College sports: Unbeaten record on line

By JENNI RUTHERFORD

Rebecca McEnaney will need to run the race of her life to maintain her unbeaten record at the national cross-country championships at St Kentigern's on Saturday.

The Rangitoto College athlete, a three-time junior national champion, will find plenty of challengers as she moves up into the senior girls 4km.

Among the stiff competition are Rowan Baird (Sacred Heart Hamilton), Susannah Shaw (Nga Tawa) and secondary schools road champion Claire Goodwin (Temuka HS).

In the senior boys 6km race, Mahurangi College's Stephen Lett, Mathew Prosser (Wellington College) and Rangitoto speedster Terenzo Bozzone, who will complete a busy week after his Auckland secondary school duathlon success, are the favourites.

For the first time, third-formers will have their own section and will run 3km.

More than 1200 athletes are registered from 120 secondary schools around the country.

RUGBY

St Paul's College farewelled the Moascar Cup after its brief two-match stay at the school when they lost 0-16 to De La Salle.

After taking the Ranfurly Shield of schoolboy rugby from St Peter's College at the start of the season, St Paul's only successful defence was against Marcellin College.

The remaining four homes are automatic challenges for De La Salle, who last held the cup in 1992. That means Sacred Heart College - who were St Paul's next challengers - still have a chance of playing for the cup.

Instead of travelling to Ponsonby they will head south to Mangere on Saturday in an attempt to lift the trophy for first time in the school's history. De La Salle did it the hard way, forfeiting their home advantage for a shot at the prized cup that dates back to the First World War.

The Moascar Cup may not be in De La Salle's hands for long after a strong Sacred Heart performance against second-placed Kelston Boys' High School, drawing 19-19 in the latest round of the Auckland first XV 1A competition.

"Sacred Heart is a major, a big ask," Moon said. "They have a very good coach, good forward pack and a kicker who can score from anywhere."

The memory of De La Salle's latest Moascar Cup win has been sealed, with each of the school's rugby teams being photographed with the trophy.

DUATHLON

Brothers Terrenzo and Dino Bozzone completed a rare sibling double when they won their age groups at the Auckland secondary school championships. The Rangitoto College pair captured two of the four titles the school won at Ardmore.

Terrenzo continued his good form in his build-up to the world triathlon championships in Canada next month, beating Auckland Grammar's James Elvery in the senior boys race over the two 3km run legs and the 18km cycle in 47m 57s.

The talent runs in the family, with younger brother Dino winning the junior boys section convincingly ahead of team-mate Stuart Robinson.

The Rangitoto multisport machine has churned out another promising athlete, with Rachael Nordmeyer winning the junior girls section, 24s ahead of Alexandria Gibson (Macleans College), while Alice Taylor and Nicola Hale were first in the junior girls teams events.

Epsom Girls Grammar's Julia Scopes was in a class of her own, winning the senior girls grade by over 10 minutes, with schoolmate Jade Gilbertson also untouchable in the intermediate girls, finishing nearly four minutes ahead of Diocean's Seah Martin.

In the closest contest, William Thompson (Auckland Grammar) beat Northcote College's Ben Logan by 13s to win the intermediate boys event.

SOCCER

Mt Albert Grammar were not dealt any favours by the draw for the last 16 in Chatham Cup, facing five-time cup winners University Mt Wellington away at the end of this month.

Mt Albert's feat in making the last 16 equals Auckland Grammar's 1999 achievement.

THIS WEEK

TODAY

Auckland: Motocross, rugby league, premier boys hockey, girls hockey.

Counties Manukau: netball, premier boys hockey.

TOMORROW

Auckland: premier girls hockey.

Counties Manukau: premier girls hockey.

FRIDAY

New Zealand regional underwater hockey championships 15-17 June.

Auckland: badminton, squash.

North Harbour: badminton.

SATURDAY

New Zealand secondary school cross country championships, St Kentigern College, rugby, soccer, netball.

Counties Manukau: rugby.

North Harbour: rugby, netball.

Waitakere: netball.

MONDAY

Auckland: girls rugby, squash.