College sport: Avondale shake up touch champs

By DAVE WORSLEY

Avondale College toppled seven-times senior touch champions Kelston Boys 2-3 in the zone one final at Mt Wellington yesterday.

Kelston still go through to the national champs at Mt Maunganui in December because they made the final, but Avondale will take plenty of pride from their victory.

Whangarei Boys won third place and a trip to the nationals by beating Orewa 3-0.

The girls division became a benefit for West Auckland schools as Waitakere narrowly overcame Kaitaia 3-2 for the title, and Avondale grabbed third over Whangarei, 7-2.

In the mixed competition, Massey breezed past Mahurangi 7-1 in the final and will be joined at the nationals by Northland, who beat Kaipara 5-3.

In zone two, St Pauls beat Mt Albert 6-2 in the boys' final, and Wesley overcame Sacred Heart 4-3 for third.

Auckland Grammar for Girls took their fifth title in six years by beating Papakura 2-1. Southern Cross downed Manurewa 6-5 in the playoff match.

In the mixed competition, Tangaroa College won their fourth title in as many years by beating Mangere 7-3. James Cook gained third place and a spot in the nationals with a 5-1 win against Wesley.

The MVP in the mixed grade was awarded to Massey's Raymond Alo. Aaron Nootai, of St Pauls, won the boys' MVP and Papakura's Ewai Pupaea the girls' award.

Golf

Rangitoto College added the senior boys premier golf title to its growing list of sporting success. Rangitoto beat Westlake 41.5 to 36.5 at the North Shore Golf Club on Monday.

Talented 15-year-old girl Bobea Park beat Kevin Chun 10.5 to 7.5 under the handicap system.

Athletics

Rangitoto sixth-former Phillip Ah Lo won the glamour 100m event in a time of 11.49s and then returned an hour later to trounce a strong field in the 110m hurdles.

In the pole vault, seventh-former Verner Van Loggerenberg finished a staggering 1m ahead of his nearest rival after a leap of 4.2m.

Both athletes will be hoping to make the team for the world youth track and field champs in Canada.

Rowing

South Island teams may have dominated the regatta but Waikato school St Pauls won the rowing race that counts, the Maadi Cup, even though coach Ian Wright was too nervous to watch all of the final.

The St Pauls under-19 eight did not put a stroke out of place as they held off 2000-2001 champions Wanganui Collegiate by a length at Lake Karapiro on Saturday in fine conditions in front of thousands.

Paul Gerritsen, Kyle Mans, Benjamin Robinson, Scott Lissington, James Dallinger, Chris Morris, Paul Sullivan, Carl Morrison and coxswain James Barrett defended the cup in 6min 12.12s. Auckland Grammar were third.

St Pauls also won the coxed four Springbok Shield.

St Margarets College (Christchurch) won a thrilling Levin Jubilee Cup girls' under-19 eights final from Baradene College.

Volleyball

Avondale won the girls' national title for the first time with an upset win over Otumoetai College 28-26 in the final set. In the boys' final, Westlake beat Aorere.

This week:

Friday: Water polo, Auckland senior girls, Millennium Pool 8pm.

Saturday: Auckland secondary schools outrigger canoe, Onehunga Lagoon.

Sunday: Water polo, Auckland senior girls, Sacred Heart Aquatic Centre 6.10pm.