College sport: De La Salle pull back from brink

By DAVE WORSLEY

The first round of Auckland's 1A first XV began last Saturday with defending champs De La Salle down 0-9 at halftime to King's College before scoring 17 unanswered points to win 17-12.

It doesn't get any easier for the champs, who next face a home game against Auckland Grammar, fresh from overpowering Sacred Heart 32-26.

Newcomers Macleans took the game to Mt Albert Grammar and almost pulled off an upset, but Grammar won by 15-11.

St Peter's beat Kelston 25-20 and St Paul's had a first-up win 22-8 over Onehunga. Tangaroa triumphed against Otahuhu 32-9.

North Harbour Rosmini College lead the competition after two weeks following a big win over Westlake Boys 2, 34-0. Glenfield came away with a narrow win against Rangitoto, 8-5, and Kaipara showed their potential by thumping Northcote 59-0. The highest score was a huge thrashing by Orewa College who beat Long Bay 112-0.

Girls' rugby

The second round of the competition was held on Monday, with some teams already showing they have what it takes to make the playoffs. Kelston Girls beat Glendowie College 55-0. Eight players scored at least one try, three of them - Grace Lemana, Courtney Niumata and Ardmore Wolfgramm - securing two tries each.

Auckland Seventh Day Adventist High School defeated Sir Edmond Hillary Collegiate 49-0, Otahuhu beat Pukekohe High 31-0 and Tamaki College beat Waitakere College 56-6.

However, the closest game of the day came between defending champions Manurewa High and Southern Cross Campus. Both teams scored two tries, but the decider was a conversion from Manurewa's Huriana Manuel, who sealed the game for Manurewa, 12-10.

Soccer

The premier competition kicked off with a heap of goals for Mt Albert Grammar as they thrashed St Peter's 7-0, making themselves the team to beat.

Auckland Grammar beat Kelston 2-1, Westlake Boys accounted for Avondale 3-0 and Rangitoto College easily beat Kings College 4-1.

The match of the second round should be between Mt Albert Grammar and Westlake at Westlake at midday on Saturday.

League

The Auckland Secondary Schools competition kicks off tomorrow. In the Premier 1st XIII grade St Paul's play Tamaki at St Paul's, Selwyn College play Kelston at Kelston, Papatoetoe play Manurewa at Papatoetoe and James Cook face Mt Albert Grammar at Mt Albert.

Netball

The Counties Manukau competition begins today with the region split into two zones. The Manukau zone plays at the David Lange Courts in Mangere and Counties play at the Papakura Netball Centre.

In Waikato, traditionally strong schools Hillcrest and Ngaruawahia have started the season well, scoring two wins from two in the Monday night competition at the Hamilton Netball Centre.

Orienteering

New Zealand schools rep Frances Peat from St Cuthbert's produced a standout performance, blitzing the senior girls' teams relay and giving her team a commanding lead, which they never relinquished, finishing ahead of King's and Epsom Girls A.

The senior boys was won by King's A followed by Auckland Grammar and Howick A.

Coming up

Today: Cross Country, West Auckland, North Harbour zone, Moire Park, Massey.

Tomorrow: Cross Country, Counties Manukau, Wesley College.

Saturday: Netball, North Harbour, Onewa Domain.

Rugby, Auckland (home team first, all 2.30pm), first XV 1A rugby, De La Salle v Auck Grammar, St Paul's v St Peter's, Otahuhu v Mt Albert, King's v Sacred Heart, Onehunga v Kelston Boys, Tangaroa v Macleans.

North Harbour (home team first, all 1pm), Kaipara v Rangitoto, Westlake 2 v Northcote, Takapuna Grammar v Glenfield, Rosmini v Birkenhead, Long Bay v Massey, Orewa v Westlake Boys, Massey 2 v Mahurangi.

Soccer, Auckland senior A1, (all games midday, home team first),

St Peter's v King's, Kelston Boys v Avondale, Auck Grammar v Rangitoto, Westlake Boys v Mt Albert.