When King's College were undone 40-13 at home to MAGS on the first day of the Auckland 1st XV championship few, if any, would have been brave enough to predict the long-time rivals would next meet in the last game of the season.
But at Eden Park on Saturday the
battle lines will be redrawn as MAGS seek to end the season as it started - on a winning note in what promises to be a much-hyped final.
MAGS have carried it all before them in a stupendous season in which they won all 11 round-robin matches, picking up a bonus point in each as they ran in four or more tries. Not until last Saturday's hard-fought home semifinal with St Peters did they fail to rip their opponents apart.
They were still good enough however to get home 14-8 - one try apiece - in a classic do-or-die effort.
When the two schools met at St Peters at the same stage of last season's championship, MAGS sneaked home 17-16 to win through to the final where they romped home 45-11 over AGS in front of 7500 spectators at Eden Park.
No one would dare suggest there might be a repeat this year as MAGS chase their 20th title but they certainly go into the season's showpiece as deserved favourites.
Against St Peters there was the expected nervousness from both teams with a low-scoring first half, with just two penalties from ever-reliable Matt McGahan earning the hosts their 6-0 halftime lead.
While there were patches of exciting play, strong defensive efforts from both teams forced a number of mistakes, which slowed momentum.
St Peters closed the gap early in the second half when the home side gave away a soft penalty but McGahan quickly re-established the six-point buffer.
That gap was quickly closed to just one point when St Peters were rewarded for a sustained period on attack with their only try.
McGahan quickly fired up his troops and was rewarded when they took the initiative and eventually got Michael Faleafa over the line for their try and a 14-8 lead which they held until Damon Niko kicked the ball out of play to end the game which for the older players was their last at home in front of the MAGS faithful.
It was a similar story out West as King's visited Kelston BHS and went away 16-8 winners after another torrid contest.
Making good use of the wind, King's drew first blood when Simon Hickey kicked a penalty.
Kelston replied in a like manner before they succumbed to some King's pressure which led to a mistake and loose forward Andrew Jones carried the ball forward before slipping the pass to second-five Kevin Fuavao who charged at the line and slid across under the posts with several defenders hanging on to him.
Hickey's conversion gave the visitors their 10-3 halftime lead.
KBHS began the second half strongly and were justly rewarded with a try out wide after having several attempts stymied by the resolute King's defence.
Down 13-8, after another Hickey penalty, the home side gave up the chance of a shot from a handy position, opting to tap and go. They didn't get there and after clearing their line, King's won a penalty which Hickey booted over to maintain his 100 per cent effort and steer his team to Saturday's big show.
BASKETBALL
AGS scored a confidence-boosting 87-64 win over their confirmed semifinal opponents Avondale in the penultimate round of the premier boys' championship. AGS stormed to a 16-1 lead midway through the first quarter and Avondale simply could not get back into the game.
Josh Young led the AGS scorers, with 23. He was well supported by James Ashby, with 20. Blair Manners and Matt Loulanting provided the solid defensive platform for the hosts.
Avondale's Charles Epati led all scorers however with 30 points and always looked dangerous while Talon McCarthy entertained the crowd with several dunks in bursting through the traffic under the basket.
WBHS, who thumped MAGS 113-57, with Marcus Logan scoring 27 points, are confirmed as top qualifiers but with fourth place still up for grabs they will not know who they will meet in next week's semifinals until after Friday night's final round.
Before those semifinals, attention will turn to next week's Greater Auckland Championships with play in three grades (boys and girls) - open, under-17 and under-15.
CYCLING
The Tour l'Abitibi in Canada and the Auckland Waterfront are worlds apart but for James Oram it will be back to the future when he lines up on Sunday morning to lead his WBHS senior A team in round six of Avanti Plus Auckland SS time trials. Oram will compete in the 16km out and back race on Tamaki Drive after an outstanding effort in the Canadian race considered as the Tour de France for the world's best juniors.
Since 1991 New Zealand teams have lined up in the race which has become a springboard for many who have gone on to be among the world's best. Few sports can boast truly international events of this calibre for school-aged students.
Oram was the highest-placed New Zealander, finishing fourth on general classification and winning the prized blue jersey as the best novice.
As an under-20 race it is seen as significant. The 2008 winner went on to ride in the 2009 Tour de France and is now a fully fledged professional.
The race is over six days/seven stages along the same lines as the Tour de France, the Giro and the Vuelta. There are commercial and international teams. New Zealand finished second - their best result in 19 years.
Oram also led WBHS to victory in the recent North Island Team Time Trial Championship.
HOCKEY
In a nail biter, Diocesan beat arch rivals St Cuthbert's 2-1 in their keenly anticipated inter-city clash.
From their third successive penalty corner, Diocesan went ahead when the ball was pulled out short to captain Georgina McKenzie to trick the St Cuthbert's defence who were running to the top of the circle. It was one of many penalty corners in the first half but the St Cuthbert's defence held firm.
In the second half St Cuthbert's got back to 1-1 when the Diocesan defence broke down in the circle and while goalkeeper Holly McKinley made one crucial save, it was not cleared by her defence and Emily Fry pounced on the loose ball to score.
Minutes later St Cuthbert's looked set to score again only to be denied by a spectacular Danielle Sutherland save right on the line.
Late in the game, Diocesan's Victoria MacCulloch capitalised on a clumsy St Cuthbert's error to snatch the winning goal.
LAWN BOWLS
Titleholders Dilworth showed they will again be the team to beat with a resounding win over AGGS in the second round of the regional inter-school championship.
The other section is a close race between AGS and Diocesan School after both won their matches by narrow margins. The pair meet on Monday in a game which will decide the top qualifiers.
Henderson HS Blue lead the section at Henderson with 10 points closely followed by Henderson HS Green with eight. They also meet in the final round.
The section at New Lynn is a three-team race with KBHS, Lynfield and St Dominic's locked together at the top. The section will be decided on Monday when St Dominic's play Lynfield and KBHS meet MRGS.
NETBALL
Bragging rights heading into the final week of round-robin play were at stake when last year's finalists EGGS and MAGS squared off in the feature game of the week.
In the end MAGS prevailed by a relatively comfortable eight goals after being held 10-8 in the first quarter as the teams traded goal-for-goal before MAGS goal keep Ashleigh Kelman-Poto made an impressive intercept and sent goal shoot Tera-Maria Amani away to score.
EGGS picked up their game in the second quarter to quickly level the scores before MAGS regrouped and put defensive pressure across the court with methodical and controlled play as they scored four unanswered goals. Tight, physical marking at the MAGS defensive end forced turnovers and they were able to push their halftime lead to a handy 20-12.
EGGS refused to give up and led strongly by centre Chonaire Huriwai they pressed MAGS in the third and fourth quarters but without ever threatening to close that eight-goal deficit as MAGS went on to win 34-26.
MAGS coach Paula Smith was pleased with the result.
"The game was about looking at different combinations and giving young players experience in a pressure game," said Smith. "All of the girls stepped up, but there is still work to do before our next game."
And, who said netball is all about girls. Auckland Netball was abuzz last week as the Auckland Central Schools inter-zone boys competition was held at St Johns.
Some 18 teams of year 7 and 8 boys, many who displayed strong aerial skills, accurate passing, and vision down the court, battled the elements as well as the opposition on their way to finding this year's winners.
Auckland Netball chief executive Dianne Lasenby said: "It was wonderful to look out on the courts and to see the skill level these boys displayed along with the enjoyment they were having. Of course, the rubberised courts helped the few who took a tumble."
Remuera Intermediate were the overall winners, taking out both finals from Ponsonby Intermediate and Kowhai Intermediate in the year 7 and 8 contests respectively.
RUGBY
North Harbour: WBHS rediscovered their better form to upset seemingly invincible Orewa 17-0 in a match in which the heavy rain forced both teams to revert to a kicking game.
Set play too was crucial, with Sam Quinn featuring in the Westlake lineout. In winning good ball, Jacob Botica was able to kick cleverly while Logan Stevens, back for WBHS after injury, defended superbly.
The first try was scored just before the break when David Craig capped a powerful forward surge to cross. Botica added the extras for 7-0.
Further unforced Orewa errors contributed to the home team's second try when Sam Quinn finished off another sideline break.
Orewa struggled to get into the game and eventually WBHS spun the ball wide to Ben Winks who got it quickly to Marty Guy on the opposite wing who went over to score.
As top qualifiers, WBHS meet Massey, 26-3 winners over TGS, in one of this week's semifinals and Orewa play Rosmini who beat Mahurangi 24-3, collecting a bonus point, in the other. Rosmini and Massey ended round-robin play on 33 points but Rosmini took third because of their 7-5 win over Massey on June 26.
Thames Valley: The much-awaited clash between competition leaders Hauraki Plains College and Mercury Bay Area School lived up to expectations.
Hauraki Plains trailed Mercury Bay for most of the game but got up to win 13-12 and retain the Provincial Shield, after Matty Fisher kicked a penalty goal six minutes from time.
Earlier, Mercury Bay No 8 Adam Mardell had scored the opening points with a try in the first minute of the game, but later the game had to be transferred to another field because of a serious knee injury to the same player.
Mercury Bay outscored the winning side two tries to one and a huge crowd is assured when the sides meet again in two weeks in the final.
In the other games, Thames HS beat Paeroa College 36-0 and Waihi College produced their best form of the season to trounce Te Aroha College.
Waikato: Hamilton Boys High School's domination of Waikato secondary schools rugby was again evident in last weekend's round of games.
All matches were played in driving rain and the Hamilton BHS 1st XV had to work harder than usual in the conditions to maintain their unbeaten record. They held off the challenge from Gisborne BHS to win 20-10 at home after leading 12-0 at halftime.
In the earlier game, Hamilton BHS 2nd XV scored a try in the last minute of their match to head Gisborne 17-12. In the local Waikato competition, Hamilton BHS 3rd XV progressed through to the semifinals in impressive fashion after beating Forest View High School 39-0. Favourites St Peter's School trounced Fraser High 69-12, St Paul's Collegiate beat St John's College 20-5, and Cambridge High School held off Morrinsville College 31-15.
SOCCER
A 7-0 away win over a spirited Kristin has MAGS within sight of a seventh straight league championship but coach Kevin Fallon is taking nothing for granted as he prepares to face Sacred Heart (at home on Saturday) and WBHS (away in the last round).
Against Kristin, Jordan Vale broke the deadlock late in the first half and MAGS went to the break 1-0 ahead.
A three-goal burst in two minutes ended home team hopes as Nikko Boxall, Connor Stoton and Faitalia Hamilton (from a Connor Lynch cross) stretched the lead to 4-0.
Referee Richard Craddock contributed to a fine flowing affair.
Three goals between the 72nd and 80th minutes - scored by Lynch, Boxall and Hamilton completed the scoring. "Mission accomplished a win," Fallon said, "but we cannot afford to take our foot off the pedal. This competition is likely to go to the wire." Kevin O'Leary praised his Kristin team. "We defended really well for most of the game and then had that nightmare two minutes and suddenly the game had gone from 1-0 to 4-0. End of story."
AGS, the only team with any chance of heading MAGS, kept their hopes alive as they too won by seven goals in beating King's 9-2 in wet and trying conditions at the Quarry.
Rory Turner gave the home side the lead when he found space in behind the King's defence and looped the ball home. The visitors stung the AGS supporters when they equalised as Kyle Smart failed to hold a harmless cross. Their joy was short-lived however as Josh Anthony capped a neat move. Cameron Martin made it 3-1 soon after and Anthony added a fourth in the last minute of the spell.
It soon became 6-1 as the goals continued to flow. Kings got one back but three goals in the last 10 minutes completed the rout.
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College Sport: Few early punters would have picked final
When King's College were undone 40-13 at home to MAGS on the first day of the Auckland 1st XV championship few, if any, would have been brave enough to predict the long-time rivals would next meet in the last game of the season.
But at Eden Park on Saturday the
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