College sport: Westlake, Hamilton sets sights on worlds

Hamilton Boys High kept their focus as they powered to another Maadi Cup victory. Photo / Supplied

The Westlake Boys High School eight, obviously disappointed in failing to unseat Hamilton Boys High School as the Maadi Cup holder, were able to take some satisfaction from their efforts at the national secondary schools rowing championships at Lake Ruataniwha last week.

Both schools later had five names read out as trialists who will now set their sights on this year's world junior championships.

Auckland schools provided 13 of the 60 trialists named after the championships. Rangi Ruru, winners of the Levin Jubilee Cup had four names for the trials.

After some unco-operative weather to start, the crews contesting one of the biggest regattas in the world, had calm waters, under threatening skies, for A finals day.

The two big races lived up to expectations with the 6000-strong crowd cheering home Rangi Ruru and Hamilton BHS.

In the girls' race, Rangi Ruru took an early lead and spent the majority of the race extending it.

A smooth WGHS crew gave chase, but could not match Rangi Ruru's superior base speed. Marlborough Girls, one of the pre-event favourites, finished third.

Hamilton BHS had spent much of the week sitting around with the rest of the athletes as the wind gusted, staying as fresh as possible for the eights after scratching from a certain medal placing in the under-18 pair.

That freshness was quickly evident as they cleared out from the start, taking WBHS and AGS with them.

At 500m they kicked again and opened a gap which they held until the last 250m when Westlake, arguably with a smoother technique, whipped up their rate for a final attack and regained a healthy overlap.

Time ran out for the Aucklanders and Hamilton had the edge in the power stakes as they surged across the line to a three-quarter length victory.

A busy morning programme produced two high-quality under-18 coxed fours races, with defending champions Hamilton BHS winning the Springbok Shield and Rangi Ruru the Dawn Cup but both had to withstand spirited challenges to hold off WBHS and Marlborough GC.

DIVING

Liam Stone (Albany Junior High) and Adrian Humphries (Massey HS) demonstrated their experience and obvious talent to claim the senior titles at the Auckland SS springboard championships at the West Wave Aquatic Centre.

Richard Moore (Liston) and James Webster (King's) also showed good form in finishing second and third respectively behind Stone.

Emma Gordon (St Cuthbert's) headed a strong team in finishing second behind Humphries and ahead of Albany Junior High's Ashleigh Peat.

St Cuthbert's won the team trophy, with five of their six divers placing in their sections. Claudia Loos and Millie Hall finished first and second respectively in the intermediate grade and Michaela Roberts and Gabby Hawkins were first and third in the junior girls.

Other individuals to perform strongly were Chris Moore (Liston) who won the junior boys and intermediate winner Hamilton Belcher (Albany JHS).

NETBALL

The selectors have spread their net from Kaitaia College in the north to St Peter's College (Southland) in the south in naming their 24 trialists for the New Zealand SS team to play in May's transtasman contest in Adelaide.

The 12-strong travelling squad will be named after next month's training camp/trials in Christchurch.

MAGS and Wellington Girls' College are the only schools with more than one player invited to April 12-16 trials.

"We are excited about this group of new players," said NZSS coach Adrienne Morrin."Although they are a new group, they have bought into all expectations that come with being top-class athletes.

"We are pleased to be able to offer these players the opportunity to be part of the Netball New Zealand High Performance Pathway."

RUGBY

Kelston Boys' High School upset defending champions Mt Albert Grammar 26-17 in the final of the Condor Sevens.

Both teams scored two tries in an exciting first half, with blockbusting Pita Ah-Ki crossing twice for the West Aucklanders and Tama Keresoma and Damon Niko replying for MAGS.

Hahona Uitimei-Paraki, one of three brothers in the Kelston team, broke the 12-12 deadlock straight after halftime with a third try and added a second minutes later.

The sideline conversion from brother Solomona sealed the victory, despite a late consolation try to Dillan Halaholo.

It was Kelston's first win in the national schoolboy tournament since 2002.

Coach Mark Ozich was thrilled to defeat their arch rival.

"It was a tough battle and could have gone any way," he said. "At 12-12 our boys worked on their defence and kept their composure. Defence wins matches."

Ozich was particularly impressed with his younger players.

"We had about 50-60 per cent back from last year so we tried to blend in the experienced players with the new boys off the bench. They stood up and did really well for young kids."

Kelston were rewarded with three players in the tournament team, with Ah Ki, Solomona Uitemei-Paraki and Junior Tofa-Va'a joining three from MAGS, two each from Hamilton and Wesley and others from Rotorua and Westlake.

Ah-Ki was named player of the tournament and Fred Stewart (MAGS) won the best and fairest award.

TRIATHLON

The future of triathlon in New Zealand would appear to be in good hands if the depth and quality of performances at the Contact National Championships at Lake Karapiro are any indication.

Almost 800 competitors from 120 schools were at the picturesque venue for the 25th championships.

Aaron Barclay gave the people from the deep south plenty to cheer about with his second national title as he followed his previous under-16 success with victory in the under-19 championship. The under-19 girl's title was won by top seed Maddie Dillon (Kristin) who took control early and won impressively.

Barclay, from Gore High, has been an impressive performer throughout the summer in the Contact Tri Series and lived up to his top seeding by repelling challenges from Sam Morreau (AGS) and Josh Kenyon (Taupo Nui-a-Tia College).

Barclay rode away from the field on the bike and was thrilled to take another title.

"That was great, I'm so proud to win for Gore. Triathlon is not the biggest sport down there but it is growing so it is great to give it some more profile," said Barclay. "The race really went to plan. I had a good swim and felt strong on the bike.

Dillon proved too good in the girl's race, like Barclay living up to her top seeding. She led out of the water and never looked back, despite not feeling her best in blustery conditions.

"I had an all right swim and then on the bike some of the girls started to catch me, I really didn't feel that good to be honest," said Dillon. "But it all came together on the run so I am delighted, it was a great race.

"This is awesome, a great feeling and a great finish to the season. I have had such great help from my sponsors and mum and dad, the next goal is Hungary and the World Championships at Budapest. I have just been told that I am going so that is the big one to aim for in September."

Racing for all age groups from years 7 and 8 to the U19s was carried out in changeable conditions. Blustery winds buffeted the course in and around Lake Karapiro, making for a tough cycle when riding into the teeth of the squalls.

COMING UP

TODAY: Kilikiti, senior B grade, Auckland Domain 9am.

Orienteering, Auckland SS sprint series #6, WGHS 5pm.

Softball, Senior girls, Central (all May Rd), MAGS v Lynfield 4pm, Aorere v St Marys 4pm; McAuley v Aorere 5pm, St Marys v MAGS 5pm.

APRIL 8-10: Equestrian, NZPCA Horse Trials Team Championships, Hawera Showgrounds.

APRIL 8-11: Water polo, NZ SS premier girls, Huia Pool, Lower Hutt. NZ SS North Zone division two boys, Water World, Hamilton.

APRIL 11-13: Water polo, NZ SS North Zone, division two girls, Water World, Hamilton.

APRIL 12-14: Yachting, NZ SS teams racing, Taupo YC.

APRIL 14-17: Water polo, NZ SS premier boys, Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre.

APRIL 16-17: Orienteering, North Island SS championships, Wellington.

APRIL 16-17: Equestrian, NZ SS Intercollegiate one-day event, Waikato Equestrian Centre, Hamilton.

APRIL 17-18: NZ Pony Club Association North Island Championships, Turangi.

ON THE WEB
www.asbcollegesport.co.nz