Waka Ama hits the water

By DAVE WORSLEY

The first national secondary schools Waka Ama Invitational Regatta takes place on the Orakei Basin on Friday and Saturday.

The outrigger canoe regatta features 49 different schools from around the country.

Strong performances are expected from Broadwood, Kamo and Whangarei College. From Auckland, James Cook High, Papatoetoe High and Edgewater College are likely to be top contenders over the 250m and 500m courses.

Racing starts on Friday at midday and runs until 5pm. The first Saturday race is at 9am.

VOLLEYBALL

Avondale College used all their experience to win the Auckland junior secondary schools girls title, beating Otahuhu in three sets.

Otahuhu showed plenty of promise for the future, winning the first set 25-10 before Avondale came back to win the next two, 25-22 and 15-10.

The boys' final was also close, with Westlake winning the first set 25-22 before Kelston captured the second set 29-27.

The cool heads of Westlake came through in the third set, winning 15-13.

The top three teams in the boys' and girls' competition now qualify to compete in the division one tournament in the North Island secondary school volleyball champs in Whangarei in a fortnight.

TENNIS

The player acceptance list for the national 18s tournament includes a large number of players with International Tennis Federation rankings.

The tournament will be held at the North Harbour Tennis Park from December 13-17.

The leading players are all from the Auckland region, with Marina and Julia Erakovic from Glendowie College the first and third seeds in the girls' section, and St Cuthberts' Jenna Lee the second seed.

The boys' acceptance list looks likely to be headed by Canterbury's Daniel King-Turner, followed by former Macleans College student Henry Gers. Auckland Grammar student Kiril Tcherveniachki is the third seed.

Tanja Markovic has entered the tournament but has been under an injury cloud for the past month and could be doubtful for the event.

ROWING

Auckland Grammar won the first Octuple rowing eight regatta ahead of St Kentigern, with Sacred Heart third on the Tamaki estuary.

Octuple - using two oars a person - is new to New Zealand rowing, and is likely to feature at the Head of Harbour and Maadi Cup next year.

The Auckland Grammar crew covered the distance of 3000m in around 6 1/2 minutes.

WATERPOLO

Rosmini showed good form to win the North Island junior schools championship from Sacred Heart 6-4 in the final. Rosmini's Jason Donnelly and Sacred Hearts Ben Afeaki won Most Promising Player awards.

The girls' final went to Sacred Heart Lower Hutt 4-1 over Rangitoto.

This week:

Friday: National secondary schools Waka Ama Invitational Regatta, Orakei Basin.

Saturday: 1st X1 cricket, national secondary schools Waka Ama Invitational Regatta, Orakei Basin.