College sport: Yes, students do go to school for lunch and sport

The notion that many Auckland school pupils go to school to "eat their lunch and play sport" has been backed up by the figures.

At a time when Sparc fears participation levels in New Zealand sport are faltering, figures compiled by ASB College Sport show any fall-off has passed schools by.

Many of the 102 schools under the Auckland Secondary Schools Heads Association are reporting increases.

And they haven't been in just the "buzz" sports such as touch, triathlon and volleyball.

League, which for many years battled to gain a foothold at some schools, is up from 23 to 32 teams this winter - a healthy 39 per cent.

The number of teams contesting the popular time-trial cycling series early on Sundays on the Auckland waterfront is up 17.6 per cent to 120.

Rugby has risen 10.5 per cent to 210 teams. Hockey now has 149 teams playing each week (up 6 per cent), and soccer shows a similar increase in both boys' and girls' grades, with 481 teams now playing weekly.

Basketball too continues to prosper. The Waitakere competition, for instance, is up a staggering 45 per cent to 58 teams. The Counties Manukau, Central Zone and North Harbour associations all say numbers are up.

Rowing, on a wave of international successes, swelled 4.5 per cent at the annual Head of the Harbour regatta with 2854 competitors.

Cricket, which continues to struggle with a lack of facilities and the split term one/term four season, shrank slightly in North Harbour and in the Auckland girls competition but gained an extra team in the Auckland boys with 174 teams registered.

The increases are stretching resources and facilities with some sports, notably soccer in Manukau and hockey across the region, already struggling to find grounds.

Water polo and basketball too are being forced to play virtually every night of the week, with some games being played late.

Increasing fees have been seen as a hindrance in some sports but participation figures tend to suggest "where there is a will, there is a way" to play even if the pressure on facilities and resources often means long distance travel and tough scheduling.

BASKETBALL

All was fine until a light starting smoking and the fire alarm went off.

The players in the clash between Westlake and Kelston boys at the Massey High gymnasium left the court midway through the first spell but returned after a 20-minute evacuation. Play resumed but not for long as conditions were deemed unsafe and the game abandoned.

Elsewhere Rangitoto College, on the back of 26 points from Marko Alexander and a healthy 36 points from beyond the arc, beat high-flying newcomers Onehunga High 94-72. Onehunga, despite trailing by 15 points at one stage, closed to within eight late in the third quarter.

In tight battle between two old rivals, MAGS beat AGS 87-76, while Dilworth beat Papakura 65-54.

Rangitoto and MAGS completed good doubles with wins for their girls over AGGS and EGGS respectively.

RUGBY

NORTH HARBOUR

WBHS made the most of a favourable win, dominating the first half of their match with TGS, but still had to dig deep before easing away to win 22-10.

Sam Quinn scored two of Westlake's four tries, going over after well-worked moves from lineouts. Steven Hong and Dylan Ferreira, at the end of an excellent team effort, also scored to ensure a bonus point.

Down 3-10 at the break, TGS hit back with an Andrew Gentles try. Ben Blucher added the extra points and kicked a penalty but in the end a late WBHS rally got them home.

Orewa added to their good start with a 20-3 win over Rangitoto after leading 13-3 at halftime.

Aided by a good supply of lineout ball from Ryan Bayes-Mortimer, Orewa dominated. Andrew Fluker converted Zane Turner and Luke Waterman's tries and kicked two penalties.

Rosmini ran in 12 tries (and converted eight) as they swamped a game Mahurangi 76-0 after going to the break 43-0 ahead. First-five Gareth Anscombe scored two of the tries and added the extra 16 points while wing James Siaki also crossed twice.

Massey were even more dominant as they beat Northcote 80-0 with 39 unanswered points before the break and 41 after it. Sam Aolele scored four while Mark Peteru-Sepu and Joe Setefano scored two each.

The stage is now set for a classic 1A top-of-the-table clash at Massey on Saturday. They and Rosmini go into the noon showdown with 14 of a possible 15 points.

In 1B action, Kristin showed plenty of skill and nous in beating Hato Petera 19-5 with inside backs William Mushet and player-of-the-day Luke Steiner showing out.

Bouncing back after losing to Kristin last week, Kingsway upset the strong Birkenhead XV 22-10. Taniela Rasaga led the way with two tries.

Long Bay turned in another strong effort to beat a competitive Glenfield side 15-0 after leading 8-0 at the break.

Fullback Chase Hay was again in good form scoring a try and kicking a penalty and a conversion. No 8 Brad Hunt scored the other try while Jay Isgrove was player-of-the-day.

Back to full strength for the first time, Kaipara College celebrated with a 31-7 win over Whangaparaoa.

Dylan Paniora led the charge with two good tries while promising first-five Tamati Galvin scored Whangaparaoa's points with a converted try.

AUCKLAND

Aorere and St Peters continue to set the pace at the top of the 1A championship but with teams already having games in hand a true picture may not emerge for some weeks.

Auckland Rugby's technical committee is yet to decide the result of the Sacred Heart-AGS game, in which the referee called time on with only the Sacred Heart players on the ground.

De La Salle, just back from Japan, began the defence of their Auckland title in spectacular fashion going down 33-32 at home to Aorere. Both teams picked up bonus points for scoring four tries. De La Salle took a second point in finishing within seven points of the winning team.

AGS had another close one, winning 20-17 at home to KBHS.

After trading early penalties, AGS broke the deadlock just before halftime when captain Otenili Moala scored. Solomona Paraki crossed for the visitors early in the second half and converted for 10-10.

AGS wing Omar Slaimankhel continued his good form with a try. Alister Hitchcock added the extras and a crucial penalty for a 20-10 lead.

KBHS hit back with a try from Ivan Penehe which was converted.

St Peter's beat a flat MAGS 22-12 at home, picking up a bonus point.

With tries to Bryn Hall, Matt Gandy and Ben Paltridge and with one converted, the home side raced to a 17-0 halftime lead.

Lock Zac Moi Moi clinched the win with a 40m runaway try in the second half while MAGS only came to life late in the game with two tries.

Sacred Heart and St Kentigern, squaring off at Sacred Heart, both chased their first win of the season.

Sacred Heart, with tries to Tino Nemani and Kerren Straker and a penalty, led 13-0 at the break.

The visitors hit back with second-half tries from Mokani Fuafau and Liam Steel but a gritty home side held on to claim their first victory 13-10.

Tamaki made the most of a favourable light breeze to take a 10-0 lead at home to Tangaroa.

Sam Finau crossed for an opportunist early try. James Mata added the conversion and a penalty for 10-0, then Tangaroa closed the gap just before halftime when they scored from a kick and chase and added the conversion.

A second try had the visitors ahead 12-10 but their failure to add a third soon after proved costly as Mata and Talanoa Manu scored tries for a 22-10 lead.

The visitors again closed the gap - to 22-17 - before Mata kicked a late penalty to seal the 25-17 victory.