College Sport: Bozzone tested to limit

The senior boys title at the Auckland schools multisport event came down to just six seconds as world under-20 duathlon champion Terenzo Bozzone, of Rangitoto, pipped Macleans' Bruce Hunter.

Bozzone was more than five minutes behind Hunter after the kayak stage, but slowly made up the margin on the run. Todd Calkin, of Auckland Grammar, was third.

Staged over a 3km kayak, 15km cycle and 3km run, the senior boys team title was retained for the third year in a row by the Rangitoto team of Chris Moors (kayak), Adam Triggs (cycle) and James Upton (run) ahead of Howick and Rosmini.

In the senior girls event, Westlake's Merrin O'Brien won from Waiuku's Samantha Hawkyard. Macleans' Stephanie Clarke was third.

The senior girls team title went to Epsom, who finished nearly a minute ahead of Howick. Rangitoto was third.

In the junior boys event, Waiuku's James Bowstead beat Mathew Mildenhall, of Auckland Grammar, and Sam Murphy, of Macleans.

Alexandria Gibson and Rebecca Clarke from Macleans were first and third respectively in the junior girls with Rangitoto's Melissa Smallberger. Massey won both junior teams titles.

BASKETBALL

Auckland Grammar and Westlake will meet in the final of the Auckland boys championships on Friday.

In the semifinals, Grammar captain Reuben White stood out in his side's 97-79 win over Takapuna. Westlake beat Mt Albert 87-56, thanks to the scoring efforts of Ryan Beesley and captain Jeff Palfrey.

The final will be held at the YMCA at 7.30pm on Friday, preceded by the girls' final. In the girls' semifinals, Avondale beat Diocesan 59-23. Grace Rasmussen scored 20 points including three three-pointers. In the other semifinal, Manurewa beat Penrose 54-42.

CYCLING

The schools time trials will be staged on Sunday along the waterfront, starting at Mechanics Bay at 7.15am on a 16km course.

Auckland Grammar will be aiming to continue their dominance in the boys. EGGS and Dio will be the main contenders in the girls.

SOCCER

Epsom Girls won the Auckland title 1-0 over Avondale - a reverse of the national final the week before.

Erin Hamilton scored the winner five minutes from the end.

It is the fourth year in a row the school that won the national title finished runner-up to the rival school for the local title.

Epsom also won the junior championship 1-0 over Westlake.

TENNIS

Secondary school players dominate the seedings of the senior Auckland spring event this weekend.

Of the eight seeds in the women's event, five are teenagers.

Top teenage prospects are 14-year-old Marina Erakovic and sister 17-year-old Julia, both of Glendowie College.

Marina is fifth seed and Julia fourth.

The tournament starts on Friday with the final on Monday night at the Vodafone Tennis Park on Merton Road.

RUGBY

Auckland Grammar are at home to Wesley in the quarter-finals of the national schools 1st XV championships on Saturday.

Grammar, the Auckland champions, beat Dargaville 48-7 in the fourth round. Wesley beat Massey 43-5. Waikato's top school, St Pauls, beat Francis Douglas 36-8 and now play Rotorua, who beat Gisborne 19-6.

NETBALL

Avondale's Rachel Rasmussen will be in the Auckland/Waitakere side for the initial NPC match for Auckland against Western in New Plymouth on Saturday. Rasmussen is a member of the national u-21 team and the Diamonds franchise.

Netball North have Westlake's Malu Faasavalu in their side against Counties Manukau at Allan Brewster Stadium in Papatoetoe on Sunday. Counties Manukau have Auckland Girls Grammar student Natasha Toki.

This week

Friday:

Basketball: Auckland girls and boys finals, YMCA.

Tennis: Auckland spring tournament (through to finals Monday).

Saturday:

Rugby: Boys national quarter-finals, Auckland Grammar and St Pauls (Cambridge).

Sunday:

Cycling: Auckland finals time trials, Mechanics Bay.