College sport: Books take priority over cricket

Bella Lawrence, of Baradene College, plays touch against Lynfield College at Grey Lynn Park yesterday. Photo / Richard Robinson

Auckland's best schoolboy cricketers were given a timely reminder of where their priorities should lie when the scheduled two-day match to start the fourth term championship was reduced to a one-day, 50-over affair.

The 1A championship and plate matches were set for last Friday and Saturday but the intervention of the Auckland Secondary Schools Heads Association had them played on Saturday only.

ASSHA president Byron Bentley said his board had decided schoolbooks rather than sporting endeavours should take precedence in the fourth term.

"We decided we wanted the kids in school rather than playing cricket," said Bentley. "This is the term where they hunker down with their focus on examinations."

Bentley said the decision had met little opposition with the board believing the scheduling of the match on a school day was an oversight.

After a break this weekend, both competitions will resume on October 31 with the remaining two rounds played over two days on successive Saturdays.

CRICKET

Craig Cachopa shrugged off any frustration in having to play one-day rather than two-day cricket by smashing a century as WBHS posted an imposing 305 against perennial rivals Rangitoto College on the opening day of the term four 1A championship on Saturday.

With good support from Elliot Herd, Robert O'Donnell and Wesley Jerman, Cachopa anchored the massive innings which proved well beyond the Rangitoto batsmen who managed just 121 in reply. Michael Lichkus (Rangitoto) and Kyle Dunsmore (WBHS) were the best of the bowlers with three wickets each.

AGS were almost as dominant in beating MAGS by 119 runs in a match reduced to just 35 overs a side. Lockie Fergusen's unbeaten 53 and 49 from James Crooks laid the foundation for the 191/6 posted by AGS. Ben Adam then took centre stage as he ripped the MAGS innings apart in bagging 5-10. In managing just 121 in reply, MAGS were left well short of their target.

The third match was a different story with Kings getting home over St Kentigern by one wicket with a little over five overs to spare. Led by Brad Stanfield's 94, St Kentigern posted a commendable 212/6. Kings, with a handy 60 from Harry Scott and 37 from Dylan Collier, overcame steady bowling from Jordan Drinkall to reach the target.

In one of only two matches played in the plate competition, Sacred Heart, led by Scott Allison's 60 and an unbeaten 40 from Henry Blackwell, beat Avondale College by seven wickets in a game in which the weather intervened.

Rosmini, on the back of solid innings from Michael Reidy (74) and Michael Ross (73 not out), over-powered Macleans to win by six wickets.

RUGBY

Mt Albert Grammar blindside flanker Matthew Matich has been awarded the inaugural John Drake Memorial Scholarship.

The annual scholarship, worth $5000, is an initiative by Auckland University and the University Rugby Football Club and backed by Drake's family and friends, and is awarded to an outstanding all-rounder for study at the university and to play for the university club.

Matich is a prefect at MAGS and head prefect at the school hostel. He has played in the school's 1st XV for the past two years. This year he played for the Auckland under-18s and the NZ SS Sevens.

Next year he plans to study civil engineering at the university. Born and raised in the Dargaville-Ruawai area, Matich has played rugby since he was 4. He was dux of Dargaville Intermediate School and a school sports captain.

The scholarship honours the memory and achievements of the former All Black who died suddenly last December.

ON THE WEB
www.asbcollegesport.co.nz