KEY POINTS:
The upsets keep coming in a 1A rugby season that has turned tradition on its head.
St Paul's College joined the party-poopers on Saturday with their 17-5 away win over King's College. The victory was the first in 15 years for St Paul's over one of the traditional
powerhouses of the Auckland secondary schools championship.
St Paul's second five-eighth Siliga Kepaoa struck first when he ran 60m before feeding winger Venisini Sanele, who crossed for the try. With sound kicking games from fullback Alex Fogavini and Kepaoa, St Paul's continued to dominate.
They were rewarded with a second try, again after a telling break, when Nafe Seluini sprinted 30m to score. The conversion gave St Paul's their 12-0 halftime lead.
The home side's solitary reply came with a last-ditch try.
In an outstanding effort for the leading team, De La Salle lock Mark Sopoaga touched down three of the seven tries scored in a 41-7 win over Papatoetoe - the best of these a counter-attack from deep inside their own half.
Despite being on the back foot, Papatoetoe, led by strong games from captain Fa'atiga Lemalu and centre Etuate Lolohea, battled gallantly throughout.
For De La Salle it was a good warm-up for this week's away game at Auckland Grammar - a replay of one of last year's semifinals (won by Grammar).
In another key fixture this week, King's are away to second-placed Sacred Heart. Sacred Heart continued their good form with an 18-12 win over St Kentigern but will find this one tougher.
Bonus points are already becoming a key factor as the jostling for the top four spots continues. With the halfway point now behind the 12 teams, Auckland Grammar and King's will need a late rally to emerge as contenders from their mid-table spots - 10 points behind De La Salle.
Third-placed Mt Albert Grammar, away to Papatoetoe on Saturday, will take some interest in the games involving the teams above them. If Mt Albert wins, and De La Salle and Sacred Heart lose, they would go to the top of the table.
A strong first half paved the way for Mt Albert's 24-5 win over St Peter's. Two early tries laid the foundation. A third converted try in the first spell followed by another early in the second ensured a bonus point. Good lead-up work from captain Ed Malo led to St Paul's only try, scored by Ben Lam.
In a cliff-hanger, Auckland Grammar beat Kelston Boys High 22-21 while Tamaki - with tries to George Moala (2), Vernon Horn, Francis Latu and Afa Pakalani and two conversions from Pakalani - were too strong for Tangaroa, winning 29-3.
Grammar took a 10-0 lead when, after an early penalty, Sione Katoa kicked through and dived on the ball to score. Kelston battled back and replied with a penalty and a try right on the break to close to 10-8.
Kelston took first blood in the second half, with a try and then a penalty for a 16-10 lead. Mike Lawton got Grammar back into the game when he scored in the corner but that joy was short-lived as Kelston replied with a converted try for a 21-15 lead with 10 minutes to play. Another fine Katoa try closed the gap and his wobbly conversion from in front got Grammar home.
Table-topping Westlake Boys were upset 14-13 by middle-of-the-table Massey High in the North Harbour game of the round.
A Raymond Niuia try after a forward drive followed by a Daniel Foepua conversion gave Massey, who were upset by Takapuna Grammar in the previous round, the early advantage.
Ben Botica reduced the margin to four points with a penalty and landed a conversion after Jason Cook had run 20m to score after a lineout and a couple of phases, giving Westlake a handy 13-7 lead.
But Massey were not to be denied. A late converted solo try for Hayden Steed sealed it as Massey got up to take the points that catapulted them into the top three, just four points behind second-placed Rosmini, who beat Takapuna 24-7.
In the battle of the bottom two teams, Rangitoto College prevailed 32-14 over Orewa College.
The traditional fixture between Wesley College and Te Aute College, played this year at Wesley, was won 41-3 by the home side but the real talking point was another stunning performance from wing Frank Halai.
The talented youngster, seen by many as the next Jonah Lomu - and from the same school - underlined his ability with an amazing 50m try.
Halai is already being touted as a possible player for Tonga at the Rugby World Cup.
The visitors had the first say but that early penalty was their lot as the home side, with pivot Simon Suaesi dictating play, hit top gear and ran out comfortable winners.
ATHLETICS
The pickings were lean for Auckland schools at the 34th New Zealand Secondary Schools cross-country championships at Christchurch's Halswell Quarry Park on Saturday.
The six races, which attracted more than 1000 entries, were held in wet, wintry conditions.
Esther Keown (Auckland Girl's Grammar) came closest to claiming a title for Auckland when she was just pipped by St Margarets' Margot Gibson in the junior (under-16) race over 3km. Annika Pfitzinger (Rangitoto) was not far back in fifth.
The only other individual medals to head north were the bronzes won by Meihana Taumanu (Rangitoto) in the Year 9 boys (3km), John Schreuder (Westlake Boys) in the junior boys 4km and Rachael Kingstone (St Cuthbert's) in the strong senior girls field of 208 starters over 4km. Pakuranga's Kelsi Patterson finished fourth.
Northern schools fared better in the team races.
Diocesan, headed by Rebecca Burridge, who finished sixth, won both the three- and six-person team's races for Year 9 girls.
Rangitoto College, with Hayley Williams (11th), Pip Brown (27th) and Caitlin Lopes Da Silva (30), took silver in the three-person contest.
Auckland Grammar, despite having no runner in the top six, showed their all-round strength by winning both teams' races in the Year 9 boy's category in which King's College's Thomas Murray finished fourth.
Led home by Matt Morreau's fourth placing in the junior boys, Grammar won the six-person team's title from Tawa, who won the three-person contest.
Kingstone's third placing led St Cuthbert's to bronze medals in both senior girls team races but Auckland schools hardly figured in the 215-strong senior boys race over 6km. Only Rabah Bashir (11th) Zak Hawkins (16th) earned Westlake Boys top-20 placings.
BASKETBALL
With North Harbour bragging rights on the line, the tension was high as Rangitoto hosted Westlake Boys.
It did not take long for the visitors to hit the floor running. Jonathan Legge sunk five three-pointers as Westlake took a handy 25-17 first-quarter lead. Legge was in impressive form, contributing 29 of Westlake's 79 points.
He also played a key defensive role in restricting Rangitoto's shooting guard Scott Campbell to just seven of Rangitoto's 68 points.
Auckland Grammar had a productive week beating Westlake Boys 81-62 in a deferred fixture played as a curtainraiser to the Harbour Heat's home NBL game against the Waikato Pistons. Two days later they beat Avondale 96-70.
Led by Won-Sub Cho, who created numerous turnovers and top-scored with 25 points, Grammar were always in control against Westlake.
Their two wins got them into the top four, equal with Rangitoto and just two behind joint leaders Kelston Boys and Dilworth. Big efforts from Michael Lolesi (21 points) and Zachariah Makavilitogia (19) steered Dilworth to their 97-63 win over Mt Albert Grammar, for whom Kingston Abbott scored a match-high 25 points.
Auckland Girls' Grammar, led by leading scorer Leah Lidgard, reached their century in beating Massey 107-60 in premier girl's action.
The really big scoring came as Northcote posted a record-breaking 180 points in beating Rosehill's 35. Alisi Loti (34) and Stevee-Rose Theyers (32) spearheaded the huge win, which came on the back of 50 defensive steals.
LAWN BOWLS
Top Australian bowler Steve Glasson has no doubt St Peter's College have a star in the making. Glasson, impressed by what he saw during the Auckland team's short visit to New South Wales, fired a parting "Next time I see you mate, it will be on the TV wearing a black shirt" comment to Greg Ruaporo.
The 10 players, Ruaporo, John Tairoa, Cairon MacEllvanna and Jose Hamber (Auckland Grammar), Adam Wishnosk (New Lynn Bowling Club ), Scott Cottrell, Jaimee and Kerryn Etika (Waiheke High) and Angela Muir and Lauren Williams (Botany Downs), underwent an intensive training regime and played five tests in a drawn series.
SOCCER
After having their brave Chatham Cup run halted by Central United at Kiwitea St on Sunday, Kevin Fallon and his Mt Albert Grammar team head east this afternoon to play Macleans College.
Victory for Mt Albert would take them three points clear of Auckland Grammar, who also have a game in hand following the postponement of the eagerly awaited clash with third-placed Westlake Boys.
In the only seventh-round matches played as scheduled, King's used home advantage to edge home 2-1 over St Peter's, moving into fourth place on goal difference over Rangitoto, who beat Avondale by the same score.
TABLE TENNIS
Led by double singles successes for Terry and Steven Zeng, who also combined to win the doubles, Macleans College won the key week seven clash 5-2 over Mt Roskill Grammar, edging to the top of the premier A grade table after round-robin play.
Donglai Li and Brandon Wallace picked up singles wins for Mt Roskill.
Macleans and Auckland Grammar both finished with six wins but Macleans, with 39, topped the table by two games over Grammar, who had the bye. Mt Roskill and St Kentigern are a win back in equal third. Macleans and Auckland Grammar will play off for the winter championship.