College sport: Multisport duo win on bikes

By JENNI RUTHERFORD

Talented multisport athletes Debbie Tanner and Jade Gilbertson were a powerful force at the New Zealand secondary school individual cycling championships at the weekend, winning their respective age-groups.

Both have won New Zealand duathlon medals and added to their growing haul.

Tanner, from Diocesan School, successfully defended her 1999 title, winning the senior girls' championship. She won the uphill stage, beating her record time, set last year, by one second.

Gilbertson, of Epsom Girls' Grammar, added another junior girls' title to her growing trophy shelf with solid performances in the time trial and criterium events.

Team-mate Jennifer Makgill slashed 12 seconds off the hill climb record to finish second overall.

In the intermediate boys' race, James Elvery (AGS), who won gold at the duathlon championships, smashed one of the many uphill records by over five seconds. Elvery sprinted up Mt Wellington in 1m 48.3s, but finishes out of the top three meant he took home bronze.

Ryan Hoogenberg (Howick College) retained his senior boys' title. Rosehill College's David Bassett led from start to finish in the junior boys' race, winning the hill climb, time trial and criterium. Logan Caulfield (AGS) was second behind Bassett.

RUGBY LEAGUE

Minnows Nelson College have knocked Auckland champions St Paul's College out of the New Zealand secondary schools competition in Nelson. Nelson downed the defending national champions in the semifinal 37-16 to set up the final with Christchurch's Aranui College.

RUGBY

St Peter's College are in line for a winner-takes-all season this Saturday if they can topple St Kentigern in the Auckland grade 1A grand final at Eden Park.

In the semifinals, St Peter's beat Kelston 37-22 and St Kentigern downed Auckland Grammar 25-9.

St Peter's snatched the Moascar Cup from Auckland Grammar three weeks ago and remained undefeated for the entire season, winning the round-robin tournament and qualifying for one of the two Auckland spots in the New Zealand secondary schools competition in September.

In the 1B competition, Macleans College could join the big league if they can down Dilworth School. The winners can challenge 1A's cellar-dwellers Tamaki High School for their place in the top division next year.

There was sweet revenge for Westlake Boys' High in beating Rosmini College 29-12 to tee up a final spot against Massey High in the North Harbour competition.

Westlake have lost to Rosmini the week before and now face the even more daunting task of taking on Massey, who boast newly named New Zealand secondary schools representatives Chris Smylie and Mehaka Wickliffe, in the final at Onewa Domain on Saturday.

Papakura High School emerged 3-0 victors over Wesley College's third XV in the Counties Manukau First XV final.

Auckland Girls' Grammar continued their proud record of not conceding a try in beating Papatoetoe High School 70-0 in the final of the girls' championship.

NETBALL

The memory of Avondale College principal Phil Raffills, who died last week, was the inspiration behind the school's passionate 31-26 win over Auckland Girls' Grammar on Saturday in the Auckland Waitakere combined league.

With the expertise of New Zealand under-21 representative Rachel Rassmussen at goal-defence, and the sharpshooting from youngster Francie Stacey (goal-attack), Avondale overcame the defending champions.

Both schools are likely to meet again in the final of the Northern regional tournament next week.

This week. -

Today: Intercity boys hockey. Auckland: grades 1A/B boys hockey. Counties Manukau: boys and girls soccer. North Harbour: grades 1 and 2 boys hockey.

Tomorrow: Intercity girls hockey. Auckland: grades 1A/B girls hockey. North Harbour: grades 1 and 2 girls hockey.

Friday: Auckland: basketball, badminton, squash playoffs. North Harbour: grades 3 and 4 girls hockey.

Saturday: NZ weightlifting. Auckland: rugby final, soccer. North Harbour: rugby final, netball.

Monday: Winter tournament begins this week: NZSS basketball. NZSS hockey. NZSS girls and boys soccer. North Island netball. Auckland: lower grades hockey, junior squash. North Harbour: grade 3 boys hockey.