College sport: Top girl difficult to select

By JENNI RUTHERFORD

Judges of the young sportsperson of the year awards are still scratching their heads over who they will name as the top girl in the region, with two weeks left before the prizegiving.

While the boys' premier award has been decided, there are five girls of much the same high calibre who are proving to be a headache for the judges.

"The girls' [award] is really difficult to choose," said College Sport executive director Rob Boston. "The standard is particularly high, with all of them competing at the highest level."

One hundred and sixty finalists from 87 schools will have to wait until the ceremony at Eden Park on November 17 to find out the winners.

More than 300 nominees from the region's schools are ranked by the national sporting bodies, with a maxium of five boys and girls making the final vote.

New Zealand hockey chief executive Ramesh Patel rated the hockey players, while Silver Ferns coach Yvonne Willering judged the netballers.

The winners of each sport were then graded by a teacher committee for the overall awards.

The talent around the region is healthy, according to Boston, and he sounds almost pleased that the decision will be difficult for the top awards.

"The Auckland region has at least 10 schools with national team titles," he said.

Among the finalists are young Olympians and those beginning their international careers.

Takapuna Grammar swimmer Monique Robins, sprinter April Brough (Cascade Christian College), New Zealand cricket representative Munokoa Tunupopo (Onehunga High School), Auckland Grammar's tennis star Simon Rea, Dylan Mordaunt, NZ secondary schools cross-country champion (Sacred Heart College) and Saone Tonga'uiha'a, who helped St Peter's College to win the national rugby title, are included in the line-up.

As part of the awards' 10th anniversary, past winners will be on hand to present some of the individual prizes and overall awards.

Among those attending are Auckland Olympians Beatrice Faumuina, Scott Talbot-Cameron, who won the boys' overall title in 1998 and 1999, and New Zealand hockey player Ryan Archibald.

WATERPOLO

Auckland schools left the competition in their wake at the North Island secondary schools junior tournament last week, taking out the top three spots in the boys' and girls' championships.

Auckland Grammar School were too strong for Rangitoto College, defeating them 4-2 in the boys' final, held in Auckland. Unbeaten throughout the tournament, the Grammar team won the championship for the first time, after finishing in second place on eight previous occasions.

Rosmini College performed well, defeating Westlake Boys' High School to take third place.

Avondale College lived up to their billing as top seeds to win the girls' championship with a 2-0 win over Epsom Girls' Grammar in the final.

A much-improved Westlake Girls' High School team had to go to extra time in the playoff for third against Sacred Heart College, Lower Hutt.

They scored in the dying seconds to take the bronze medal with a 6-5 win.

VOLLEYBALL

Westlake Boys' High School and Avondale High School's girls team are favourites for the Auckland qualifying tournament to decide who will represent the region at North Island junior championships on November 24.

The top three girls and boys teams will qualify for the North Island tournament.

The boys' competition promises some close calls, with the top five teams all within striking distance of the Auckland title.

Westlake, Hillary College, Auckland Grammar, Kelston Boys' High and Aorere College will be vying for the three spots.

This week. -

* Today: Auckland: premier girls cricket.

Southern zone junior girls, central zone junior girls and boys softball.

North Harbour: junior boys and girls volleyball.

* Tomorrow: Auckland: junior volleyball championships 9-11 November, girls play at Avondale College, boys at Unitech Stadium, intermediate and junior girls cricket.

North Harbour: junior girls softball.

* Saturday: Auckland and North Harbour boys cricket.

* Monday: Southern zone junior boys softball.

* Tuesday: Auckland: junior touch rugby.