Six months ago life was not easy and school was a low priority for Francis Tapusou. The 16-year-old had no idea what a shot put or discus even looked like.
But then, through the Sir John Walker-inspired Find Your Field Of Dreams and particularly the Throw For Gold initiative, Tapusou's
troubled life was dramatically turned around.
The kid from Mangere East's Southern Cross Campus school joined a group of throwers and started training in the programme headed by coach Nigel Edwards. Success, while not immediate, was not long in coming.
Disappointed when he was ninth after the qualifying rounds for the discus throw at the national secondary schools championships in December and therefore missing out on a chance to throw for the medals, Tapusou vowed that would not happen again.
In an amazing turnaround - achieved only after working out every day of the summer holiday - a proud Tapusou stood atop the dais at the Greater Auckland SS track and field championships at Mt Smart Stadium - crowned senior discus champion.
"He has turned his life around since joining the programme," said Edwards. "He is now a solid citizen. He is turning up at school which he wasn't doing before."
Edwards is not surprised with the results he is seeing, including last week's trip to New Caledonia where his charges far outshone their rivals.
"We did a big push in South Auckland schools," said Edwards who oversees the coaching in shot put, discus and javelin. "Southern Cross sent us a few. Francis was one of them, sent in the hope we could do something. No matter what happens in the rest of his life, he can now say he is a winner."
Inspired by shot putters Valerie Adams and Jacko Gill, the young athletes have something to aim for.
After just six months of working with Edwards and his fellow coaches, the Throw for Gold team ended the summer with one national, six North Island and eight Auckland SS titles and a host of junior and senior records.
BASKETBALL
AGS successfully began their defence of the premier championship with a 100-64 win over last season's beaten finalist, Onehunga HS.
Junior Tall Black Reuben Te Rangi led the Auckland Grammar, scoring with 20 points and seven rebounds, while Josh Young (17 points) and James Ashby (16) contributed to a strong offensive effort. Blair Manners grabbed 10 rebounds in a game that also allowed the school's newer premier players to gain confidence.
For Onehunga, Taleni Seu was hugely impressive for his game-high 33 points.
Led by player of the day, Year 10 rookie Jessica Nicholson, MAGS beat premier girls newcomers WGHS 68-48 in the first official match in the impressive new MAGS gymnasium.
The more experienced "Lady Lions" struggled early and did not take the lead until late in the third quarter.
Captain Morgan Roberts turned in a strong game and was well-supported by Ashleigh Curtis and Keziah Lewis.
HOCKEY
St Cuthberts began their season with a 3-0 victory against MAGS after leading 2-0 at halftime. Olivia Jackson opened up the scoring after 17 minutes with an untidy but successful goal and just two minutes later Mandy Wiles doubled their lead when she managed to slip the ball under goalkeeper Zoe Martin.
A powerful strike from Georgia Guy could have got one back for MAGS but her strike was from inside rather than outside the circle.
Martin showed her skill in saving shot after shot from St Cuthberts but caught off guard by Jackson who swept the ball home for a final 3-0.
RUGBY
AUCKLAND
A new-look MAGS team took the first steps towards defending their Auckland 1A title with a no-nonsense 46-8 away win at Otahuhu College.
Elsewhere AGS, in the much-publicised battle at Tangaroa, St Kentigern, Sacred Heart and De la Salle had expected victories while Kings got home by five points at Kelston BHS.
In a tense encounter, Kings won 29-24 after a frantic second half in which both teams scored 24 points.
Down 24-22 with eight minutes to play, Kings rallied and had the final say when captain Fa'asiu Fuata'i crossed in the corner and Simon Hickey added the conversion.
MAGS did not need any late heroics in a game played on a sodden Otahuhu College ground.
Electing to play into the wind, MAGS soon posted their first try of the season when Louis Devery scored. The home team replied quickly with a penalty to close the gap to two points.
The visitors dominated the remainder of the first half however and were rewarded with tries to Tama Keresoma and Dillan Halaholo, Jarrod McAlister-Poi converted one for a 17-3 lead.
When the Otahuhu backs were caught offside, Una Mohi took a quick tap and drove over the line near the posts for the bonus-point fourth try. The extra points were quickly added and Fred Stewart soon after put Pele Cowley into space and his 30m try stretched the halftime lead to 29-3.
Under pressure and with 15 minutes to play, the home side conceded a penalty try. Spurred by that, MAGS continued to attack and were rewarded when Shaun Devine drove over the line for an unconverted try and a 41-3 scoreline.
Otahuhu then went on to attack and scored a well-worked team try that was also converted. MAGS had the last say however when Taniela Napa'a capped a good solid all-round effort to score and take the final score to 46-8.
Making the most of home advantage, St Kentigern beat neighbours Tamaki College 19-7.
St Kentigern started strongly with Harry Lyford scoring a try from a Tamaki turnover and Albert Vete added a second from a lineout drive for a 12-0 lead just before the interval.
A third try, scored by Setareki Tamanivalu early in the second half extended their lead to 19-0 after Mariu Grace added his second conversion.
Tamaki then chased the game and were rewarded with a try to Chris Hiko from close range. Although Tamaki continued to apply pressure, the St Kentigern defence held firm to keep the score at 19-7.
In difficult conditions Auckland Grammar made hard work of putting away Tangaroa.
A nicely judged grubber from Braxton Stanley was pounced on by Kitione Taimani for the opening try. However, the rest of the first half saw opportunities squandered through careless errors. A Stanley penalty was the only other scoring in the first half.
In the second half AGS tallied two good tries out wide to Josh Minhinnick and Mate Banicevich to close the scoring.
This week's feature will be the clash at Kings when they take on Sacred Heart with the Fitzpatrick/Kirkpatrick Trophy at stake. AGS have a tricky first home game against De La Salle while KBHS have a second home game, this time against Tamaki.
NORTH HARBOUR
Rosmini hosted TGS in the match of the day. Rosmini took control early and fullback Ben Hyatt-Brown kicked an early penalty to put Rosmini ahead.
Despite the large penalty count against the hosts, Takapuna only capitalised on one such opportunity to pick up what were to be their only points.
Rosmini hooker Nat Larmer stood out, scoring two tries midway through the first half.
Just before halftime Rosmini captain and flanker Ryan Thompson capitalised on a quick tap to beat a non-existent TGS defence and take the home side to a 24-3 lead at the break.
An easy late try in the second half by Elliot Bryars extended the score - putting the result beyond doubt at 32-3.
In the other 1A fixtures, WBHS hung on to win 28-22 against Mahurangi, Massey thumped newly promoted Glenfield 60-10, and Rangitoto, also returning to 1A, beat last year's semifinalist Orewa 20-13.
In 1B, Whangaparaoa comfortably beat local rivals Kingsway 48-10, Long Bay headed Kristin 37-12, Northcote defeated Kaipara 16-7 and Birkenhead kicked five penalties to win 15-7 over Hato Petera. Toby Hurley
SOCCER
The old school v club stand-off is set to blow up again with New Zealand Football ruling players in the World Cup-bound national under-17 squad should not play more than one game each weekend.
Aaron McFarland, called in as a late replacement to coach the New Zealand team, said he had no preference - between club and school - but could see arguments from both sides.
"I can't tell them who to play for," said McFarland. "But I feel playing any more than one game is compromising the players as they build-up towards Mexico. We want our players to play as competitive games as possible."
Meanwhile, long-time rivals AGS and MAGS had first-up wins but it was Sacred Heart who showed they might be the team to beat in the race for premier honours this season.
At home to St Peters, Danny Hay-coached Sacred Heart won 4-1 in the all-Catholic school clash in a good warm-up for this week's away top-of-the-table battle with AGS.
Defending champions AGS made light work of their trip to St Kentigern, taking the match 5-0.
It was not as clear-cut for MAGS in their fixture which was transferred to Rangitoto College. They needed a twice-taken late penalty to get home 2-1 against a spirited home side.
VOLLEYBALL
Year 13 pupils at Sir Edmund Hillary College have taken the initiative in becoming organisers for a volleyball tournament at the South Auckland school.
As part of their physical education programme, the pupils have organised and will run the June 6 (Queen's Birthday Monday) tournament as part of the John Walker Trust's Find Your Field of Dreams Sport and Recreation initiative.
"The purpose of this tournament is to organise and run a fun day of volleyball.
"They want to raise the awareness of the importance of sport and recreation while involving the community of Otara with our school," said Hillary College assistant principal Eric Wall.
"The students have done everything in organising the tournament which will cater for eight to 10 teams," said Wall.
"The entry fee is $15 per team and they can be made up of any age, ability or gender."
Entry forms can be collected from the front office of Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate or email Eric Wall at ewall@sehc.school.nz.
Nigel Edwards (far right) says the Throw for Gold programme is changing lives. Photo / Supplied
Six months ago life was not easy and school was a low priority for Francis Tapusou. The 16-year-old had no idea what a shot put or discus even looked like.
But then, through the Sir John Walker-inspired Find Your Field Of Dreams and particularly the Throw For Gold initiative, Tapusou's
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