College sport: Unbeaten MAGS top after King's thriller

Three of the usual suspects have sorted themselves out at the top of the table in the Senior A1 soccer race with unbeaten MAGS a point clear of WBHS and three ahead of rivals AGS.

King's hold fourth but have had an up-and-down season - they won against AGS but lost to MAGS in Saturday's seven-goal thriller.

The game began at a lively pace with home team MAGS needing just 12 minutes to take the lead. Conrad Poi left-footed his shot past King's goalkeeper Andrew Grant.

But any thoughts it would be a one-sided affair were dashed when MAGS goalkeeper Patrick George was caught off his line and Campbell Kerr beat him from 25 metres. King's captain Thomas Spragg then scored for 2-1 just before halftime. A Caleb Duncan penalty two minutes into the second half levelled the scores and MAGS soon pulled ahead when Dakota Lucas scored. His second had MAGS 4-2 ahead, but the last say was with the visitors when Spragg brought the score to 4-3.

AGS and WBHS won by two goals away from home while St Peter's picked up the other win with the day's biggest margin - 4-0 at Rangitoto.

BASKETBALL

Westlake BHS took an early lead over Dilworth and were up by 23 points going into halftime. But then Dilworth outplayed Westlake, cutting the lead to only 10 points at the end of the third. Westlake woke up in the last quarter and took the game 89-63. Westlake's Wade Brownlee put in a strong performance and top-scored with 20 points while top scorer for Dilworth was Michael Lolesi with 14 points.

The clash between Rangitoto College and Kelston BHS proved to be a close encounter. Rangitoto got off to a good start, but Kelston played solid defence and Kendal Davey and Chris Fahrenson made long-range three-pointers to keep the game close. At the half Kelston had a three-point lead. In the third quarter Rangitoto's Aaron Young (MVP) made quick steals and went on to notch up 19 points. At the end of the third Rangitoto were ahead by six points. Kelston closed within one in the final five minutes but Rangitoto closed 72-66.

RUGBY

NORTH HARBOUR

Massey continued to shine in the 1A championship race with a 25-15 win over gutsy WBHS.

Top games from Sam Aolele, Troy Stirling, Mark Petera Sepu, Sam Nuia and Joe Setefano laid the foundation. Nuia and Aolele were rewarded with tries and Maaka Mana'atu and Tamihana Nau also scored. Stirling added a conversion and a penalty. Sam Quinn and Jacob Botica scored tries for WBHS and Dylan Ferriera kicked a drop goal and a conversion.

After leading 21-0 at halftime, Rosmini could only add seven points in the second half as they beat Orewa 28-0. Josh Sabin continued his good form by scoring two tries. Lock Jack Whetton galloped 50 metres to score in the dying seconds of the first half and Rodrigo Costa also crossed. Gareth Anscombe added four conversions.

TGS turned in their best effort of the season to beat Rangitoto 27-7 after leading 17-0 at the break. TGS made certain of a bonus point by scoring five tries - William Godfrey, Jamie Mickleson, Gerard Russel, Conor McMahon and Ben Blucher all dotted down. Blucher added a conversion.

Mahurangi edged home 13-11 over Northcote in a game that could have gone either way. Mahurangi prop Raymond Beamish was rewarded for his outstanding game with two tries and Brad Moka added a penalty. Northcote hooker Sione Folau and prop Dylan Heesch were outstanding and Heesch bagged a try for his efforts. David Halausia kicked two penalties.

Birkenhead won bragging rights over Glenfield in their 1B encounter winning 28-5 - their first win of the season.

UNDERWATER HOCKEY

There were no real surprises in the girls' grades and junior open grade at the Northern Schools championships.

In the junior open Howick College won 3-1 over MAGS' A-team. Third came Glendowie College who scraped in 3-2 over Otumoetai College.

The junior girls A-team from Diocesan had it easy beating EGGS 14-0 to take the gold. The Tauranga girls beat Glendowie 5-0 for third.

A comfortable 6-1 win was all it took for EGGS' A-team to take first place in the senior girls grade. Otumoetai made a respectable second and Diocesan claimed victory 2-1 over Glendowie.

In the senior open final, Glendowie only just managed to hold off Otumoetai and win 5-4. Unfortunately, Otumoetai's team included students from other schools and was not eligible for medals. Fourth-seeded Howick College beat Avondale College 2-1 to take the silver.

* www.asbcollegesport.co.nz