College sport: Bozzone takes senior boys title

By DAVE WORSLEY

Rangitoto College likes to keep things in-house when it comes to dominating sporting events.

Last weekend the school could say it had influence in several races at the national cross-country champs at Wingatui Racecourse in Dunedin.

Student Dino Bozzone won the senior boys' title at the national secondary schools champs following on from his junior title two years previous.

Bozzone won the race in 20m 09s over the 6km course. Last month he convincingly won the Auckland schools event.

And by taking out the New Zealand senior boys title he has emulated the feat of his older brother, Terenzo, who won the title in 2002.

Rangitoto's team manager and PE teacher Jessica Wright was not to be outdone by her students.

In the first race of the day Wright ran in the NZ short course championships and secured third place in a time of 14m 17s over the 4km distance. Wright's husband-to-be, Ben Ruthe won the men's open race.

In the senior girls, Sarah Morgan of Matamata College continued her good form, winning by four minutes from Kate Campbell of Diocesan. Matamata's Rachel Kingsford was third.

Karting

There was a fierce battle for the karting title over the weekend at the Auckland champs with St Kentigern finally wrestling the title away from two-time defending champions Rangitoto. At the end of the day only one point separated St Kentigern, Rangitoto and Mt Albert Grammar. All three will compete in Nelson on July 10-11 for the Bruce McLaren/Formula Challenge Award at the national secondary schools championship with more than 90 other schools.

Rugby

In Auckland first XV Macleans College had their run of success stopped as they were beaten by St Peters College 18-11. Auckland Grammar beat Mt Albert Grammar 20-6 to remain unbeaten for the season so far and Kelston Boys defeated Sacred Heart 26-12. Other winners were Onehunga, Kings and De La Salle.

Auckland Grammar lead the points table on 33 ahead of Kelston Boys (27) with Mt Albert, De La Salle and St Peters all tied on 24 points in third place.

Macleans have 23 points. Their loss to St Peters now has them in need of points but they have a tough run of matches ahead. They host Auckland Grammar this Saturday and have matches against Kelston, De La Salle and Sacred Heart remaining.

The big match on Saturday is Mt Albert against Kelston at Kelston.

Soccer

Auckland Grammar may have beaten Mt Albert in the rugby in front of a big crowd during their soccer-rugby double-header but it was Mt Albert scoring an emphatic 6-0 victory in the soccer. Mt Albert lead on 18 points, two ahead of Westlake with Auckland Grammar on 13.

The Mt Albert second XI also scored a 6-0 win, beating Sacred Heart in the senior A2 division which they lead by a point from Liston College. Lacrosse Auckland Grammar and Westlake Girls will meet in the final of the girls competition tomorrow at 4pm at Auckland Grammar.

Both teams had straightforward wins in their semifinals. Grammar accounted for St Dominics 14-3 and Westlake beat Avondale 14-4. Avondale and St Dominics will play off for third and fourth.

The B grade should be a close tussle between St Dominics and Pinehurst, who finished on equal points in the round robin. In the semifinals St Dominics beat Avondale (B) 10-4 and Pinehurst beat Westlake 12-5.

The Northern region tournament will be held in Whangarei Friday week with all of the Auckland teams entered plus some new teams including Epsom Girls, Diocesan, St Marys, Rodney and Whangarei Girls High. Coming Up Tomorrow: Lacrosse, girls final, Auckland Girls Grammar v Westlake, Auckland Girls, 4pm.

Saturday: Auckland First XV rugby, (2.30pm start), Macleans v Auckland Grammar, Kelston v Mt Albert, De La Salle v Onehunga, Otahuhu v King's, Tangaroa v St Pauls, St Peters v Sacred Heart.

Soccer (all games midday): Auckland Grammar v Kelston, Westlake v Avondale, Kings v Rangitoto, St Peters v Mt Albert.

Sunday: cycling, race five, Tamaki Drive, Auckland road racing time trials.