College sport: Success in overseas tennis, national rugby

By DAVE WORSLEY


St Cuthbert's Shona Lee has won three qualifying rounds at the US$25,000 ($37,500) Canberra Challenger. It was the first major senior overseas tennis event for the Year 11 student, who has just turned 16.

She will now play in her first main draw singles match at challenger level at midday, facing Australian Lisa D'amelio, ranked 566th in the world. D'amelio beat Lee at the US$10,000 ($15,000) Wellington Futures event in February.

Lee needs to play in one more senior international event to gain her first World Tennis Association world senior ranking.

Lee won her first two qualifying rounds, beating Australians Anna Thyshing 6-0 6-2 and Danielle Kypreos 6-3, 6-3 before accounting for Michelle Brycki 0-6 6-3 7-5.

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Rugby - The 22-22 draw between Wesley College and Christchurch Boys' High in the secondary schools rugby final left a sour note in the mouths of some supporters, players and officials.

The draw meant the schools shared the title of best rugby school, but the Moascar Cup was what Wesley really wanted.

The cup is the schools equivalent of the Ranfurly Shield and rarely changes hands more than once or twice a season.

According to the rules, no extra time is allowed in the final, disappointing both teams and meaning the cup remains with Christchurch over the summer.

Three Christchurch players and one Wesley player were away in Fiji with the New Zealand secondary schools team.

Wesley have a tradition of claiming the national title. This is the fifth time for the college in six final appearances, and it is now the most successful school in the first XV national competition.

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Netball - Early matches suggest the national secondary schools championships in Timaru will be a tight contest.

The 12-team tournament features several players who took part in last week's NPC.

Reigning champions Hillcrest High from Hamilton boast a line-up including shooter Evelyn Horomia, who played for Waikato. The Verdon College team is coached by Sting boss Robyn Broughton, while the Mt Albert Grammar School team is coached by NZ under-21 coach Te Aroha Keenan.

Mt Albert Grammar's star shooter, Maria Tutaia, was recently invited to the national squads camp in Queenstown, where she trained alongside Silver Ferns.

Over the weekend she and Auckland Girls Grammar defender Katrina Grant were named in the NZ under-21 squad for next year's World Youth Champs.

Auckland Girls have been in the tournament final eight times, a record for the event.

Early matches had local school Roncalli College winning against Verdon College 20-19 in their first match in their first national event.

Mt Albert Grammar won narrowly over Rangi Ruru 23-21 and Auckland Girls had a big win over Lincoln High 44-24.

Massey have given champs Hillcrest a first-up loss by scoring a 26-21 victory in round one.