College sport: AGS has ball off the field but not so happy on it

Mt Albert Grammar School's Pomare Te Anau (centre ) is tackled by Auckland Grammar player Luke Adams during their first XI match on Saturday. Mt Albert won 3-0. Photo / Glenn Jeffrey

The results on the field might not have been the greatest, but Auckland Grammar head John Morris could still find plenty to smile about.

"The ball went very well," said Morris, looking back over his weekend. "We had 750 kids at Eden Park on Saturday night and we all had a great time."

It was just as well he found something to lift his spirits after he had watched AGS first XV and first soccer XI hopes go down in the boggy, winter conditions.

But, as he conceded, inter-school rivalries are very much part of secondary school sport.

By the quirk of the draw, AGS were handed a double-whammy, with the Simon Eaddy-coached soccer side going down 3-0 to their greatest of rivals, Mt Albert Grammar, and the rugby team falling 12-5 to close neighbours St Peters in the "cage."

And, in the aftermath of the ball, their senior cycling team were headed by Westlake BHS in the fifth round of the annual waterfront time-trials early on Sunday morning.

He could, however, look back to earlier in the week and success on the basketball court - a 90-78 win over Kelston BHS - and the hockey turf: an even more emphatic 18-0 romp over Long Bay to lift their spirits.

But far from being dismayed, Morris was putting on a brave face in looking ahead to this week, starting with tonight's key inter-city hockey clash with similarly unbeaten WBHS in a pool-deciding match at their home turf.

"We then have to play De La Salle in a key rugby game on Saturday," said Morris. "It should be a little easier for the soccer team, who are also at home to Macleans."

While Morris has had better days, his MAGS counterpart, Dale Burden, was able to take real satisfaction from a three-from-three sweep of the major winter codes.

First up his premier netball team scored a 10-point win over AGGS in a top-of-the-table clash. Burden then dashed back to MAGS to watch the soccer team beat AGS before moving the few necessary steps to watch the 1st rugby XV beat Sacred Heart 23-3 to keep semifinal hopes alive.

Earlier in the week, the netball team had thumped St Kentigern 41-16, the hockey team had won 7-0 over Botany Downs and the basketballers (girls and boys) had won.

With the business end of the winter season fast approaching, sport is very much alive, with results across the region underlining the part it plays in keeping such rivalries alive.

CYCLING
There were fewer than six seconds in it but that was enough for the Diocesan senior girls to make it five-from-five over St Cuthberts in Sunday's Avantiplus team time-trial on the waterfront.

Like all four grades, the senior girls competition continues to be keenly contested, even if the five races this winter have produced the same result, with Diocesan heading St Cuthberts and St Kentigern.

The Diocesan juniors have almost matched their senior team in winning four, with St Cuthberts finishing second four times. In the major talking point, Rangitoto, third on the points table, were given no time and credited with 20th place. They are now well back on overall points but will gain some ground when they are able to drop their worst performance.

St Kentigern won the junior boys for the second time this season to join Macleans in second place overall. Series leader AGS turned in their worst effort of the season in finishing fourth but were still less than 14 seconds behind the winners.

Only four points separate the top three in the senior boys. AGS, second on Sunday, lead WBHS by a point and St Kentigern by four.

The sixth round is on Sunday week.

RUGBY

Auckland
St Peters turned back the clock to beat AGS 12-5 in a spirited top-of-the-table contest on Saturday.

It was their first win over AGS since 2000 and brought their "Peter's Army" band of supporters to life as, by the end of the day, they were on top of the table and almost certainly assured of a home semifinal.

Conditions, overhead and underfoot, were against great rugby, but in the end their safety-first play and Bryn Hall's reliable boot got St Peters home, even if they had to come from behind to do it.

AGS scored first when Andrew Cartwright crossed after good lead-up play from barnstorming centre Konileti Hurrell. The try, from a handy position, was unconverted.

The home team hit back with a Michigan Lam dropped goal and a long-range Hall penalty to sneak 6-5 ahead by the break. Two second-half penalties from halfback Hall were enough to seal the win for the home side.

Should both St Peters and AGS lose this week, KBHS, 37-8 winners over St Kentigern in the penultimate round, could surge to the top of the table.

St Peters should not be troubled, however, as they play bottom-placed St Pauls - again in the "cage" - but AGS face a more difficult task against the improving defending champions, De La Salle, who have only pride to play for.

MAGS, continuing their steady climb after a slow start to their season, must at least draw with Aorere away to book their place in the semifinals.

Aorere trail MAGS only on points differential. With one or other of the pair assured of a top four finish, those hopes are over for last season's runners-up, Kings.

In an emphatic display despite the conditions, Kings beat Tamaki 36-0 in a six-tries-to-nil romp. Simon Healy scored two.

Kings end their season at Sacred Heart on Saturday when the two schools will play for the new Sean Fitzpatrick-Ian Kirkpatrick Cup, with Sean to be on hand to make the presentation.

North Harbour
Despite their 38-0 win over Mahurangi, WBHS seemed destined to miss out on a place in the 1A final.

With just the top two teams to play the season finale - as the curtainraiser to the North Harbour v Northland Air NZ Cup game on August 21 - only a complete reversal of form will cost Massey and Rosmini the chance of a replay of the game of the season.

The 1B race is a different story, however, with seven of the eight teams still in with a chance of making the top four for the August 22 semifinals. The winners of those matches will play the final on August 27 as the curtainraiser to North Harbour's Cup clash with Southland.

There are two rounds to play to complete the 14-match round-robin competitions.

SOCCER
MAGS are within sight of an historic sixth successive league title following their hard-fought 3-0 win over perennial rivals, AGS, on Saturday. In the end, their ability to handle the pressure and master the difficult conditions got the home team home.

Their cause was helped considerably when Thomas Boss scored after just three minutes. MAGS were later dealt a body blow when captain Ryan Elder limped off with a bad knee injury after a reckless challenge on halfway. He is likely to be out for at least a month and could miss the national tournament.

Conrad Poi added a second goal before halftime, and Nikko Boxall made the victory secure when he headed home a third in the 70th minute.


COMING UP

TODAY

Hockey, boy's intercity, pool A, St Kentigern v Pukekohe, Pukekohe 5.45pm, Rangitoto v Rosehill, Crown 1 6pm, Kristin v Kings, Kings 6pm. Pool B, Macleans v Waiuku, Lloyd Elsmore 1 6pm, Long Bay v Massey, Crown 2 6pm, AGS v WBHS, AGS 7.10pm. Auckland boys open A/B, pool A, Kings 2 v Dilworth, Kings 4.50pm, AGS 3 v Avondale, Avondale 5.30pm, St Peters v AGS 2, AGS 6pm. Pool B, KBHS v Lynfield, Avondale 4.30pm, Botany Downs v Pakuranga, LEP 1 5pm, MAGS v MRGS, MRGS 5.30pm. North Harbour grade 1A boys (all Crown Relocations Stadium), WBHS 2 v TGS 4pm, Rangitoto 2 v Rosmini 5pm, Henderson v Mahurangi 6pm, Kingsway bye.

Netball, Auckland SS Combined Points Tournament, Auckland Netball Centre 9am.

Soccer, girls APC, round two (4pm, home team first), premier, division one, MAGS v WGHS, TGS v EGGS, Macleans v Diocesan, St Kentigern v Glendowie, Marist v Avondale, Walker Park 5, Howick v Pakuranga. Division two, Onehunga v Northcote, Rangitoto 1st XI v Pukekohe, Massey v Rosehill, Papatoetoe v St Cuthberts. Division three, Lynfield v Baradene, Orewa v St Marys, Waiuku v AGGS. Junior A, division one, Sancta Maria v WGHS, Diocesan v MAGS, Simson Reserve 1, EGGS Gold v Avondale, Whangaparaoa v St Cuthberts, Macleans v Long Bay, Albany Junior High v Pakuranga. Division two, EGGS Blue v St Kentigern, Massey v Glendowie, Papatoetoe v Northcote, Papakura v Birkenhead. Counties Manukau premier boys (4pm, home team first), Manurewa v Al Madinah, De La Salle v Papatoetoe, Aorere v Rosehill, Strathallan v Waiuku, Pukekohe v Alfriston, Papakura v James Cook.

TOMORROW

Curling, Paradice Avondale, 7.30pm, Birkenhead Team Kim v Long Bay Steele, EGGS Puts v Massey Byrne, EGGS Lee v EGGS Tsai, Birkenhead Malabonga v Birkenhead Patel.

Hockey, girl's inter-city, pool A, MAGS v EGGS, AGS 4.30pm, WGHS v Diocesan 1, AGS 5.30pm, Carmel v Pukekohe, Crown 1 6pm. Pool B, St Kentigern v Rangitoto, LEP 1 5pm, Rosehill v Diocesan 2, Pukekohe 5.15pm, St Cuthberts 1 v Kristin, Crown 2 6pm. Auckland open girls A/B, pool A, AGGS v Diocesan 3, LEP 2 5pm, MRGS v Pakuranga, MRGS 5.30pm, Kings v St Cuthberts 2, Kings 6pm. Pool B, St Cuthberts 3 v St Cuthberts 4, St Cuthberts 4pm, Macleans v Avondale, Avondale 5pm, Marist v Baradene, LEP 1 4pm. North Harbours girls 1A grade, (all Crown Relocations Stadium), Mahurangi v TGS 5pm, Rangitoto 2 v Massey 5pm, Long Bay v Henderson 6pm, Pinehurst v Northcote 6pm.

FRIDAY

Basketball, premier, girls (6pm), EGGS v Northcote, AGS, Diocesan v Massey, Dilworth, Avondale v AGGS, Papakura, MAGS v Rangitoto, MAGS. Boys (7.30pm), AGS v WBHS, AGS, Dilworth v KBHS, Dilworth, Papakura v Onehunga, Papakura, MAGS v Rangitoto, MAGS.

Lacrosse, Auckland SS girls championship, Avondale Racecourse 9am.

Squash, boy's premier championship (4pm), AGS v Botany Downs, AGS, Kings v MAGS, Kings, St Kentigern v AGS 2, St Kentigern. Premier plate (4pm), Howick v Onehunga, Remuera RC, Orewa v TGS, Red Beach SC, WBHS v KBHS, North Shore SC. Girls, championship, friendly (4pm), St Cuthberts v EGGS 2, St Cuthberts, EGGS 1 v Baradene, Eden Epsom SC. Plate, friendly, Kings v WGHS, Unitec, Glenfield v Diocesan, Unitec.

SATURDAY: Netball, Auckland premier, Baradene v Pakuranga, Botany Downs v Howick, Macleans v Sancta Maria 6pm; EGGS v AGGS, MAGS v St Cuthberts, St Kentigern v Diocesan 7pm. Senior A grade, AGGS v One Tree Hill, EGGS v MRGS, Onehunga v Botany Downs 5pm; Diocesan v Kings, Howick v Baradene, MAGS v St Marys 8pm. North Harbour, premiers, championship, Rangitoto v Kristin, Mahurangi v Northcote, WGHS v Carmel 9am. Flight, WGHS 2 v TGS, Orewa v Rangitoto 2, Long Bay v Pinehurst 10.30am. College A, championship, Birkenhead v WGHS 3 9.45am, Kaipara 1 v Kaipara 2 9.45am, Carmel 2 v Carmel 3 10.30am. Flight, Long Bay 2 v Hato Petera 9am, Rangitoto 3 v Northcote 2 10.30am, Kingsway v Whangaparaoa 10.30am.

Rugby, Auckland 1A (2.30pm, home team first), 11th (final) round, Aorere v MAGS, AGS v De La Salle, KBHS v Tamaki, Sacred Heart v Kings, St Kentigern v Tangaroa, St Peters v St Pauls. 1B Championship (noon), Dilworth v Otahuhu, Macleans v Onehunga, Papatoetoe v Southern Cross, Marcellin v MRGS. 1B Plate, Edgewater v Mangere, Hillary v Liston, One Tree Hill v Howick, Pakuranga v Avondale. North Harbour 1A (noon, home team first), Massey v WBHS, Rosmini v Orewa, Rangitoto v TGS, Northcote v Mahurangi. 1B, Long Bay v Hato Petera, Whangaparaoa v Kristin, Kaipara v Kingsway, Glenfield v Birkenhead.

Soccer, senior A1 (noon, home team first), Kings v MAGS, St Peters v Rangitoto, Simpson Reserve, AGS v Macleans, WBHS v Sacred Heart. A2 (noon), Glendowie v KBHS, Pakuranga v Avondale, St Kentigern v Massey, Northcote v Kristin. A3 (10am), TGS v MRGS, Rosmini v Liston, Howick v Onehunga, Long Bay v Glenfield. A4 championship (10am), One Tree Hill v Papatoetoe, Lynfield v Green Bay, Selwyn bye. Plate, Botany Downs v Kingsway, Rutherford v Otahuhu, Whangaparaoa, bye.

MONDAY: Rugby, North Harbour girls, semifinals (4pm, home team first), Mahurangi v Orewa, Long Bay v Massey.