College sport: No holiday for busy St Peter's College team

By JENNI RUTHERFORD

There was no rest for the St Peter's College first XV, who returned from Japan yesterday the new world secondary schools rugby runners-up.

A few hours after arriving back, they were on the rugby field for team training, though for most it was just stretching their legs after the long journey home.

As winners of the New Zealand secondary school championships last year, Eric Kohlhase's side were invited to the 24-team tournament that included top college sides from Ireland, South Africa, Australia, Scotland and Italy. They lost to South Africa's Gray's College 40-3 in the final.

Kohlhase admitted that his side were not as prepared as they should have been going to the tournament, and they were unsure of what to expect.

They took a squad of 27 to Asia, with only four of the side remaining from last year's team who dominated the major schoolboy rugby competitions, including the Auckland championship and Moascar Cup.

Three players were the tournament's youngest, at 15, and that youth and inexperience was not fully exposed until the final where they were soundly defeated by an older South African unit.

The St Peter's coaching staff of Kohlhase and August Williams were impressed with the rugby level of the Japanese schoolboys.

"The Japanese have really improved. I expect them to be competitive against us in four to six years," Kohlhase said.

St Peter's beat the top Japanese college, Hashgashi Fukuoka, 22-0 in the semifinals. "They were very fit," Williams said. "They were swarming on defence, with about two or three guys hanging off you instead of one tackler like we're used to in New Zealand."

The Japanese were surprised that St Peter's trained only twice a week compared with their three-hour, four-days-a-week sessions.

"When they weren't training or playing, the Japanese were thinking rugby."

The New Zealanders' days off at the tournament were spent filming the other matches, working out strategies to combat their opposition.

St Peter's are straight back into action this weekend, meeting St Paul's College in the 1A competition. Last weekend St Paul's refused to lie down against St Kentigern College, denying them an easy win. St Paul's earned a point in losing 0-6 defeat.

NETBALL


Avondale College coach Tania Karauria is not discounting the strength of arch-rival Auckland Girls Grammar, despite beating them twice so far this season.

Avondale's latest victory over the strong netball school was in the round robin of the North Harbour secondary school tournament yesterday. Avondale went on to win it, defeating Westlake Girls' High School 24-19 in the A grade final.

"I think once Anna [Auckland Girls Grammar coach Anna Rowberry] has finished with the Coca-Cola Cup the team will change dramatically," Karauria said.

"They will be a fast, fit side who will give us a real run."

Avondale, playing in the Waitakere competition which starts on Saturday, welcome three new caps to the premier side, including third-former Grace Rasmussen, younger sister of Rachel, who is a promising New Zealand under-21 player.

Rachel is also in the side, but will not play until the national championships are over. She did turn out for Avondale yesterday, playing in the shooting circle.

SOCCER

Mt Albert Grammar remain the only Northern Zone schoolboys side in the Chatham Cup after Westlake Boys High and St Paul's Collegiate from Hamilton were knocked out at the weekend.

Mt Albert advanced to the second round after a 7-0 thrashing of Pukekohe. They meet Western Springs at home in their third-round clash.

This week

* Today: Auckland: rugby league, girls soccer, premier boys hockey. Counties Manukau: netball, premier boys hockey. North Harbour: premier boys hockey.

* Thursday: Auckland: premier girls hockey.

Counties Manukau: premier girls hockey. North Harbour: premier girls hockey.

* Friday: Auckland: premier basketball, squash.

* Saturday:Auckland: rugby, netball, soccer. Counties Manukau: rugby. North Harbour: rugby, netball. Waitakere: netball.

* Sunday: Auckland: cycling, orienteering, climbing.

* Monday: Auckland: girls rugby, squash.

* Tuesday:Auckland central zone cross country.