College sport: Grammar under threat as rebuilding begins

By JENNI RUTHERFORD

Auckland Grammar's national and Auckland tennis titles are under serious threat. The loss of their top three players at the end of last year left them in a vulnerable rebuilding phase.

Seventh formers Simon Rea, Jacob Olsen and Brendan Wright finished their schooling career in 2000, leaving a young side with a winning legacy to protect.

Grammar have lost the regional title only twice in the past 26 years and have won the national title six out of eight years. The team's manager and motivator, Barry Schmidt, is preparing himself to be only the second manager in that time to be denied victory.

The school has a young and largely inexperienced senior team this year, with fourth formers called on to bulk up the talent. It is the first time in eight years junior members have made an appearance in the school's top side.

A fifth former, Kiril Tcherveniatchki, will lead Grammar's challenge.

Grammar will face stiff competition from St Kentigern and King's College who, on paper, boast strong sides this year.

Fourteen-year-old G. D. Jones bolsters the King's senior side. Jones is the New Zealand and Australian 14-and-under singles and doubles champion. The St Kentigern side includes New Zealand 14-and-under runner-up Rubin Stathan.

The top three seeded teams encountered little trouble in the first round of the Auckland-wide tennis competition, all recording comprehensive wins on Saturday.

Auckland Grammar, King's College No 1 team, and St Kent's all had decisive wins in the senior 1A division. Grammar downed King's No 2 8-1, King's No 1 beat Sacred Heart 8-1 and St Kentigern started the season with a perfect record, winning against Westlake Boys' High School 9-0.

Similarly in the girls 1A grade St Cuthberts, Diocesan and King's won easily in their singles and doubles matches.

Cricket

Liston College's Jeffrey Ah Lo is a legend in the making.

The seventh former destroyed Dilworth School's batting line-up on Saturday, taking all 10 wickets on the first day of their two-day 1B first XI competition.

Ah Lo scuttled Dilworth single-handedly, finishing with the excellent figures of 10 for 52 from 16 overs. As a tired Ah Lo neared the rare feat, his bowling partner, Brad Coleman, tried not to ruin his chances by taking a wicket of his own.

Dilworth were looking comfortable on 143-2, with Ah Lo managing a wicket in his opening and second spells. Then he pressed his foot on the accelerator ripping through the next eight batsmen for just 25 runs, as Dilworth collapsed to be all out for 168.

Ah Lo's unusual but outstanding feat has sparked principal Chris Rooney to create a trophy dedicated to inspirational performances. The school has kept the ball he used in the match and it will be used in the trophy's design.

But with such a rare performance as a benchmark, Ah Lo's name may be the only one engraved on it for quite a while.

Dragon boatingEpsom Girls Grammar used their paddling prowess to pip the favoured Westlake Girls' High School's Green side at the Auckland secondary schools regatta at the Viaduct Basin.

Epsom's win was among three closely fought battles. Westlake Boys' High School dragged off St Kentigern College in their grudge match, while Northcote College beat last year's champions, Kaipara College, in the mixed section.

This weekToday: Auckland: Auckland secondary schools equestrian one-day event, central west Auckland swimming, Auckland secondary schools yachting regatta (also tomorrow and Friday) at Devonport.

Tomorrow: Auckland: orienteering.

Counties Manukau: swimming.

Friday: Auckland: teams triathlon Maraetai, boys premier league volleyball.

Saturday: Auckland: tennis, cricket.

North Harbour: cricket.

Monday: Auckland: premier girls volleyball.

Tuesday: Auckland: senior kilikiti, touch rugby, Auckland novice wrestling championships.