KEY POINTS:
A game of two halves took on a new meaning for Mt Albert Grammar and Sacred Heart in the 1A first XV match of the round eventually won 31-24 by MAGS.
In front of spirited crowd at Sacred Heart, leaders MAGS withstood early pressure from the home side before, against the run of play, Kimami Sitauti ran the length of the field to score.
With Sean Fletcher, Tyrone Ngaluafe, Milford Keresoma and Matt Morrow also touching down and Rocky Khan adding three conversions, the visitors raced to 31-0 - and a bonus point - by halftime.
The second half was a complete turnaround with Sacred Heart scoring three converted tries to close the gap to 10 points with 10 minutes to play.
A dropped goal further narrowed the lead and earned the hosts a richly-deserved bonus point in a game befitting the importance of the occasion.
MAGS face another difficult away trip this week - to play old foes AGS but with the knowledge they take a handy eight-point lead, over De La Salle, with them.
AGS made hard work of their 16-12 win over close neighbours St Peter's College to keep their play-off hopes alive.
In a penalty-dominated match, AGS eventually scored the only try of the match to seal the win which they later admitted was "extremely fortunate" after turning 9-6 ahead but then failing to make use of a steady second-half breeze.
As the penalties continued, St Peters hit back to deservedly lead 12-9 until very late in the game when AGS won a tighthead scrum on halfway and moved the ball wide, a trifle luckily, to Omar Slaimankhel who crashed over in a tackle to score. Alister Hitchcock converted as the final whistle blew.
KBHS bounced back from their recent disappointing efforts to beat St Kentigern 10-8 in a tight affair.
Hosts St Kentigern, with the benefit of a strong wind, led 3-0 at halftime with a solitary penalty.
The visitors hit back early in the second half when centre Ivan Penehe broke through and ran 40 metres to set up a try for Junior Ngaluafe in the corner.
St Kentigern replied with a try for an 8-5 lead which they held until three minutes from time when, after a series of stuttering attacks, Kelston's Michael Pouhila picked up a loose ball in midfield and set out on a swerving run for the match-winning try.
The home team refused to give up and went close in the dying seconds.
After a sometimes disappointing season, St Pauls ground out a 16-5 win over bottom-of-the-table Otahuhu after taking the early lead with a try from centre Ta'amilosaga Leumuava. Somewhat against the run of play, Otahuhu hit back to close the gap with an unconverted try.
A penalty converted by Tutone Fungavaka and a James Taufa dropped goal stretched St Pauls' lead to 13-5 at halftime. A second penalty after the break completed the scoring.
Lock Liaki Moli was outstanding for the winners, while Otahuhu fullback Paea Vaiaku, second-five Filisone Pauta and lock Lagi Isara showed out for Otahuhu.
ATHLETICS
There were lean pickings for Auckland schools in the national secondary schools cross-country championships in New Plymouth.
The six titles were shared - none won by schools in the greater Auckland region - with the only medals for Aucklanders the bronzes won by Anna de Heer (Diocesan) in the year nine girls and Brigitte Hicks (St Kentigern) in the field of 175 who contested the junior girls race over 3000m.
The senior boys race over 6000m, which attracted the day's biggest field of 218, also produced the closest finish with Harry Dixon (Nayland College) and second-placed Aaron Pulford (Hauraki Plains College) both credited with the same time. Rabah Bashir (WBHS) was the best of the Aucklanders in claiming fifth.
The senior girls race, which attracted a field of 191 who raced over 4000m, was won by Hannah Newbould (Cashmere HS) who beat Olivia Burne (PNGHS) by 6secs. There were, however, top 10 finishes for five Auckland runners with Rachael Kingstone (St Cuthberts) fourth, Hannah Morgan (Diocesan) sixth, Annika Pfitzinger (Rangitoto) eighth, Emily Ingoe (Massey) ninth and Amelia Watkinson (Diocesan) 10th.
Sam Morreau (AGS) was fourth in the junior boys and Thomas Currie (Long Bay) also fourth in the year nine boys over 3000m in a race which attracted 190 starters.
BASKETBALL
Just five points separate the top five teams after the first round (seven games) in the hotly-contested premier boys championship.
An 80-65 win over long-time rivals Rangitoto catapulted WBHS two points clear at the top of the standings.
Led by most valuable player and top-scorer Zac Fitzgerald (who scored 20 points), Westlake were always in control in a game played in excellent spirit by both sides. Rangitoto were let down by only average shooting, with their MVP Joshua Davis leading their scoring for the match with a modest 13 points.
Dennis Tawhiti scored a match, and round, high 33 points as Papakura over-ran AGS 77-51 in another game played in good spirit.
Dilworth joined Rangitoto in equal second place following their 84-62 win over MAGS after MAGS had led 23-18 at the end of the first quarter.
Led by in-form Jeremiah Makavilitogia, Papakura dominated the remaining quarters to win comfortably. Makavilitogia led the scoring with 27. He was well-supported by Aki Pulu (18), while Kingston Manualofi (20) led the scoring for MAGS.
Christoph Fahrensohn led the charge for KBHS with 24 points as they beat lowly Northcote 90-72 with Ethan Tammler leading the scoring for Northcote with 22.
Led by MVP and top scorer Milly Nathan (31 points), leaders Rangitoto beat Avondale 96-58 in premier girls action.
In a tight affair, Northcote held on to second place in edging St Kentigern 64-63, while Massey remain in sight of the leaders following their 71-57 win over AGGS.
CURLING
Auckland Grammar pulled off the upset of the sixth round coming back from 0-2 after the first end to snatch a win from their more fancied rivals, Henderson High, 6-4.
Henderson stole a third shot on the second end to consolidate their lead before AGS rallied with singles on the third and fourth ends before giving up another single to trail 2-4 after five ends. Another single for AGS left them 3-4 down going into the last end but with Henderson having last stone advantage.
AGS were holding three but the Henderson skip could not capitalise on an open house with his attempt to draw the winning shot too heavy.
In an all-KBHS affair, Keiran Ford's Red team beat Matt Clemmett's Blue team 6-3 after leading 6-1 with an end to play.
The games on sheets C and D were late starting because of the wet ice. Baradene Team Hill shrugged off the heavy conditions to beat Massey Team Charles 10-0.
After dropping singles on the first two ends, Birkenhead Team Tutunoa bounced back to score four on the third and race away to beat EGGS Team Kwon 10-2.
After six rounds, the Birkenhead team of Paula Tutunoa, Yunsun Kim, Bianca Fisher and Vivian Chung and the EGGS team of Lisa Ku, Courtenay Kay, Monica Stone and Vanessa Bradley lead pool A.
Pool B is headed by Baradene's Lee-ande Hill, Florence Ng, Marilyn Tan and Katherine Yip and the EGGS team of Chelsea Farley, Thirya Jayaranjan, Tessa Farley and Emily Whelan.
The unbeaten teams of Yuki Mori, Filipe Casal, Felix Hailer, Tom Tseng and James Seafale (Birkenhead) and Kieran Ford, Brett Sargon, Reagan Luipi and Arnold Mataika (KBHS) lead the boys/mixed competition.
SOCCER
Mt Albert Grammar scored first and last but that was not enough as Macleans scored three goals in between to hand the visitors a 3-2 loss - their first of the Senior A1 season.
Auckland Grammar made the most of the upset at Macleans College to go to the top of the table with their emphatic 5-0 away win over KBHS.
In a minor upset, St Peters beat WBHS 3-0 - their first win over Westlake in eight years.
After a scoreless first half, Nathaniel Hailemariam headed home an Isaac Fitzgerald corner to give St Peters the lead. A second header, from captain Parusi Lemalu, later named man of the match, from another Fitzgerald set piece, had St Peters comfortably 2-0 ahead.
Striker Rory Kelly made certain of the points, from their second win of the season, with a late goal.
At Macleans College, visiting Mt Albert Grammar were given a dream start to the match when Dakota Lucas ran on to a Mark Withers flick on and lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Earl Crowley. There was no further first-half scoring despite MAGS having the vast majority of the possession and territory.
In the 66th minute, Macleans got back to 1-1 when Nick Corliss headed home from a left-wing corner. Ten minutes later Rhys Pemberton headed home from a freekick and soon after made it 3-1 when he scored from another left-wing corner.
Withers got one back in the last minute - too little, too late. Interest now turns to Saturday's fourth-round home Chatham Cup tie against Sandringham-based Central United.
With a number of former MAGS players, including Milosh Nikolic, Sam Campbell and Lance Eason, all likely to play for Central and with Central/Auckland City academy players, including Zane Sole, Jade Messias, Karlo Pavic, Matthew Rowlands and Mark Withers, all in Kevin Fallon's MAGS squad there will be a real air of familiarity when the players turn up at the school for the 2pm kick-off.
* www.asbcollegesport.co.nz
