College sport: Squash players converge for mega tournament

By DAVE WORSLEY

Close to 400 squash players are converging on Auckland this week in one of the largest squash tournaments in the Southern Hemisphere.

The opening of the New Zealand teams event is tomorrow night. Play starts on Friday morning and the finals are on Sunday morning at Henderson.

Top seed for the boys' event are Auckland Grammar, and New Plymouth Girls' High are top girls' seed. Boys' defending champions, Tawa, are seeded second, while girls' defending champions Gisborne Girls' High have been seeded 10th.

The tournament will be hosted at Henderson, Eden Epsom, Remuera, Royal Oak, Titirangi and the National Squash Centre.

RUGBY

The latest results in the 1A 1st XV compressed the top five and mean that with the last round to play this weekend anyone in the top five can miss out on a semi spot.

Mt Albert rolled leaders De La Salle 19-10 to take third and relegate the former front-runner to fourth. Auckland Grammar took top place courtesy of a 32-7 win over Onehunga and King's victory over St Kent's took them to number two on the table.

Kelston won at home against Otahuhu and are in fifth, three points behind the leaders.

St Peter's beat Tangaroa 22-12 to complete the round. With De La Salle, Kelston and Auckland all expected to win this weekend, all eyes will be on the King's versus Mt Albert game at Mt Albert. The loser of this match could miss the cut.

Match of the round in North Harbour was undoubtedly the clash of the season's unbeaten teams, and in a tight contest Rosmini edged the Ist XV and sevens champions Massey 13-6. In the only other match played in the top six, Westlake beat Takapuna Grammar 9-8. Rosmini now have a three-point lead in the competition.

NETBALL

In the latest round of the Auckland competition, Kelston pipped Massey, while St Dominic's and Avondale won comfortably.

At Windmill Rd, Auckland Girl's, Macleans, Howick, Otahuhu, Epsom and Dio all won.

On the Shore, Carmel, Kaipara, Westlake 1 and Takapuna all enjoyed comfortable victories.

BOWLS

After weather disrupted play, the qualifiers for the Greater Auckland collegiate champs have been found with a variety of schools making the grade for next week's finals at Pukekohe.

Talented Jason Lindsay, from Sacred Heart, is one of the favourites in the singles.

Lindsay, 16, a New Zealand under-18 rep who qualified indoors at the Pukekohe Cosmopolitan Club, has been bowling for five years and is a member of the Rawhiti Club.

Avondale College had two pairs qualify, with Froiland Marquesess and Alex Gavin teaming together, and Stuart Phillips and Brook Tippet, who are considered favourites.

Lynfield also have two pairs in the finals while Papatoetoe High and Pukekohe High have a pair each.

THIS WEEK

Today: Counties netball, 4.15pm Bruce Pulman Park.

Friday: Premier basketball, girls and boys, various venues.

Squash: New Zealand teams championships, various venues.

Saturday: Premier boys' soccer, various venues.

Rugby: 1st XV North Harbour, Auckland, various venues.

Squash: New Zealand teams championships, various venues.

Sunday: Squash teams finals, 10am Henderson.

Monday: Girls' 1st XV rugby quarter-finals, various venues.

Tuesday: Greater Auckland lawn bowls finals, Pukekohe.