College Sport: Too many rowers falling off the pace

Coaches say students love the sport but that it is a win-lose game and very intense. Photo / Getty Images

Demands of code and week-long Maadi Cup regatta thought to contribute to teens avoiding joining clubs.

The Maadi Cup regatta remains one of the most high-profile events on the secondary schools sporting calendar but a closer look at the drop-off rate raises questions about just what part it plays in the status the sport deservedly enjoys.

World and Olympic champion Mahe Drysdale is the exception rather than the rule in that he progressed on to the world stage without coming through the school system.

Nick McMaster, who has coached school crews, with varying degrees of success, in the past, said the high intensity of school rowing was, in the long run, costing rowing clubs members with promising rowers bypassing the clubs and going straight into regional performance centres.

"It is not just rowing that is hit in this way," McMaster said. "In all sports there is a drop-off after boys and girls turn 16. The kids love it when they first come into it but it is very intense and a win-lose game. Only 10 per cent win."

McMaster also says the week-long regatta, held alternately in the North and South Islands, is too long.

"When you look at the research into children in sport very few say they want to win," McMaster said. "Much of that winning desire is parent-driven."

Mike Stanley, re-elected last month for a second four-year term as president of the New Zealand Olympic Committee, a former Olympic rower who is these days closely involved with the rowing programme at Westlake BHS, admits rowing is a tough sport.

"It [school rowing] is much harder now than it was when I was at school," Stanley said. "Some kids get into it without fully understanding what is involved and how hard it is. It is a competition where you have winners and losers but one thing about competitive sport is, as long as it is ethical, you are not going to stop it.

"It is a tricky one," he said, looking at the time commitment involved. "Coaches can be demanding. There is no doubt there is a lot more training now and crews are going faster. There are three or four crews [in boys' eights] capable of going under 5m 50s. There was a time when that was the time premier men would aspire to."

Stanley agrees there needs to be a balance between young men and women's sport, their education and time spent with family and friends.

"It is acknowledged kids are at school primarily to learn. Interestingly, a study in Ireland produced evidence that found rowers achieved better academic results during their rowing season than their contemporaries.

"Rowing 2000m is a fast, hard competitive sport," he said. "But when you compare it with other sports is there much difference? How many boys who start playing rugby in the third form go on to make the first XV but they stick with rugby and play in B teams or social grades."

On the length of the Maadi Cup regatta, Stanley said the only way around that would be to have qualifying regattas, but added that he was not at all convinced that is what the rowers themselves would want, pointing to the popularity of the Maadi Cup as a highlight of the sporting year.

It remains a vexed question and one open to debate but is rowing any different from other sports including swimming and tennis which seem to make equally great demands on our sporting youngsters?

College Sport wrap

League
A late try earned Tangaroa College a 22-16 win over Mt Roskill Grammar School in the College Premier 1st XIII championship match of the day.

Jalen Jackson touched down in the dying minutes to give Tangaroa the victory after one of the most entertaining games of the season in which the lead changed five times.

Tangaroa opened the scoring in the second minute when Junior Lisone barged over from close range, capitalising on a play-the-ball error by the hosts.

MRGS five-eighth Robey Brown was awarded a crucial 40/20 which provided the field position for Filipo Muavae to cross the line. Captain Tualima Tualima's boot ensured the extras were added for a 6-4 lead for the home side.

Before the break, impressive second-rower Mike Uluakiola carried a couple of would-be tacklers with him over the line to give Tangaroa the lead 8-6.

Tangaroa front-rower Lisone was a brick wall in defence, initiating four bone-crunching collisions.

MRGS second-rower Nakala Tuliman produced an off-load to Tualima, who went over untouched. He added the extras to give Mt Roskill hope of a first win of the season with their 12-8 lead.

Minutes later, slick handling down the right edge created space for Tangaroa's interchange player Manase Vaipulu to cross for their third try, which locked the score at 12-12.

Tangaroa then regained the lead with a beautiful flowing movement which started from well inside their own half and ended when Manatu Teisi scored.

Ken Fa'aoso then showed strength to barge over from close in for the hosts, locking it up again. Jackson's late try broke the deadlock.

The win took Tangaroa into second qualifying position in Pool B after MAGS were beaten 24-12 by Papatoetoe HS. MRGS sit one point above Aorere College, who also lost 24-12 to leaders St Paul's.

Netball
MAGS overcame a slow start to storm home 38-20 over St Margarets in the first semifinal of the national televised college championship.

Jamie-Lee Price-led MAGS will now play the winner of the second semifinal, between Baradene and Tu Toa (at Trusts Stadium on Monday night), in the final at Porirua's Te Rauparaha Arena on June 17.

MAGS, who had Holly Fowler and Chiara Semple (from the NZSS team) and Meretini Fuimaono (Aotearoa Maori) selected for the tournament team after the transtasman championship in Rotorua last week, struggled to get the ball down court and errors allowed St Margarets to stay close and within a point (8-7) at the end of the first quarter. Visiting MAGS stretched that lead to 15-12 at halftime.

The second half was all MAGS. They outscored the home team 12-4 in the third quarter as defenders Price and Fowler teamed up with Ashi Ponini at wing defence to repeatedly intercept ball from the St Margaret's attackers.

In the final quarter MAGS outscored their opponents 11-4. In the shooting circle Chiara Semple shot seven from 11 (63 per cent), Meretini Fuimaono six from six and Maia Wilson, named player of the match, 25 from 28 (89 per cent).

Meanwhile, New Zealand Secondary Schools made no race of an eagerly awaited final of the transtasman tournament, claiming the title with a 42-16 win over a spirited Aotearoa Maori side who had great support from the big crowd.

Co-captain Sam Sinclair and Whitney Souness played with patience to ensure safe ball found the hands of goal shoot Maia Wilson and by the end of the first quarter were even more confident with pinpoint-accurate passes from the transverse.

Aotearoa Maori introduced Grace Kukutai at centre in the second quarter and she was successful in creating more movement through court. Kukutai also stuck tighter to Sinclair but it was the stifling defence of Fa'amu Ross (WD), Jamie-Lee Price (GD) and Holly Fowler (GK) that restricted any flow the Aotearoa Maori team gained.

Aotearoa Maori finished strongly with some spectacular defence from Isarena Chan (WD).

Rugby

Auckland
In the only 1A game of the weekend, King's, at home, beat near neighbours Otahuhu College 29-10.

The visitors opened the scoring with a penalty before King's struck back after 15 minutes with a Sam Turner penalty and soon after a try to Jack Sherratt which Turner converted for 10-3. Otahuhu had the final say in the first half, however, as their forwards rumbled over and with a successful conversion the half ended with scores locked 10-10.

Otahuhu squandered a golden opportunity to go into the lead early in the second half before King's swung back on attack and centre Jonah Lowe chased a deft grubber kick before gathering and scoring. Luke Reed converted for 17-10 and then broke clear and scored an excellent individual try. The hosts had the final say when Lowe scored after a series of raids on the Otahuhu line. Reed added the extras to end it 29-10 to King's and a bonus point against a young and very competent Otahuhu XV.

King's are on the road this week to play AGS in the televised fixture.

Waikato
Just a few days after capturing the Moascar Cup from Auckland Grammar School, Hamilton BHS added to their trophy collection by beating Rotorua BHS 47-0 in Hamilton in the final of the Chiefs Cup competition. Hamilton, at home, scored five tries with all converted by their first five-eighths, Bryn Gatland, who also kicked four penalty goals.

Soccer
A mixed bag for the Westlake 1st XI with three matches in a hectic six-day period. Last Wednesday they opened their Knockout Cup campaign with a 10-1 away win over Howick College led by five goals from Moses Dyer including four in the second half. Matt Snelling chipped in with a hat-trick while Go Limwatthana completed the scoring with two second-half goals.

On Saturday they continued their rampant goal-scoring form, beating St Peter's 8-1 away on the artificial pitch for their third win in the opening four rounds of the premier championship. Limwatthana scored the third and last two goals for a well-deserved hat-trick. Captain Denis Kim opened the scoring and Stuart Holthusen made it 2-0 just before halftime and 4-0 early in the second half.

David Browne got one back for the home team with a 73rd minute penalty. Meysum Shafahi stretched Westlake's lead to 5-1 and substitute Snelling made it 6-1 before Thai midfielder Limwatthana added the final touches.

On Monday WBHS were again on the road for a second-round ASB Chatham Cup tie against Papatoetoe. WBHS took a 3-0 lead before halftime but the home team stormed back to level it 3-3. Papatoetoe won the shootout 4-3 to progress.

Meanwhile, MAGS retained their place at the top of the table with a 4-0 home win over Rangitoto.

Goals in the 70th and 80th minutes from Liam Jordan sealed the win for MAGS, who remain unbeaten after four rounds. After dominating the early exchanges but failing to convert, MAGS took the lead in the 24th minute when Monty Patterson gathered a good ball from Jake Porter to score.

Despite their domination, there were some fine saves by goalkeeper Cameron Hogg.

Defending champions Sacred Heart scored their first win of the season, upsetting AGS 2-1 at AGS.

Andy Blake gave the visitors their lead after 16 minutes. Sixteen minutes later Joe Junge smashed home a cracker for 2-0.

St Kentigern continued their unbeaten start with a 3-0 win at Kelston BHS.

College Sport results

BADMINTON
North Harbour
Senior boys A: WBHS 1 8 Orewa 1 0, Rangitoto 1 4 Rosmini 1 4, WBHS 2 5 WBHS 5 3, Birkenhead 1 6 WBHS 3 2.
Senior girls A/B: Orewa 2 8 Albany SHS 3 0, WGHS 1 8 Kristin 4 0, TGS 1 8 Rangitoto 2 0, WGHS 2 8 Kristin 3 0, Orewa 1 8 Pinehurst 2 0, WHGS 3 5 Albany SHS 4 3, WGHS 4 7 Albany SHS 2 1, Carmel 2 7 Birkenhead 2 1, Rangitoto 4 8 Rangitoto 3 0, Carmel 1 8 Kristin 2 0.

HOCKEY
SUPERCITY
Boys A grade, St Kentigern 0 WBHS 0; Kings 4 Macleans 0; AGS 3 MAGS 0; Sacred Heart 2 Avondale 1.
Girls A grade, St Cuthberts 4 MAGS 0; EGGS 4 St Kentigern 0; WGHS1 Diocesan 1; Macleans 1 Avondale 0.

AUCKLAND
Open A boys: Kings 2nd XI 2 KBHS 1st XI 1; AGS 2nd XI 1 Botany Downs 1st XI 1.
Open A girls: Pakuranga 1st XI 7 Kings 1st XI 0; Diocesan 2nd XI 4 Botany Downs 1st XI 2; MRGS 1st XI 1 St Mary's 1st XI 1.
Open B boys: Lynfield 1st XI 2 One Tree Hill 1st XI 0; MRGS 1st XI 7 Macleans 2nd XI 0; Henderson 1st XI 1 St Kentigern 2nd XI 0.
Open B girls: Baradene 2nd XI 1 Macleans 2nd XI 0; EGGS 2nd XI 2 Lynfield 1st XI 0; Glendowie 1st XI 5 St Cuthberts 3rd XI 0.
Open C boys East: Howick 1st XI 6 Aorere 1st XI 2; Glendowie 1st XI 8 AGS 3rd XI 0; Kings 3rd XI 2 Pakuranga 2nd XI 0. Central/West: Dilworth 1st XI 3 Parnell 1st XI 3; MAGS 2nd XI 6 MRGS 2nd XI 0; Rutherford 1st XI 6 Western Springs 1st XI 0.
Open C girls Central: Diocesan 3 6 MAGS 3rd XI 1; St Cuthberts 5 default to Western Springs 1. East: Howick 10 Kings 0; St Cuthberts 4 3 Papatoetoe 2. West: Henderson 3 KGHS 1.
Open D boys, section one: Kings 4 default to Aorere 2; Macleans 3 2 Sancta Maria 2. Section two: AGS 4th XI 4 Lynfield 2 2; Sacred Heart 2 8 Waitakere 0.
Open D girls East: St Kentigern 3 1 Pakuranga 2 0. South/Central: One Tree Hill 1 St Kentigern 2 0; McAuley 11 EGGS 4 0; Otahuhu 5 Selwyn 0.
Under-15 boys grading, St Peter's 4 St Kentigern 2 0. Kings 1 7 MAGS Jnr A 0; Pakuranga 1 Sacred Heart 1. Avondale 2 KBHS 2; Lynfield 5 Liston 0. Botany Downs 3 Macleans 2; Sancta Maria 9 St Kentigern 1 1. AGS Blue 6 Kings 2 0. MRGS 7 AGS Gold 1; Sacred Heart 1 Pakuranga 1.
Under-15 girls grading: Diocesan 1 10 Baradene 2 0; St Cuthberts 3 2 Lynfield 2. MRGS 4 MAGS Jnr A 0. EGGS 1 4 Diocesan 3 0; MAGS Jnr B 4 St Cuthberts 2 0. Baradene 1 8 Howick 0; Saint Kentigern 1 5 Otahuhu 0. Macleans 6 Botany Downs 0; Saint Kentigern 2 default to Sancta Maria. Diocesan 2 0 EGGS 2 0; St Cuthberts 1 8 St Marys 0.
8 a-side open: Henderson 1 7 Marist 2; One Tree Hill White 4 EGGS 0; McAuley 6 Ormiston 0; One Tree Hill Navy 15 Papatoetoe 0.


NETBALL
TRANSTASMAN SS TOURNAMENT
(Rotorua)
Semifinals: NZSS 36 Bukit Jalil Sport School, Malaysia 28; Aotearoa Maori 26 School Sport Australia 28.
Final: NZSS 42 Aotearoa Maori 16.
3rd-4th: School Sport Australia 35 Bukit Jalil Sport School Malaysia 21.
5th-6th: Pacific Rim 37 Pasifika 18.
7th-8th: Fiji 32 NZ Area Schools 18.
9th-10th: Indigenous School Sport Australia 40 Samoa 16.
Tournament team: Libby Birch, Rebecca Winch (School Sport Australia), Charlie Dawn-Blake (NZ Area Schools), Kate Burley, Meretini Fuimaono, Micaela Sokolich-Beatson, Renee Te Riini (Aotearoa Maori), Steph Collins (Pacific Rim), Holly Fowler, Chiara Semple, Sam Sinclair, Whitney Souness (NZ Secondary Schools), Olivia Hogarth (Samoa), Tjarra Kilpatrick (Indigenous School Sport Australia), Leba Korovau (Pasifika), Siti Nor Farhana Mustafa, Izyan Syazana Mohd Wazir (Bukit Jalil Sport School Malaysia), Ana Maria Naimasi (Fiji).

National televised series.-
Semifinal one, MAGS 38 St Margarets 20.
COUNTIES/MANUKAU
Premier: Alfriston 1 56 TKM Nga Tapuwae 9; Papatoetoe 25 Aorere 23; Tuakau 31 Wesley 18; Papakura 23 Manurewa 21; Rosehill 43 Sir Edmund Hillary 3.


RUGBY
AUCKLAND
1A: Kings 29 Otahuhu 10.

COUNTIES MANUKAU
Chiefs Trophy: Thames HS 18 Pukekohe 8, Trident HS 41 Rosehill 10.

NORTH HARBOUR
1A.-
TGS 44 Rangitoto 5, Rosmini 53 Birkenhead 3, Massey 25 Orewa 17.
Points: TGS 17, WBHS 13, Rosmini 12, Massey 11, Orewa 9, Birkenhead, Rangitoto 6, Mahurangi 0.

WAIKATO

Hamilton Boys HS 47 (Ruakawa Neems 2, Caleb Korteweg, Jarrod Gwynne, Mikaere Beattie tries; Bryn Gatland 4 pen, 5 con) Rotorua Boys HS 0.

SOCCER
Auckland, premier: AGS 1 Sacred Heart 2, St Peters 1 WBHS 8, MAGS 4 Rangitoto 0, KBHS 0 St Kentigern 3.

MAGS 4 3 1 0 12 3 10
WBHS 4 3 0 1 15 6 9
St Kentigern 4 2 2 0 14 5 8
AGS 4 2 1 1 11 8 7
KBHS 4 1 0 3 6 12 3
Rangitoto 4 1 0 3 4 10 3
Sacred Heart 4 1 0 3 3 11 3
St Peters 4 1 0 3 6 16 3

Senior A1: Glendowie 4 TGS 2, Papatoetoe 2 Liston 4, Kings 0 Macleans 5, Kristin 2 Rosmini 1.
Glendowie 4 4 0 0 16 5 12
Macleans 4 3 1 0 16 3 10
Liston 4 2 2 0 11 6 8
Kristin 4 2 1 1 6 7 7
Kings 4 2 0 2 14 8 6
Rosmini 4 1 0 3 6 10 3
Papatoetoe 4 0 0 4 5 17 0
TGS 4 0 0 4 2 20 0

Senior A2: Avondale 0 Onehunga HS 3, MRGS 1Pakuranga 3, Northcote 1Long Bay 2, One Tree Hill 0 Botany Downs 3.
Onehunga 4 4 0 0 11 3 12
Avondale 4 3 0 1 10 7 9
Long Bay 4 3 0 1 9 6 9
Northcote 4 2 0 2 7 5 6
Pakuranga 4 2 0 2 7 6 6
Botany Downs 4 1 0 3 5 8 3
MRGS 4 0 1 3 4 10 1
One Tree Hill 4 0 1 3 4 12 1

Senior A3: Glenfield 1 Waitakere 7, Howick 1 Western Springs 1, Rutherford 7 Lynfield 1, Albany Senior High 7 Whangaparaoa 0.
Western Springs 4 3 1 0 12 4 10
Albany Senior HS 4 3 0 1 20 6 9
Rutherford 3 3 0 0 15 6 9
Howick 4 1 1 2 8 7 4
Waitakere 3 1 1 1 11 11 4
Lynfield 4 1 1 2 5 11 4
Whangaparaoa 4 1 0 3 8 13 3
Glenfield 4 0 0 4 3 24 0

Senior A4: Parnell College v KingsWay postponed (to be played July 1), Selwyn v Dilworth postponed (to be played June 11), Pinehurst 1 Massey HS 6, Sancta Maria 7 Auckland International College 1, Green Bay 5 Marcellin 2.
Massey High 4 3 1 0 15 4 10
Parnell College 3 3 0 0 13 0 9
Green Bay HS 4 3 0 1 15 8 9
KingsWay 3 2 1 0 15 4 7
Selwyn 3 2 0 1 8 6 6
Dilworth 3 2 0 1 8 7 6
Sancta Maria 4 1 0 3 9 11 3
Pinehurst 4 1 0 3 7 20 3
Marcellin 4 0 0 4 6 18 0
Akld Intl 4 0 0 4 2 20 0

AUCKLAND GIRLS
Premier one (under-19), EGGS 3 Avondale 0; Massey 2 Botany Downs 1; Rangitoto 9 WGHS 1; TGS 1 St Kentigern 1; Diocesan 5 Marist 1, Whangaparaoa 0 MAGS 5.
Premier two, Baradene 1 Long Bay 1; Glendowie 5 Northcote 0; St Dominics 2 St Cuthberts 2; Green Bay 1 Lynfield 0.
Premier Junior A one (under-15), EGGS 3 Diocesan 0; St Marys 2 St Kentigern 0; St Cuthberts 7 WGHS 3; Rangitoto 8 Western Springs 0.
Premier Junior A two, Baradene 3rd XI 1 MAGS Develop 0; Baradene 5th XI 6 Diocesan Develop 0; Albany Junior High 4 Rutherford 0; St Cuthberts Develop 1 Botany Downs 0.