College sport: Games prospects showcased

By DAVE WORSLEY

Several Commonwealth Games prospects will be aiming to win titles at the Auckland secondary schools diving champs at the Glenfield Aquatic centre tomorrow.

Avondale College student Tony Donaldson is one of half a dozen male competitors and is a potential for New Zealand senior rep sides.

Kaitlyn White from EGGS has already competed at world champ agegroup level, and Zimbabwe-born Shaye Boddington from St Dominics is a leading contender for higher honours.

About 50 divers will take part in the event, starting tomorrow at 9am.

OUTRIGGER

James Cook High School and Epsom Girls Grammar won the premier titles at the Auckland secondary school outrigger regatta on the Onehunga Lagoon.

The James Cook boys took just over 1 minute and 9 seconds to travel the 300m course. Papatoetoe High School pushed hard, and Kelston Boys came third.

The Epsom Girls team took just 1.5s longer than James Cook, proving it's all about technique in finding the best crews. Rutherford College came second, Otahuhu College third.

Kelston and Epsom Girls combined to register a time of 1m 10s for first place in the mixed race.

SOFTBALL

St Peters College and Auckland Girls Grammar completed an Auckland double at the national softball champs. Auckland Girls beat Havelock North 4-2 in the final and won the team award for best sportsmanship as well.

The boys final had St Peters beating Christchurch school Aranui 5-2.

WATERPOLO

Auckland Grammar won the gold medal at the national secondary school boys championships, edging out Auckland's Sacred Heart College 5-3 in the final at Lower Hutt.

The final was an epic battle with Sacred Heart's Ben Afeaki doing the offensive damage and being awarded the best offensive player of the tournament. However, it wasn't enough against Auckland Grammar's strong defensive unit, who also showed more versatility on attack.

In the bronze medal match Hutt Valley High School beat Westlake Boys 7-3.

TRIATHLON

Anna Hamilton and Ben Pattle have been rewarded for their top results in secondary schools multisport events with places in the New Zealand under-19 triathlon team.

Hamilton (Rangitoto College) and Pattle (Kristin) were winners of their national schools titles last month. The World under-19 triathlon champs will be held in Queenstown in early December.

The remaining seven athletes have all left school.

SEVENS

There will be plenty of talent scouts on the lookout for players at the Auckland secondary schools seven's this Friday at the Waitakere Rugby Club. The event will be used as qualifying for the national Condor Seven's tournament in Taupo . There are 16 teams taking part with De La Sale, Mt Albert and Auckland Grammar traditionally strong schools.

CRICKET

Kings College has won the northern regional final of the Gillette Cup one-day national schools competition.

Visiting side Rosmini won the toss, electing to bat first, and struggled to be all out for 86.

Kings bowler Anthony Bullick took 5 for 13.

In reply, Kings reached the target of 87 for the loss of just two wickets, opener Mark Craig scoring 40.

Kings will now play at the prestigious Gillette Cup finals in Palmerston North in December.

THIS WEEK:

* Tomorrow - Auckland diving championships, Glenfield Aquatic Centre, 9am.

* Friday - Sevens tournament, Waitakere Rugby Club.

* Saturday/Sunday - North Island Orienteering Championships, Hamilton.