College sport: Battle royal tipped for Moascar Cup

By JENNI RUTHERFORD

A tug-of-war is expected this weekend as Mt Albert Grammar hope to wrench the Moascar Cup from Auckland Grammar's tightening grip.

Bryan Williams, who takes up a co-coaching position with fellow ex-All Black Lin Colling at Mt Albert now that the Hurricanes' Super 12 season is over, is predicting the match will be a "cracker."

The cup was last held aloft by Mt Albert in 1990, when Andrew Blowers, who went on to represent New Zealand at rugby in 1996, 97 and 99, was part of the first XV.

History may repeat itself at 2.30 pm on Saturday - Mt Albert beat Auckland Grammar 13-10 to lift the trophy 10 years ago.

The Moascar Cup shares the same prestige at schoolboy level as the Ranfurly Shield does in provincial rugby, yet Williams says his team are just concentrating on winning and making it to the Auckland championship playoffs.

Williams brings a wealth of rugby knowledge to the school. The former All Black and old boy of Mt Albert Grammar has been appointed director of the school's latest innovation, a rugby academy.

As well as coaching the school's top team, Williams will be in the classroom, teaching rugby, a new subject the school is offering now that the sport is a bona fide career.

Students will learn the history and laws and traditions of the game, as well as the standards and values.

If Auckland Grammar beat Mt Albert, they must defend the cup twice before the end of the season, against Otahuhu College and table-toppers St Peter's College. Auckland Grammar retained it against Onehunga High last weekend.

SWIMMING

Olympic team member Monique Robins showed her class at the Auckland secondary school championships.

Robins (Takapuna Grammar), who has qualified for the 100m freestyle at the Sydney Games in September, broke two records, neither of which was in her specialist event.

She smashed the old 50m butterfly record by 1.5s and reduced Nikki Tanner's 50m backstroke record from 31.40s to 30.13s.

GYMNASTICS

Melynne Rameka (Pukekohe High School) showed consistent form to win the international girls section of the Auckland secondary schools championships.

Her beam routine, which scored 8.1, ensured her win.

Team-mate Victoria Knight was second after leading the competition on the vault and uneven bars.

BADMINTON Carmel College's Karen Tam, ranked the No 1 under-17 player in Australasia, and No 2 Sheryl Cairney (Westlake Girls' High School) will be the match to catch at the North Harbour premier championships tomorrow.

Westlake were New Zealand runners-up in 1999 and will be gunning to make the zone playoffs later in the year.

Only two schools have entered in the boys grade, with Rosmini College and Westlake Boys High School pulling out of the competition.

Rangitoto are the favoured side over Takapuna Grammar, boasting three junior North Harbour representatives in their team of four.

Coming up this week:

Today: Auckland: boy's hockey, rugby league.

Counties Manukau: Netball, soccer boys and girls.

North Harbour: boy's hockey.

Tomorrow: Auckland: girl's hockey.

North Harbour: girl's hockey, badminton premier champs.

Friday: Auckland: basketball, badminton, squash.

North Harbour: girl's hockey.

Saturday: New Zealand secondary schools cross-country championships, Christchurch.

Auckland: netball, rugby, soccer.

Counties Manukau: rugby.

North Harbour: netball, rugby.

Waitakere: netball.

Monday: Auckland: girl's rugby, squash juniors.

North Harbour: hockey boys.

Tuesday: Auckland: squash teams champs.