College sport: Diocesan storms to first national title

By JENNI RUTHERFORD

Diocesan School have smashed their way to the top of secondary school girls' tennis, winning their first national title, in Hamilton.

It was the first time Diocesan had beaten arch-rivals St Cuthbert's College in a national tournament in nearly 20 years.

The team, anchored by New Zealand under-16 second seed Ashley Siddall, contained enough depth and strength to hold out Timaru's Craighead Diocesan.

Five of the team won their matches, with only a doubles loss tarnishing a perfect record in the final.

The team of Siddall, Erica Tod, Tammy Kevey, Joanna Carswell and Charlotte Sommerville are likely to be back next year because all have at least a year left at high school.

Diocesan qualified first for the nationals, but found themselves in unfamiliar territory, having never made the New Zealand finals before.

St Cuthbert's, who won the James Aitkenhead Shield this year in the Auckland competition, failed to qualify for the championships, then received a call-up to replace a defaulting team, put in a solid effort to finish third.

Auckland Grammar's absence after failing to qualify ended their four-year stranglehold on the boys' title.

A Christchurch Boys' High School side packed with nationally ranked players comfortably downed St Kentigern College to win the singles 4-0 in the final.

MacLeans College emerged top in the mixed championships, despite losing to second-placed Rangitoto College on a countback.

TRIATHLON

Rangitoto College's multisport maestro Terenzo Bozzone held out last year's intermediate champion James Elvery to win the senior boys' New Zealand secondary school triathlon title in Picton.

Bozzone, the 2000 New Zealand junior boys' triathlon and duathlon champion, won the 750m swim, 20km cycle and 5.2km run in 56m 51s.

Elvery was 1m 39s behind in second place.

Rangitoto College had a successful run at the championships, securing three gold and two silver medals.

Terenzo's younger brother Dino won the junior boys' 500m run, 16km cycle and 2.6km run in 43m 02s.

Stuart Robinson crossed the line for second just over a minute back.

Rangitoto's clean sweep of the boys' races was ruined by Fairfield College's Garet Reid, who ran down Ben Kindred in the intermediate boys' race and forced Kindred to settle for silver. The combined success won them a teams gold. Auckland Grammar and St Kentigern College were second and third respectively.

Julia Scopes (Epsom Girls' Grammar) steadily worked her way through the senior girls' field after emerging from the swim leg in sixth place.

However, she was unable to catch Taradale High School's Sonya Harkness, who opened up a large lead on the bike. Scopes, the Auckland champion was second, over a minute and half behind Harkness.

Diocesan's Jade Gilbertson was third in the intermediate girls' race.

YACHTING

Northcote College, Westlake Boys High School and Auckland Grammar will lead the region's charge at the New Zealand secondary school championships in Christchurch next week.

Kerikeri High School, holders of the national title six times, will be the team to beat.

WATERPOLO

Westlake Boys' High School kept their hold on the New Zealand secondary school senior boys' waterpolo title in Lower Hutt.

Westlake have dominated the sport this year, winning the Auckland, North Island and national titles. They are unbeaten this season and were convincing in the final against Wellington College, winning 7-2. Auckland Grammar were comfortable winners over Rongotai College to take third place.

Westlake were recognised for their talent, with David Broome named best offensive player.

Chris Broome was singled out for his defensive ability and Chris Wall was the best goalkeeper of the tournament.

Coming up:

April 18-21: New Zealand scholastic surfing championships, Oakura, Taranaki.

April 20-21: North Island orienteering championships, Taupo.