College Sport: Black Sticks' success helps boost hockey

Long Bay's Douglas Benecke flies over Westlake's Joshua Goulding. Westlake won 3-0. Photo / Richard Robinson

The success of the Black Sticks teams is seen as one reason for the increase in the number of hockey players in the Auckland and North Harbour schools' competitions.

The 45 boy's teams in the North Harbour competition is a record - up from 40 last season - and takes the total teams (boys and girls) to 100. The Auckland secondary schools competitions are hosting 152 teams this season - 10 more than last year with the boys up by seven.

Hockey is seen as a genuine winter sport especially with the advent of artificial turfs which means cancellations are rare. No secondary school hockey is now played on grass.

From Pukekohe in the south to Kristin School in Albany there are 16 full-size artificial turfs - most water-based - with seven half-size turfs for junior or 8-aside matches.

At North Harbour, for example, primary schools play on Monday, intermediate schools on Monday, Tuesday and Saturday, secondary schools boys on Wednesdays (and some Fridays) and secondary school girls on Thursday and Friday. The season is played over a 15-week period with the senior grades ending the week before the winter tournament week.

Both premier competitions are nearing the end of their round-robin and preparing for end-of-season play-offs before the top teams square off in the annual inter-city competition involving Auckland, North Harbour and Counties Manukau schools.

RUGBY

High-flying MAGS made the most of good conditions at Tangaroa College to claim another bonus point in going from a 24-0 halftime lead to an eventual 39-12 triumph.

Turning territorial advantage into points, MAGS were soon 12-0 ahead following tries to Michael Fatialofa and Shaun Devine. For a time MAGS were unable to piece together their plays but still picked up another two tries as Damon Niko and Scott Malolua crossed. Albert Nikoro added a second conversion for 24-0.

Tangaroa scored first in the second half before the visitors hit back with a second Niko try. Tangaroa were awarded a penalty try which closed the gap to 29-12. As MAGS picked up the pace Una Mohi scored twice out wide to complete the scoring.

Kings won the 194th clash with arch rivals AGS 23-5 in front of 4000 spectators at Kings. The victory allowed the hosts to claim the sought-after Cooper/Greenbank Cup.

Making the most of winning the toss and taking first use of a stiff westerly breeze, the visitors were soon rewarded with a well-taken try by winger Liam Temoteo.

They were unlucky not to score again when big No 8 Filipe Pau made a surging run only to be pulled down by Simon Healy. Two into-the-wind penalties from Simon Hickey had Kings 6-5 ahead at halftime.

Kings started the second half strongly and increased their lead when Andrew Jones charged down a clearing kick and Hickey gathered and scored. He added the conversion and then a penalty for 16-5.

Another try from a charge down - scored by Fa'asiu Fuata'i - was also converted by Hickey who kicked five-from-five for a haul of 18 points.

St Peter's played their best rugby of the season in overwhelming early-season pacesetters Tamaki 60-13, scoring an impressive nine tries.

The St Peter's forwards led by Sililo Savea, Isaac Isaako and Patrick Tuipolotu delivered quality, front foot ball to the backs. Outside backs Ben Paltridge and D.J. Solomona were the main benefactors of this scoring three tries each.

Tamaki were never allowed to generate any momentum and were confined to a late consolation try.

St Kentigern beat a spirited Aorere 42-0 in difficult conditions at Aorere. The visitors were superior at set pieces with Joseph Edwards dominant in the lineout stealing a number of Aorere throws.

The inside back combination of Jordyn Walters and Mariu Grace were happy to play a tight game into the wind in the first half.

Leading 18-0 at the break, St Kentigern secured the bonus point early in the second half when a perfectly weighted chip kick from Grace found centre Mark Tuaati who crossed the line unopposed. Tuaati was a constant threat for the home team's defence with his strong running.

Winger Lafu Feagaiga crossed for two tries after latching on to loose ball and showing good acceleration. He nearly claimed a hat-trick after a spectacular kick and chase.

The victory moves St Kentigern to fifth place and they will look to consolidate this when they travel to Tangaroa on Saturday.

North Harbour

Orewa claimed a bonus point with their 31-5 win over TGS in front of their staunch supporters at the Silverdale Rugby Club.

Takapuna looked to have the upper hand early making good distance with a rolling maul but Orewa soon showed their strengths with good support to the breakdown.

Warwick Cheney opened the scoring for Orewa when he scored in the corner. Takapuna continued to battle strongly and were rewarded with Ash King crossing the line for 5-5.

Orewa's second try came right on halftime with fullback Andrew Fluker scoring from a solid scrum only metres from the line. Fluker converted for a 12-5 halftime lead.

TGS lacked urgency as Orewa continued their charge. Cheney, Zane Turner and Kym Hines all scored for the home team as they ran out deserved winners.

In the other 1A games, Massey scored a bonus point 31-16 win over Rangitoto and likewise Rosmini over Mahurangi 33-3.

In 1B action big improvers Whangaparaoa upset Long Bay 22-15 and in another surprise Kristen came back from 6-17 at halftime to draw 17-17 with second-placed Northcote.

This week's games are the last of the first round in both the 1A and 1B competitions. The second round will have six teams in each with the bottom five in 1C. Rangitoto will likely drop down to 1B but the battle to stay in 1B for the second round is all on with six schools spread from 19 to 21 points.

Thames Valley

Mercury Bay Area School continue to dominate the six-team 1st XV competition. They ran away to another big win on Saturday, beating Waihi College 52-5 with Regan Crosland scoring 22 points from two tries and six conversions.

At Ngatea, Hauraki Plains College took their chances against Thames High School winning 25-12 after scoring two tries late in the match after the game had been tied 12-12 for most of the second half.

In the third match, Te Aroha College comfortably beat Paeroa College by 27-10.

Waikato

Defending national champions Hamilton BHS will again represent Waikato in this year's play-offs after beating St Peter's School 16-3 mid-week.

St Peters mounted a strong challenge and the game was tied 3-3 at halftime before HBHS gained control in the second half. Wing Jesse Dodunski scored one of Hamilton's tries, with first five-eighth Josh Smith getting the other as well as kicking two penalty goals.

On Saturday, Hamilton BHS were too strong for New Plymouth BHS, winning their Super 8 encounter 42-3.

SOCCER

In a curtain-raiser to the rugby clash later in the afternoon, AGS picked up three vital premier league points with their 1-0 win over Kings.

AGS started well but as had been the case midweek, they were unable to turn early pressure into goals with Ryan Martin going closest when he fired wide after forcing his way into the Kings' penalty area.

The only goal of the match - two minutes after halftime - was a surprising effort from captain James Routledge who held the ball up on the edge of the penalty area before his chipped cross looped over the Kings' goalkeeper and nestled in the far corner of the net.

Kings fought hard and came close on numerous occasions, particularly from set pieces.

Second-placed MAGS twice had to come from behind to get back to 2-2 against a Kristin side who cashed in on two defensive howlers which led to well-taken goals for Alex Duffin.

In between times Jordan Vale fired a rocket into the Kristin goal and added a second for 2-2 before normal transmission resumed. MAGS went 3-2 ahead in the last minute of the first half when man of the match Arus Sem headed home his first goal.

Faitakaia Hamilton, Connor Stoton and Sam Redwood stretched the lead to 6-2 before Vale completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot.

"It was an unusual game where we found ourselves behind twice from ridiculous mistakes at the back," said MAGS coach Kevin Fallon. "I never felt threatened, always believing we would score a lot of goals and boost our goal difference."

Kristin coach Kevin O'Leary praised the first half effort of his team, but admitted, "we were never going to stay with them for 90 minutes".

St Peters claimed the all-important fourth position at the end of the first round with a 3-1 win over Rangitoto. St Peters joins AGS, MAGS and Sacred Heart in qualifying for the premier division at the Lotto national tournament.

St Peters turned first half domination into a 2-0 lead at the break with a scorching strike from Nathaniel Hailemarian and an Ethan Galbraith header from a superb cross from midfielder Craig Barretto.

Rangitoto created more opportunities in the second half but a second goal for in-form striker Hailemarian from a pinpoint Galbraith pass dashed any comeback hopes they had.