College Sport: Near miss still feels like win

By JENNI RUTHERFORD

Fate dealt De La Salle College the losing card in this year's 1A first XV rugby championship, when they finished fifth and out of the semifinals.

It would have been a fairy-tale to rival those of Hans Christian Andersen if the small Mangere East school had made the top four in New Zealand's toughest college rugby competition.

"If we had got into the top four, we were confident that we could match any of the big teams," said assistant coach Nigel Hurst.

But it was not to be, a well-coached, slick King's College taking the last place. Both teams finished on 37 points, but King's went through after beating De La Salle 13-7 in the round robin.

"It was as little as a fourth try against St Kentigern or a bonus point against Otahuhu," said Hurst. "We failed by one point."

The season highlight for this minnow side was beating the big fish St Kentigern College.

"Beating St Kentigern was very special for us. To say we're happy with the season would be an understatement," Hurst said.

They don't finish the regular season empty handed, as they still hold the Moascar Cup after four tough defences. They plan to defend it against Rosmini and New Plymouth's Francis Douglas Colleges later this season.

King's meet Kelston, while St Kentigern and Auckland Grammar clash in the semifinals on Tuesday.

Massey High School finished top of the North Harbour competition ahead of Westlake Boys' High and Rosmini and Rangitoto Colleges.

The Auckland 1B championship is wide open, with the four semifinalists evenly matched.

Dilworth topped the table, but the other three had to be decided on countback. Edgewater, Hillary College and Mt Roskill Grammar finished one point behind, with Edgewater gaining a home semi, beating both in round-robin play.

Waiuku College hope to snatch the Counties Manukau first XV title out from under red-hot favourites Wesley College second XV's grasp on Saturday. The Wesley side reached the final unbeaten, gaining a four-try bonus point in every game.

The Auckland girls' rugby finalists have been found - but not without a fright for reigning champions Auckland Girls' Grammar.

The unbeaten side were nil-all at halftime with Papatoetoe High in the semifinal before winning 17-0. They will again find tough opposition in Papakura High in the final.

AEROBICS

Genevieve and Annabelle Ali were an untouchable mix at the secondary school aerobics championships, winning the grade four pairs.

The 15-year-old twins from St Cuthbert's College repeated the form that helped them, with Kylie O'Loughlin, place fifth at the national championships worldwide competition in San Francisco in the teams category last month.

O'Loughlin (Epsom Girls') was also too strong for her opposition in the grade four individuals. The three then combined to win the grade four teams. Amanda Reid and Kirsten Stanners from Maclean's College picked up the grade four pairs title.

CYCLING

A 240-strong contingent from Auckland competes at the NZ secondary school cycling championships in the city this weekend.

The group includes large junior teams from Diocesan as well as newcomers Mt Albert Grammar. Just one South Islander will compete.

Two-time junior girls winner Jade Gilbertson (Epsom Girl's Grammar) enters the senior ranks against teammate Julia Scopes, Jennie Stenhouse (Upper Hutt College) and Taradale High's Sonya Harkness. Te Awamutu's Tim Gudsell is expected to impress in the senior boys but will be pushed all the way by Auckland Grammar's Walker Starr and Michael Frankovich.

This week:

TODAY

Intercity boys' hockey.

Counties Manukau: netball.

TOMORROW

Intercity girls' hockey.

FRIDAY

NZ secondary school squash championships.

Auckland: basketball.

SATURDAY

NZ secondary schools v England secondary schools rugby, Dunedin.

NZ secondary school individual cycling championship, Mt Wellington, August 11-12.

Auckland: soccer, netball rugby 1B semifinals.

Counties Manukau: rugby final, Lenco Cup rugby.

North Harbour: rugby semifinals, netball.

MONDAY

Auckland: girls' rugby final.

TUESDAY

Auckland: 1A first XV rugby semifinals.