College sport: Numbers multiply in schools multi-sport

The multi-sport boom shows no sign of abating.

The first races in the Auckland secondary schools series will be contested at Long Bay tomorrow with 150 individual and 55 teams set to contest the season-opening aquathon.

The seniors will go head-to-head in a 750m swim followed by a 5km run. Intermediate boys and girls race over 400m and 4km while the juniors face a 400m swim followed by a 3km run.

The next event is a team triathlon at Maraetai, is on February 24.

Next month Waikato secondary school pupils will turn out for their triathlon championships at Lake Karapiro.

The championships have grown in stature from the 45-60 competitors before 2005. Last year the entry list grew to 212, and organisers are confident the 300 barrier will be cracked for the first time.

The momentum will continue in April, again at Lake Karapiro, when the Waikato Cycling Sports Academy hosts the super five of New Zealand triathlon with big fields expected for the year 7-8 (intermediate) schools triathlon, the NZ secondary schools open triathlon championship, the teams tag championships (open and year 7-8) and the Panasonic NZ sprint triathlon championship, which offers $9000 in prizemoney.

Race director Errol Newlands expects a turnout of more than 2000 for the April 1-2 championships.

CRICKET

Auckland

St Kentigern College grabbed the early initiative as the only team to take outright points in the opening round of the 1A two-day championship.

In a rare feat, they dismissed Avondale College for 121 in both innings.

St Kentigern always had a strong hold from the time Anthony Niterl and Jono Hickey took seven wickets between them in Avondale's first innings. In reply, St Kentigern piled on 226/9 declared with Stuart Woods leading the charge with 69.

After dismissing Avondale for a second time, St Kentigern cruised home scoring the 17 runs they needed without loss.

A strong second-innings batting effort from Mt Albert Grammar denied King's any chance of outright points.

Chasing Mt Albert Grammar's 117, King's edged in front early on the second day and promptly declared in the hope of chasing outright points. Resolute batting from MAGS in the face of some good bowling from Chris Goldsbury (who picked up six wickets in a marathon 29-over spell), saw them to safety in reaching 239.

Like King's, Westlake BHS had to be content with first innings points in their away game at Auckland Grammar.

Batting first, WBHS scored 190 despite an impressive 7-64 from David Goddard. The home side replied with 126. A quick-fire WBHS second innings of 147/1 declared - spearheaded by Beaumont Schoeman's unbeaten 76 and with solid support from Brad Cachopa (41 no) - left AGS with 211 to score for victory.

They were never close, ending at 116/4.

Waikato

Defending champions St Peters hit the ground running on the first day of the Waikato 1st XI division one championship.

Building on a solid start from openers Sam Kilgour and Thomas Wansbone, St Peters went on to post the highest score of the day in beating a spirited Te Awamutu College side.

But there were times when St Peters were in trouble. After that half-century opening partnership in less than 10 overs, they slumped to 128/7 in the 38th over as Ben Missen and Levi Jamieson took control with some good bowling.

Only a well-compiled 64 from captain Andrew Sclater righted the sinking St Peters effort with a brief last-wicket flurry which produced 27 runs, proving crucial.

In reply, Te Awamutu also batted well at the top of the order with Missen and his captain, Daniel West, providing the backbone of the innings. At 141/5, Te Awamutu remained on target but when West fell to a full toss from Ben Stinson, the innings fell apart. Stinson went on to claim an impressive 5-19 as St Peters retained the Dave Hoskin Trophy they won in last season's final.

St Johns College beat Fraser HS by 10 runs in a match in which just 104 runs were scored.

The bowlers dominated with Trent Salvatierra bagging 4-9 for Fraser as St Johns reached 57 after winning the toss and electing to bat.

But even this meagre total was beyond Fraser, as opening bowler Sean Patterson carved them apart to claim 6-15 in an innings which did not go 20 overs.

There was also a six-wicket haul for Cambridge High's Danny Woodlock who picked up 6-44 as Hamilton BHS reached 164 after being 38/5 early on. Much credit for the turnaround was attributed to the younger players in the Hamilton team.

Cambridge began strongly but were hauled back by some good bowling from Braden Neilson and Hamish Blake, who picked up three wickets each.

Cambridge eventually got home with three balls and two wickets in hand.

It was just as close at Hillcrest HS where the home side edged home over Matamata College with one wicket in hand.

Matamata needed a 34-run eighth wicket partnership between Daniel Busst and Nick Dyer to give their innings some respectability.

For a time it seemed their 104-run tally might be enough but the home side just got up on the back of a dogged 31no from opener Rhys Whiting.

ROWING

The sport that is riding high on the world stage continues to attract big numbers at secondary school level.

In a hectic day's racing at Lake Pupuke on Saturday, crews from 37 schools will contest 42 events at the annual Head of the Harbour regatta.

All races will be over 900m finishing off Sylvan Park.

The breeding ground for many of New Zealand's best rowers, the Bayleys-sponsored regatta has attracted crews from Auckland, North Harbour, Waikato, Counties Manukau and Bay of Plenty schools.

In the girls' under-16 coxed fours and quadruple sculls, three divisions are needed to accommodate the large entry. It is the same story in the boys' under-15 and under-16 coxed fours.
The major races - the Head of the Harbour under-18 boys and girls eights - will be competitive.

St Kentigern College, seeking to regain the title they lost to Hamilton BHS last year, will have 74 rowers on the water during the day. Hamilton BHS will also defend their Head of the Harbour fours title.

There will be a new titleholder in the Head of the Harbour girls' eights with Tauranga GHS not defending. Waikato Diocesan will defend their fours title.

The first race, the under-16 boys double sculls, is scheduled for 8am. The last race is scheduled for 2.48pm.

SOCCER

In weather more suited to summer sports, the NZSS girls team headed across the Tasman for four matches earlier this month.

The Paul Temple-coached team acquitted themselves well despite having to play out of season.

They lost their opening match against the strong New South Wales Institute of Sport team 3-1. That team included seven Matildas - members of the Australian national side - and five Young Matildas. Ria Percival scored New Zealand's goal.

Second up, the New Zealand side bounced back to beat the Institute's under-20 team 3-2 with captain Grace Vincent scoring one and Mt Albert Grammar's Emma Kete two.

Plans to play the under-20 team again were then scrapped and the New Zealanders again faced the full-strength Institute side, losing 4-0.

They ended their tour with a convincing 4-0 win over Penrith Districts under-21. Kete again grabbed two goals with Vincent (Diocesan) and Helen Collins adding the others. Kete was named player of the tour.

Eight of that team are now back in Australia as members of the New Zealand under-20 team.

WATER POLO

A weak last quarter, in which they conceded five goals to none, cost promoted Massey High victory over highly-rated rivals Sacred Heart College in a feature second-round game in the Auckland premier boys championship.

In the end Sacred Heart got up to win 8-3.

Glendowie, the other promoted team, gave a good account of themselves in holding defending and national champions Auckland Grammar to 0-6.

Elsewhere, there were some one-sided contests. Westlake BHS staked an early claim in thrashing Rangitoto's second team 23-1 and Rangitoto's first team defeated Long Bay College 10-1.

The Rangitoto girls, too, had a big win beating Mt Roskill Grammar 18-0 while Mt Albert Grammar notched their first win at this level in heading Westlake GHS second team 7-5.

St Kentigern, another team playing at premier level for the first time, played out a thrilling 3-3 draw with Avondale College.

* RESULTS

CRICKET

Auckland

1A championship

Avondale College 121 (A. Niterl 4-25, J. Hickey 3-28) and 121 lost to St Kentigern 226/9 dec (S. Wood 69, P. Boyd 47) and 18/0 outright.

MAGS 117 and 239 (C. Goldsbury 6-56, W. Brittain 3-87) lost to Kings 119/7 dec (T. Talbot 34no) and 72/2 (J. Bassett-Graham 43) on 1st innings.

WBHS 190 (B. Schoeman 44; D. Goddard 7-64) and 147/1 dec (Schoeman 76, B. Cachopa 41no) bt AGS 126 (L. Wealleans 4-30) and 116/4 (K. Bunting 35no) on 1st innings.

1A plate

Takapuna GS 298/9 and 53/1 bt Sacred Heart 209 on 1st innings.

KBHS 189/7 dec and 68/5 bt WBHS 112 and 174 on 1st innings.

Macleans College 118 and 127 lost to Rosmini 249 outright.

1B championship

Rangitoto 216 bt Papatoetoe HS 78 and 86 outright.

St Peters 213 and 100 bt AGS 142 and 139/9 on 1st innings.

Howick 148/4 dec bt St Kentigern 50 and 55 outright.

1B plate

Rangitoto 197 bt Liston 68 and 91 outright.

Pakuranga 254 and 50/2 bt Northcote 173 on 1st innings.

Mt Roskill Grammar 222 bt Kristin 81 and 59/6 on 1st innings.

WAIKATO

First division, round one

St Peters 195 (A. Sclater 64; P. West 3-27, B. Missen 3-21) bt Te Awamutu 164 (D. West 59; B. Stinson 5-19).

Hamilton BHS 164 (S. Weal 47; D. Woodcock 6-44, S. Keeley 3-41) lost to Cambridge HS 168/8 (K. Adlam 48; B. Neilson 3-18, H. Blake 3-34).

Matamata College 104 (M. Heron 3-20, C. Jamieson 3-13) lost to Hillcrest HS 107/9 (R. Whiting 31no; J. Park 3-22).

St Johns College 57 (T. Salvatierra 4-9) bt Fraser HS 47 (S. Patterson 6-15).

Morrinsville College, bye.

* * *

VOLLEYBALL

Boys premier, round one

Avondale 3 AGS 0, Avondale 3 KBHS 1, Penrose 3 Tangaroa 0, Penrose 3 WBHS 0, Sir Edmund College 3 Rangitoto 0, Otahuhu 0.

Girls premier, round one

McAuley 3 Mangere 1, McAuley 3 Otahuhu 1, The Manurewa High 3 Rangitoto 0, The Manurewa High 3 Tamaki 1.

* * *

WATER POLO

Auckland premier, round two

Boys: Rangitoto A1 10 Long Bay 1, Westlake BHS A2 8 Northcote 5, WBHS A 1 23 Rangitoto A2 1, Sacred Heart 8 Massey HS 3, Auckland Grammar A1 6 Glendowie 0, AGS A2 3 Avondale 2, Rosmini, St Kentigern byes.

Girls: Westlake GHS A1 9 Carmel 2, Mt Albert Grammar 7 WGHS A2 5, Rangitoto 18 Mt Roskill 0, St Kentigern 3 Avondale 3, Diocesan 10 Epsom GGS 3.

* COMING UP

TOMORROW: Auckland Secondary Schools triathlon series, aquathon, Long Bay. Compulsory race briefing 10am, racing from 10.30am.

FRIDAY: Volleyball, senior premier boys, (at Avondale), Rangitoto v Avondale 4pm, Rangitoto v Tangaroa 4.45pm, Avondale v Tangaroa 5.30pm. At Westlake BHS, WBHS v AGS 4pm, WBHS v Otahuhu 4.45pm, AGS v Otahuhu 5.30pm. At Kelston BHS, KBHS v Sir Edmund Hillary 4pm, KBHS v Penrose 4.45pm, Sir Edmund Hillary v Penrose 5.30pm.

SATURDAY: Rowing, Bayleys Head of the Harbour regatta, Sylvan Park, Lake Pupuke, from 8am.

Cricket, Auckland 1A grade (1st day of two, home team first, 12.20pm start): WBHS v St Kentigern, MAGS v Avondale, AGS v Kings. 1B: St Kentigern 2 v AGS 2, Howick v Rangitoto, Papatoetoe HS v St Peters. North Harbour premier colts (2nd day of two), WBHS 2 v Takapuna GS, Rangitoto v Rosmini, WBHS 1 v Orewa.

MONDAY: Volleyball, senior premier girls, (at Avondale), McAuley v Avondale 4pm, McAuley v Rangitoto 4.45pm, Avondale v Rangitoto 5.30pm. At Tamaki, Tamaki v Aorere 4pm, Tamaki v Mangere 4.45pm, Aorere v Mangere 5.30pm. At Mt Albert Grammar, MAGS v Otahuhu 4pm, MAGS v The Manurewa High 4.45pm, Otahuhu v The Manurewa High 5.30pm.