grammar earned a last-gasp win in the semifinals of the teams squash championship at Henderson to win a place against a strong Auckland Grammar in today's final.

Mt Albert beat King's College 3-2 with the vital match at No 2 when Sam Kynman-Cole downed Tim Hargrave of King's 9-7 in the fifth game.

Auckland Grammar, led by No 1 Chris McDonald, easily accounted for Waitakere in their semifinal 5-0.

The girls final is between Diocesan and Epsom Girls. Both had straightforward semifinal wins over Rangitoto and Westlake respectively.

CURLING

The first game of the inaugural competition was held at the weekend with the Baradene first IV defeating the Westlake Ice Swans 5-3.

This Sunday two Rangitoto teams, the Ice Cutters and Rangitoto Red, clash. The Ice Cutters go in as favourties, having won the inaugural North Island championships last September.

DUATHLON

Huge numbers turned out for the Auckland championships held at Maraetai Beach in perfect conditions.

In the junior competition, Simon Caulfield (Auckland Grammar) beat schoolmate Nick Small, and Kirstin Montgomery won the girls title.

A St Kentigern clean sweep occurred in the intermediate boys race with William Curtayne, Andrew Robertson and Andrew Curtayne taking the placings. Rebecca Spence (Takapuna Grammar) won the girls title from Alex Gibson (Diocesan).

Mike Kraakman competed a good day for the St Kentigern boys by taking the senior title, and Anna Elvery won the senior girls race for Diocesan from team-mate Olivia Spencer.

SOCCER

The annual match of the season between Mt Albert and Auckland Grammar proved a titanic struggle with Mt Albert scoring the only goal to go to the top of the premier grade. Westlake Boys kept in touch with the leaders, winning 3-0 at Onehunga.

RUGBY

Massey High, Westlake Boys, Rosmini College, Takapuna Grammar, Rangitoto College and Kaipara College cemented their places in the North Harbour 1A grade.

Massey ended the round unbeaten, and Westlake beat Takapuna 30-3 to take second spot.

Rosmini finished their pool unbeaten with a 56-0 win over Rangitoto.

Kaipara beat Mahurangi 27-15 to pip Rangitoto for second spot.

In Auckland 1A, Otahuhu College beat Sacred Heart 19-12, Kelston beat Kings 10-6 and leaders De La Salle accounted for St Peters 17-8. Onehunga and Mt Albert both won by a solitary point against St Kentigern and St Pauls College respectively. The only comfortable winners were Auckland Grammar, who defeated Tangaroa College 48-3.

De La Salle lead the contest by four points from Auckland Grammar.

NETBALL

The four unbeaten teams clashed in group play of the North Harbour competition last weekend.

Carmel College beat Takapuna 27-20 to head group two. The match of the day was a tough tussle in which Kaipara College beat Westlake Girls 30-29.

Auckland Girls and Epsom posted big wins in the Auckland competition, and Manurewa and Wesley College retained their unbeaten records in Counties premier matches.

In Manukau, Tamaki College are the only unbeaten team. They trail Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate by one point with a game in hand.

McAuley High posted their first win of the season against Mangere College 18-11.

THIS WEEK

Today - Girls soccer, various venues. Rugby league, Northland final, Northland College. Squash, Auckland teams finals, Henderson Squash Centre.

Friday - Premier boys/girls basketball, various venues.

Saturday - Rugby, North Harbour, Auckland, Counties Manukau first XV, various venues. Netball, North Harbour at Onewa, Waitakere at Te Pai Park, Auckland at Windmill Rd. Soccer premier A, various venues.

Sunday - Cycling road race, Tamaki Drive.