College sport: Table-topping teams brought to their knees

File photo / Steven McNicholl

Embarrassing losses for the top dogs of Auckland secondary schools soccer have added spice to the premier league and Knockout Cup competitions.

Mt Albert Grammar's season-long unbeaten record ended when Rangitoto upset them 3-2 at home and Auckland Grammar had their run in the KO Cup cut short when mid-table Glendowie College upended them 2-1.

MAGS took command when goalkeeper Patrick George booted home from the penalty spot in the seventh minute after Alex Risdale was brought down.

But after that, there was no scoring action until the 62nd minute when Rangitoto scored from a dubious corner to lock it up.

Within minutes the home side were back in front when Risdale scored. Again the visitors hit back with a stinging volley from Nicolai Berry with 22 minutes to play.

Rangitoto cashed in when Arus Sem was robbed of a ball on the MAGS left flank. It was played quickly forward to Mitch Cairn who struck a wonderful 40m shot which caught the out-of-position George by surprise.

Across town, AGS went some way to redeeming themselves after their poor midweek performance by beating St Kentigern 2-1.

AGS too got away to a flying start courtesy of a penalty - won by Rory Turner - which Simon Stafford-Bush converted.

The home team doubled their lead in the 23rd minute when a calamitous defensive error allowed Turner the simplest of volleys into the empty St Kentigern goal.

In the second half a fired-up St Kentigern side deservedly found the back of the net in the 57th minute.

But AGS held on to move three points clear of their rivals in consolidating second place on the points table.

Sacred Heart travelled to play St Peters with the home side keen to win back the coveted Patrick Dunn Challenge Trophy (the Catholic Cup).

Around the half-hour mark the game was sparked into life by a goal from the hosts following a run straight through the Sacred Heart midfield.

The setback spurred the visitors and a magnificent 20m effort from Mario Ilich - his debut goal for Sacred Heart - levelled the score five minutes before half time.

With 20 minutes to play, Sacred Heart's Jordan Roberts nodded down a Ben Thomas freekick to Ilich who bagged his second.

Thomas provided the assist for Luke Bulay who too scored his first goal for the team to seal the victory.

HOCKEY

Pukekohe hit the turf running to open their grade one boy's inter-city campaign with a 2-1 win over Macleans.

Pukekohe captain Janardin Bhana scored early in the second half and this was followed up by a well-constructed Kieran Soma goal. Macleans scored late in the second half.

In girls' action, Diocesan over-powered WGHS 5-0 with Danielle Sutherland leading the charge with two goals. Georgeia Gourdie, Frances Steel, Sarah Adam added one each.

A tight contest between local rivals Pukekohe and Rosehill ended 2-2 with Rosehill needing a late goal from a penalty corner to snatch a point after Kelsi Walters scored twice for Pukekohe.

That game doubled as the Counties Manukau decider which eventually went to Rosehill who won 3-1 on penalty strokes thanks to some great saves by goalkeeper Elly Moody.

Goals from Elizabeth Thompson and Olivia Jackson steered St Cuthberts to their 2-0 win over Rangitoto while Carmel beat MAGS by the same score with Victoria Taylor and Alex Conway scoring.

NETBALL

AUCKLAND

Young players stood out as MAGS beat St Kentigern 43-30 in the last round of premier pool play at the Auckland Netball Centre.

The clash of the previously unbeaten teams was the feature of the round
and MAGS were only two goals ahead at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter was won by St Kentigern but in the final quarter MAGS reapplied the pressure and won by 13 points.

NORTH HARBOUR

In a tit-for-tat battle Kristin eventually sneaked home 25-23 over Carmel.

Carmel won the first quarter by one goal and the second 13-10.

In an all-action fourth quarter Carmel allowed Kristin to get ahead by two goals before charging back to regain the advantage.

RUGBY

AUCKLAND

A rare draw has done little for King's and MAGS in their chase for 1A honours.

The perennial rivals met at MAGS in a keenly anticipated contest which ended 26-26 after an even rarer conversion charge down which cost the home team a deserved victory.

King's were kept in the contest by the boot of Simon Hickey who kicked six from seven as the home team scored four tries (Pele Cowley, Shaun Devine, Louis Devery, Jarrod McAlister-Poi) to two (Ngataua Hukatai, Kevin Fuavao).

With their 30-3 home win over De La Salle, St Kentigern retained their lead - on goal difference - from Sacred Heart who beat Tamaki 34-12. Both have 7-1 records to lead King's (who have played one extra game) by two points with KBHS a further two back.

Elsewhere St Peters reversed a string of narrow losses to score their second win of the season - a hard fought 22-13 effort against Onehunga.

NORTH HARBOUR

Revenge was on the minds of the WBHS 1st XV when they travelled to Takapuna Grammar.

A fortnight earlier, TGS emerged shock 12-10 victors.

But Westlake convincingly won this game 33-0 with halfback Brady Page providing plenty of points.

In the other 1A fixtures, Rosmini thrashed hapless Rangitoto 75-0 and Massey survived a close call at Warkworth to beat Mahurangi 12-8.

In the 1B second round, Glenfield beat Kaipara 39-29, Whangaparaoa edged their more fancied neighbours Orewa 7-0 and Northcote held out against Long Bay 15-11.

In the 1C division, Albany 1st XV, Westlake 2nd XV and Massey 2nd XV have joined Kristin, Birkenhead, Hato Petera and Kingsway. Toby Hurley