The adage "conditions were the winner" quickly sprang to mind as Auckland's best tackled a wet and slippery St Kentigern College course for the annual secondary schools cross-country championships yesterday.
The testing circuit, which soon became a mudbath, was better suited to ducks than runners who struggled to stay on their feet but still managed to turn in some outstanding racing.
The early races for the junior girls and boys were hit hardest with the worst of the conditions but that did not stop Alana Lythe (WGHS) taking a convincing 11sec win over Audrey Gregan (St Cuthbert's) while David Lee made the short trip from Pakuranga College to cause a minor upset in beating Jonty Morreau (AGS) for the boys' title.
Magnus Whyte (AGS) just failed in his attempt to add the intermediate title to the junior crown he claimed last year when beaten by Ben Moynihan of King's while Ashleigh Williams gave EGGS their first title of the day when she held off Kristin's Emily Pearce to take the intermediate girls.
Brigette Hicks, competing on her home course and the junior champion in 2007 and last year's intermediate winner, just failed to complete the trifecta when she finished third in the senior race behind Ella Mangan-Walker, who assured EGGS of their second title.
It was a similar story in the senior boys as Sam Morreau attempted to add the senior crown to his earlier successes after winning the junior race in 2007 and the intermediates last year. Morreau also had to settle for third, finishing behind Sacred Heart's Declan Wilson, who beat Haile Tesfaye (MRGS) by 13secs. Morreau was 3secs back.
BASKETBALL
Led by a 24-point haul from Ben Fraser, top-of-the-table WBHS swamped bottom-of-the-table MAGS 133-44. Ahead 41-15 after the first quarter, WBHS continued to push on and led 69-32 at halftime before cruising to an 89-point victory.
NETBALL
New Zealand successfully defended their International Schools Girls Challenge title in Adelaide with a hard-fought 29-23 win over Australia in the final.
That victory reversed the result of their earlier round-robin clash won 24-23 by the hosts in another cliff-hanger.
In their other round-robin matches - with two games a day - New Zealand, with seven of their 12 players from Auckland and Counties Manukau schools, beat Indigenous Sport Australia (55-6), the Malaysian representatives (54-16), Aotearoa Maori (36-22) and Pacific Rim Secondary Schools (40-36).
They then beat Aotearoa Maori 36-24 in the 2 v 3 crossover game before meeting Australia in the final.
"Australia got about five goals in a row in the first quarter and it took us probably halfway through the third quarter to get ourselves in front," said New Zealand coach Adrienne Morrin. "We pretty much held a two-goal buffer right until the last five minutes then we pulled it out a bit more."
Morrin said the team's strong showing at the tournament was partially due to some great leadership from some of the senior players, Sophia Fenwick, Kirsten Hurley and Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick.
"I think just their leadership with some of the younger players made a big difference to the team. We have had a few stars emerge. Wing defence Stacey Peeters, from Gore, showed she can change a game with one or two intercepts. Tera Maria Armani, at goal shoot, missed very few goals."
RUGBY
Is there any stopping Mt Albert Grammar School?
Halfway through the 1A season and they have won six from six, collecting a four-try bonus point in each. They have amassed 242 points at better than 40 a game while giving up just 65.
Just as interestingly, the "big four" of Auckland schools rugby are now the top four as the charge towards the semifinals gains momentum. MAGS lead KBHS, King's and AGS.
But it has not all been simply a case of turning up and running away with the points, as promoted Otahuhu College showed at MAGS on Saturday.
Despite having only a win and a draw to show for their efforts after making the huge step up from the 1B competition, Otahuhu held MAGS to just 12-0 at halftime after Louis Devery had crossed for two tries.
Damon Niko also scored twice in the second half to ensure the bonus point as the lead stretched to 24-0 and soon 36-0 as Milford Keresoma and Scott Malolua joined the tryfest.
Even then the hosts were not done as they continued to spread the ball to Devery, who dotted down for another two tries and a personal haul of 20 points. Albert Nikoro (one) and Matt McGahan (four) added the conversions as the final score blew out to 50-0.
AGS bounced back from their midweek wake-up call - beaten 41-12 by world champions Hamilton BHS - to beat Tangaroa 39-17 to pick up their first bonus point of the season.
Like MAGS, AGS were made to work hard in the first half.
They led 5-0 with a try from Konileti Hurrell before the visitors hit back with two tries to lead 10-5. Troey Myers then scored from a pick-and-go. Christian Walker's conversion gave AGS a 12-10 lead which was extended to 17-10 before the break when Hurrell bagged his second try.
His third ensured there would be no comeback from Tangaroa even if they did manage a late consolation try.
AGS face a tougher test next up when they travel to play King's after the Queen's Birthday break.
King's will need to regroup after going down 23-9 at home to KBHS.
An exchange of first-half penalties - with Simon Hickey landing three for King's - kept the scores close. Tayler Adams replied for KBHS to tie it up at 9-9 before their open-side flanker Matt Howling scored the first try of the match. Adams converted for 16-9 inside the last 10 minutes.
Encouraged by that, the visitors withstood some determined play by the home side before fullback Junior Ngaluafe capped a long-range counter-attacking move with a good try. Adams converted to complete the scoring.
In yet another close encounter between Tamaki and St Kentigern, it was visiting St Kentigern who claimed the points in a game in which both teams managed just a try each.
Ahead 7-0 after withstanding early Tamaki pressure, St Kentigern stretched their lead to 10-0 with a Mariu Grace penalty. Viliami Puafisi replied for Tamaki to leave the visitors ahead 10-3 at halftime. That quickly became 10-10 as Puafisi scored and converted his try. Grace then booted three close-range penalties to complete St Kentigern's 19-10 victory.
St Peter's College retained the keenly contested Hibernian Shield for another year after subduing De La Salle 22-10.
De La Salle will be counting themselves somewhat unlucky in having two tries disallowed - decisions which mystified many spectators. Standout De La Salle first five Fomai Ah Ki cut through on one of his many runs to score what seemed like a clear try only to be called back.
De La Salle had the edge in territory and possession stakes. However, they failed to turn this advantage into points against a staunch St Peter's defensive line.
Conversely, St Peter's made the most of their chances to score three tries as strong running prop Conrad Lam and the midfield pairing of Blake Hall and DJ Solomona scored a try each.
NORTH HARBOUR: Shrugging off the loss of injured captain Jordan Manihera and having to travel to Moire Park, 1A leaders WBHS raced to a 24-7 halftime lead and went on to beat Massey High 34-19.
Ahead 3-0 after just five minutes when Jacob Botica kicked the first of his two penalties, the lead quickly stretched to 10-0 as Botica scored and converted an early try. A Fabian Togo try in the corner, also converted, took the visitors to 17-0 after 20 minutes which became 24-0 when Charles Elton scored another try in the corner. Botica duly added the extras.
Late in the first half the sometimes ill-disciplined Massey team were rewarded with their first try when Sale Faaeteete ploughed over.
WBHS wasted little time claiming the bonus point in the second half when Tago claimed his second try. Botica kicked his fourth conversion and added a long range penalty for 34-7.
The last say was with the home side, who closed the gap as Wairaki Pama scored two tries.
Second-placed Orewa beat Rosmini for only the second time - their first win in 18 years - to claim the Woodhouse Shield 22-10 after leading 9-0 at halftime. A try and two late penalties were enough for Orewa to hold on as Rosmini hit back with two second-half tries.
Down 20-12 at halftime, Mahurangi recovered to edge Rangitoto 26-25 in an exciting, tight game in Warkworth.
1B leaders Glenfield scored a decisive 12-5 win over second-placed Northcote, while Kaipara got themselves back into the picture with a 21-5 win over Long Bay.
Whangaparaoa, Kristin and Birkenhead beat Albany, Hato Petera and Kingsway. Glenfield will play Long Bay at North Harbour Stadium on Friday in the curtainraiser to North Harbour's clash with a Japan XV.
THAMES VALLEY: Bottom of the table after round one of the Thames Valley 1st XV competition, Waihi College made an impressive start to the second round with a resounding 58-10 win against Paeroa College.
Mercury Bay Area School continues to be the form side and registered another good win - 19-8 over Thames High School.
WAIKATO: Fraser High School made the most of home advantage to score their win of the season, beating Matamata College 19-14.
Fullback Mark Christiansen was Fraser's star, scoring two tries from long range with some strong counter-attacking running. Christiansen successfully converted both tries.
St Peter's School remained unbeaten at the top of the table after a dour 19-6 win over St Paul's Collegiate.
SECURITY
Concerned at instances of "inappropriate behaviour" by spectators at some sporting events, ASB College Sport chief executive Manoj Daji has welcomed the provision of tape from the ASB to be used for crowd control.
"It's important that students can take part in their sporting activities in a safe environment, and we believe keeping spectators separate from the players on the sporting field or court may assist," said Daji.
"ASB has stepped in to fund the supply of crowd-control tape that can be used to help schools mark out clear boundaries at sporting events, and to assist with managing spectators."
The special tape is available to all ASB College Sport member schools.
"Schools are responsible for ensuring there is a safe environment at all of their matches and events," said Daji. "This includes taking practical steps to ensure all visitors are protected from physical and verbal abuse. This support from ASB is one way we can help schools create this safe environment."
SOCCER
AGS repelled visiting neighbours St Peter's 5-0 to maintain their handy lead at the top of the premier table. Averaging better than four goals a game, AGS are making a statement and will be eying the big prize.
James Routledge gave the home side their 16th-minute lead. The dismissal of the the St Peter's captain - for a second yellow card - after 30 minutes did not help their cause.
Still ahead by that one goal at the break, AGS quickly sealed the deal with a second Routledge goal followed by a Rory Turner tap-in and a deserved strike from Josh Anthony. Routledge completed his hat-trick from the spot.
MAGS had a tougher task before returning from Sacred Heart 1-0 victors with captain Mathew Rowland providing the finish from a 29th-minute attacking freekick to claim the three points.
In matches over the bridge Rangitoto and WBHS shared the points at 1-1 and Kristin scored a welcome first win since being promoted in beating King's 4-2. After a scoreless first half, makeshift striker Blair Smith broke the WBHS defensive line to score his third goal in as many outings. WBHS then took the upper hand and were rewarded for their efforts when Rangitoto conceded a late own goal.
UNDERWATER HOCKEY
Four Auckland teams will defend their Northern Zone titles when many of New Zealand's best take to the water at the West Wave Aquatic centre this weekend. In an action-packed programme from Friday to Sunday, 136 games will be played.
The Northern Zone is the largest of the three zones in New Zealand with 32 teams, from Warkworth's Mahurangi College (competing at this level for the first time) in the north to Tauranga in the south, chasing 16 qualifying spots for September's national championships in Rotorua.
Last year's winners were Diocesan (junior girls - who went on to finish second at the nationals); EGGS (senior girls - national champions); Howick (junior open - national champions) and Glendowie (senior open - national champions).
ON THE WEB www.asbcollegesport.co.nz
College Sport: Rain turns cross-country into mudbath
David Lee masters soggy conditions at St Kentigern College to claim the junior boys' cross-country title. Photo / Steven McNicholl
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