College sport: Cup win caps great regatta

The Hamilton Boys' High School rowing crew. Photo / Sarah Ivey

There was only a canvas in it, but that was enough as Hamilton Boys' High School held off the Westlake Boys High School eight to claim the Maadi Cup at the Aon NZ Secondary Schools Championships on Lake Karapiro.

By the halfway mark, St Paul's, Christ's College and WBHS were genuine contenders for the title.

Heading into the last 750m, Westlake, with their long, strong strokes, pulled away to a handy lead.

But as St Paul's and Christ's College faded, HBHS surged, taking their rating into the high 30s and then the 40s. Westlake responded but in the last seconds, Hamilton's red boat edged ahead and claimed a narrow victory.

Hamilton BHS also scored wins in the under-16 eights, a one-two in the under-15 coxed four, the under-17 eights and the under-16 coxed four.

Christchurch's Rangi Ruru retained the Levin Jubilee Cup with a three-length victory over Waikato Diocesan and Wanganui Collegiate to claim the top girls' championship.

Hayden Cohen, younger brother of international sculler, Nathan Cohen, won the under-17 single sculls just ahead of his James Hargest College schoolmate Ollie Behrent.

There was another quinella in the girls' under-17 coxed four with Sacred Heart finishing one-two. Other schools that claimed victories included Nelson, Rangiora, Wanganui Collegiate and Cambridge High.

CRICKET

AUCKLAND

Canterbury Schoolboys comfortably out-played their Auckland counterparts to break their drought in the regular representative fixture.

Batting first, Auckland were quickly in trouble at 44/3 before the first drinks break.

Captain Craig Cachopa and Nathan Williamson added a much-needed 89 for the fourth wicket before another collapse had them struggling at 166/7.

Lachie Ferguson then joined wicketkeeper Cameron Fletcher (25) to take the score to 258 before the eighth wicket fell.

Ferguson, with a hard-hit 66, helped Auckland reach 272.

In the hour before the end of play on the first day, Canterbury reached a solid 51-1.

The second day belonged to the visitors and in particular, opener Tom Latham. He scored a superb 116 and laid the foundation for the 279/6 they scored to take the honours.

WAIKATO

An unbeaten century from Year 9 student Tim Seifert made the difference as St Peter's School cruised to victory over plucky Te Awamutu/Otorohanga in the division one, 1st X1 first term championship final.

Seifert, batting at five, scored 101 not out in a tally of 261/9.

The combined side had early success when Kurt James was brilliantly caught by wicketkeeper Clinton Sinclair off Josh Gibson for five.

But any hope of a complete breakthrough were dashed as Jarrod Mongston and Matthew Kilgour added 82 for the second wicket. They fell in successive overs to give the visitors some hope which grew when they removed St Peter's captain Ross Fitz-John for five.

At 108/4 the home side were in need of a boost which came in the form of Seifert and his classy century.

In reply Te Awamutu/Otorohanga lost an early wicket, recovered to 67/1 in the 16th over but the wheels then fell off as Warwick Lynn ripped the heart out of the innings to finish with 4-19 off nine overs. Fitz-John also bagged four wickets as the visitors struggled to 101 with seven of their batsmen bowled.

Hillcrest High were too strong for Cambridge in the play-off for third winning by five wickets with more than 18 overs to spare.

Cambridge were quickly in trouble and only Jono Feast offered much resistance, scoring 65. But he lacked real support and the innings ended at 160 in the 45th over.

In reply, Hillcrest began steadily, posting 44 for the opening wicket. A solid second wicket partnership between Brenden Flegg and Andrew Fowke took the game away from Cambridge and the match ended in the 31st over with Hillcrest 162/5.

In a high-scoring affair, Hamilton BHS Development X1 beat Matamata by 36 runs to take the plate final.

Led by Matt Fluhler's 71, HBHS posted an impressive 291/8 to which Matamata replied with 255, of which Ryan Wilson scored 108.

Te Aroha got up by six wickets over Thames High in the bowl final, posting 179/4 in reply to the 178/9 scored by Thames.

DIVING

Led by Auckland's Liam Stone, Albany Junior High emerged on top at the Auckland SS Championships.

Stone beat James Webster (Kings) and Florian Peckl (Green Bay High) to take the senior individual title and lead his school to the teams' trophy.

Albany JHS also won in the junior boys with Hamilton Belcher claiming the title from Liston's Chris Moore.

Liston's success came in the intermediate boys where Richard Moore headed Thomas Sharp (Albany JHS).

St Cuthbert's dominated the girls' contest with two wins and a second.

RUGBY

Mt Albert Grammar started their season on a high with victory in the annual Condor 7s tournament at the Grammar Carlton RC.

Going one better than last season when they were runners-up to Hamilton BHS, MAGS beat Wesley College 12-5.

WAKA AMA

Whakatane High School scored a rare quinella in the girls' under-19 W1 final at the national secondary schools championships at Rotorua's Lake Tikitapu. But for the disqualification of two other paddlers from the school, they could have claimed the first four placings.

Rachel Kingi powered home to claim the honours from Nicole Bancroft, fourth across the line but promoted to second following the disqualification of Renee Kingi and Talitha Pongi.

WATER POLO

For the first time in the 24 years of the national premier contest, a penalty shootout was needed to find a winner.

Old rivals Westlake BHS and Rangitoto took the boys' final to the wire - and beyond. WBHS claimed the title but they had to come from behind in ordinary and extra time to do it.

* www.asbcollegesport.co.nz