College sport: Star-making programme reaping results

Bianca Barbarich-Bacher (left) and Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick are standout athletes at St Cuthberts. Photo / Natalie Slade

On paper it looks innocent enough, but at St Cuthbert's College, 13SM is, as the school's elite sports class, something special.

Already Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick, selected in the New Zealand SS netball team, and world yachting champion Bianca Barbarich-Bacher, recognised earlier this year as one of the New Zealand Herald's Future Stars, have emerged from the class as young sportswomen in a hurry.

But it is not all sport for those selected to take part in the programme. The class has been created to not only support the school's top athletes but to balance their academic studies with the demands of training and competing in their chosen sporting codes.

The aim of the programme is to promote dual goals of high academic achievement alongside high sporting results, to provide the selected students with alternative pathways should a professional career in sport not eventuate.

There is a two-fold approach.

Their form teacher Margaret Smilde supports students in their academic studies while dIrector of sport Paul Monney seeks to provide support and guidance for their development as high-performing athletes.

Smilde liaises with individual subject teachers to ensure students are on track to achieve their academic goals and also to inform them when students will be away from the classroom to attend competitions, training programmes or tournaments. She also helps the students in planning for absences from school and in providing guidance on how to catch up on work missed.

The sports department organises an enrichment programme for students in terms two and three, involving outside speakers who conduct workshops identifying sporting situations including goal setting, nutrition, coping with stress, dealing with media, time management, sports psychology and motivation and dealing with success and failure.

It is a vertical form class which accommodates students from different years.

They get to not only interact among themselves but have the opportunity to hear how sporting organisations are run and compare differences in expectations/standards to their own sporting body.

While the programme is similar to other academies in that students miss some classes and/or may have a reduced programme of academic study the St Cuthbert's programme differs in that students are invited in to the programme on a case-by-case basis, meaning not all high-performing athletes choose to be part of the programme.

Among the aims of the programme are to support the individual athlete to succeed academically and in the sporting arena whereas other academies aim to produce high-performing teams that bring kudos to their school.

At St Cuthberts some students attend coaching during the school day or arrive late after morning training.

These are student-specific coaching or training sessions that are taken independently of the college programme.

BASKETBALL

Home court advantage was not enough to get AGS home in a keenly fought second-round premier boys' match with long-time rivals WBHS.

The visitors eventually prevailed 83-78 after some thrilling play in the third and fourth quarters in which crucial three-point shots added to the excitement.

WBHS shot out to a handy lead in the third quarter as Jordy Jamieson sank four three-pointers but AGS fought back in the final quarter to close the gap to three points.

The hosts lost their chance in that period when they gave up too many fouls.

Jamieson (18) led the scoring for WBHS while Matt Loulanting scored 25 for the home team.

Onehunga began strongly against Dilworth but in the end Dilworth, led by great defensive play from Ryan Dwyer and a 21-point haul from Ethan King, drew away to win 76-63, despite a game-high 25 points from Onehunga's Shea Ili.

Rangitoto College had a dream start to the new season with both premier teams making the most of home court advantage to score decisive victories.

The girls scored a convincing 101-37 win over Massey HS while the boys had a much tougher contest against a strong KBHS team who took the early lead and led by four points at halftime.

Strong three-point shooting by Cory Tagaloa kept Rangitoto at bay until late in the fourth quarter when they clawed their way back to tie up the game at the end of regulation at 62-62, with some determined driving to the hoop by MVP Niko Noel and top point-scorer Isaac Fotu who tallied 30 points.

Rangitoto went on to win by six points.

History was created in the first round on Friday night when the Kristin School girls played their first premier league match.

After dominating the North Harbour competition for the past two seasons, they won the right to play in the premiers for the first time by beating Northcote 77-60 in the March promotion/relegation play-off.

It was a tough introduction for Kristin as they were pitted against the tough Avondale College team who proved too strong, winning 86-73, with Te Oramae Solomon the dominant player.

FACILITY BOOST

Already one of New Zealand's top sporting schools, Diocesan School for Girls is to further bolster their already excellent facilities with a multi-purpose, all-weather sports turf.

The competition-quality, wet-dressed turf will be used for hockey and other sports, including tennis and netball at the Epsom independent school which boasts two of New Zealand's top-ranked hockey teams.

Last year the Diocesan first hockey XI won the top-rated Federation Cup and their second XI the Chris Arthur Cup.

Work on the turf, which will include an underground 206-vehicle car park, a tiered spectator gallery for 280 spectators, changing rooms, a sheltered bus bay and night lighting, is scheduled to begin in early December.

The new facility - the second stage of a master plan to create more space for sports and recreation at the school - is scheduled to open at the start of the 2012 school year.

Stage one was the state-of-the-art aquatic centre which opened in February last year and includes the only school pool in New Zealand with a moveable floor.

As well as that 25m x 20m pool, designed for various codes including water polo, flippa ball and underwater hockey as well as beginner swimmers, the centre has a learner pool, a physical education classroom, a purpose-built fitness centre and a tiered 380-seat spectator gallery.

School principal Heather McRae said the multi-purpose turf is part of a long-term focus on developing the school's already excellent sporting, cultural and academic facilities.

"Diocesan has a rich history of achievement in a range of sporting codes and the multi-purpose turf will help the school build on its culture of sporting excellence," said Ms McRae.

"The turf will provide a much needed facility for competitions at local, regional and national level, providing an asset to the wider educational community as a whole."

RUGBY

MAGS shrugged off the added distraction of playing in front of the television cameras and the disadvantage of playing away from home to beat arch rivals AGS 34-10 in another keenly fought battle.

The win reversed last year's result for MAGS who went on to claim the Auckland title.

In kicking one of three early penalties, Albert Nikoro gave MAGS a 3-0 lead which soon became 8-0 when they crashed over for their first try.

The momentum was maintained and by halftime, that lead had stretched to 15-0 when Jarrod McAlister-Poi scored a brilliant try which was converted by Matt McGahan.

Playing into the wind in the second half, the visitors continued to apply the pressure, leading to a third try when Nikoro crossed.

He converted for a 22-0 lead which soon became 29-0 when Alex Hodgeman capped a great series of moves to score a try which McGahan converted.

But even then the hosts refused to give up and were duly rewarded with two unconverted tries to close the gap to 29-10 before McGahan ended the match with another well-crafted try.

KBHS scored their second win in as many outings but not without a battle royal at Sacred Heart.

Trailing 0-3 at the break, KBHS eventually got home 18-9 with three unconverted second-half tries to Junior Tofa Va'a, Tony Nanai and Taylor Adams.

Sacred Heart increased their lead to 6-0 early in the second half with a second penalty before the visitors bounced back when Adams took a quick tap and went over to score.

A blindside move resulting in a 60m try for Va'a put KBHS in front for the first time and they held on to win but failed to score the bonus point fourth try.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry is going back to school today but this time not to watch the Kelston Boys' High School first XV he once coached in action.

As part of an initiative to promote sport and raise interest among promising young sporting stars, Henry will speak to 20-25 invited budding Year Eight sportsmen from neighbouring intermediate schools with the best of the best from Rangeview, Kelston, Glen Eden, Bruce McLaren and Blockhouse Bay schools being hosted.

After Henry's introductory welcome in the KBHS auditorium, the young stars will the take part in a series of coaching clinics for rugby, soccer, basketball and hockey run by the school's elite students and other prominent national sportsmen.

SOCCER

Despite reservations they might not be up to the standard of recent seasons, defending premiers MAGS opened their 2010 campaign with a no-frills 5-0 win over Kings College.

MAGS led by a solitary Faitalia Hamilton goal at halftime but poured on the second-half pressure to win comfortably on the back of a man-of-the-match performance from Jordan Vale who had just returned from trials at Birmingham City.

There was good and bad news for AGS in their second game of the season after winning first-up midweek over newcomers Kristin.

After leading 1-0 over Sacred Heart at halftime, AGS went on to win 4-1 with Josh Anthony scoring twice and winning a penalty.

The bad news came inside the opening 30 minutes when captain Josh Morrison went down in a challenge and was taken from the field with a broken leg.

St Peters scored their first away win over WBHS in 10 years with a gutsy 4-3 come-from-behind triumph.

The home side dominated the opening 30 minutes and were rewarded with two well-taken goals. St Peters closed the gap before the break when Ethan Galbraith slotted a penalty.

St Peters then took the game away from WBHS with three goals in quick succession - two for star striker Nathaniel Hailmariain and a second Galbraith penalty to claim the points.

COMING UP

TODAY: Badminton, North Harbour senior A girls (4pm), WGHS 1 v Carmel 2, WGHS 7 v Long Bay 1, Kristin 3 v Rangitoto 1, Albany SH 2 v Northcote 1, Kristin 4 v Carmel 1, WGHS 5 v Glenfield 1, Kristin 1 v Carmel 3, TGS 1 v Northcote 3, Kristin 2 WGHS 2, WGHS 6 v Birkenhead 1.

Hockey, North Harbour, grade one boys (all Crown Relocations Stadium), Long Bay v WBHS 2nd X1 5pm, Kristin v Massey HS 5pm, WBHS 1st X1 v TGS 6pm, Rangitoto v Rosmini 6pm.

League, Auckland SS (4pm, home team first), University Shield 1st X111, pool A, Papakura v Otahuhu, James Cook v Southern Cross, Manurewa v Mangere, Hillary v Aorere. Pool B, Massey v St Pauls, One Tree Hill v MAGS, Papatoetoe v KBHS, Avondale. College A (under-85kg), Aorere v Tamaki, Alfresco v St Pauls, MRGS v Lynfield, Southern Cross v Auckland 7th Day Adventist. Under-15 9-side, Howick v Hillary A, Papatoetoe v Manurewa, Hillary B v Aorere B, Aorere A bye.

Soccer, Auckland SS girls (4pm, home team first), premier one, Glendowie v St Kentigern, MAGS v Marist, Avondale v EGGS, Diocesan bye. Premier two, AGGS v Rutherford, Cox's Bay, EGGS 2 v St Cuthberts, Massey HS v Baradene. North Harbour premier girls, Carmel v Whangaparaoa, Rangitoto v TGS, WGHS v Northcote. Counties Manukau premier girls, Manurewa v Pakuranga, Pukekohe v Rosehill, Macleans v Papatoetoe, Sancta Maria v Howick, Alfriston bye.

TOMORROW: Hockey, Auckland Open A girls, EGGS v St Cuthberts, St Cuthberts, Baradene v Diocesan 1st X1, AGS, MAGS v Kings, Kings, Diocesan 2nd X1 v St Kentigern, Lloyd Elsmore Park, Macleans bye.

Lacrosse, Auckland SS girls (4pm, home team first), Diocesan v WGHS, MAGS v EGGS, Whangaparaoa v Avondale, AGGS bye.

League, Auckland girls (13-aside), 4pm (home team first), James Cook v Tamaki, Manurewa v McAuley, Hillary v Mangere.

Multisport, Auckland SS duathlon, St Kentigern.

FRIDAY: Basketball, premier girls (6pm), Diocesan v Rangitoto, Diocesan, AGGS v Kristin, Jordan Centre, Massey v St Cuthberts, KBHS, MAGS v Avondale, MAGS. Premier boys (7.30pm), Dilworth v Rangitoto, Diocesan, Onehunga v WBHS, Jordan centre, KBHS v AGS, KBHS, MAGS v Avondale, MAGS.

Squash, premier girls (4pm), Glenfield v Kings, Eden Epsom SC, MAGS v EGGS, MAGS, Diocesan bye. Premier boys (4pm), division one, Glendowie v Kings, Kings, MAGS v AGS, AGS, WBHS v Sacred Heart, Remuera SC. Division two, Glenfield v Onehunga, Unitec 1, Orewa v AGS 2, Unitec 3, TGS v St Kentigern, St Kentigern.

SATURDAY: Rugby, Auckland 1st XV 1A (2.30pm, home team first), Aorere v De La Salle, KBHS v AGS, Kings v Otahuhu, Sacred Heart v St Kentigern, St Peters v MAGS, Tangaroa v Tamaki. 1B (noon), pool one, Dilworth v Avondale, Edgewater v St Pauls, Marcellin v Hillary, Papatoetoe v One Tree Hill. Pool two, Botany Downs v Mangere, Liston v Onehunga, Macleans v Waitakere, MRGS v Howick. North Harbour 1A (noon), TGS v WBHS, Orewa v Rangitoto, Mahurangi v Massey HS, Rosmini bye.

Soccer, Auckland premier (noon, home team first), MAGS v St Peters, WBHS v AGS, Sacred Heart v Kristin, Rangitoto v Kings. Senior A1 (noon), Macleans v Northcote, St Kentigern v KBHS, Avondale v Liston, Onehunga v Glendowie. A2 (10am), Massey v TGS, Long Bay v Pakuranga, Rosmini v MRGS, Papatoetoe v Glenfield. A3, Howick v One Tree Hill, Lynfield v Selwyn, Green Bay v Whangaparaoa, Rutherford v Botany Downs. A4, Otahuhu v Waitakere, Sancta Maria v Henderson, Dilworth v Mahurangi, Birkenhead v Parnell.

SUNDAY: Avanti Auckland SS time trials, round one, Teal Park 6.30am.

MONDAY: Badminton, North Harbour senior A boys (4pm), Glenfield 1 v WBHS 2, WBHS 1 v Rosmini, TGS v Birkenhead, WBHS 4 v Rangitoto 2, WBHS 3 v Albany SH.

Golf, Auckland Regional Strokeplay, Howick GC.

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