College sport: Sacred Heart's steely purpose wins Cup

The Moascar cup. Photo / APN

The Moascar Cup has become the much sought after hot potato in Auckland school's rugby.

After just a week in the cabinet at Kelston BHS, the prized 91-year-old trophy is for the first time holding pride of place at Glendowie's Sacred Heart College.

In their first Moascar Cup challenge since 1983, Sacred Heart went west with high hopes and a steely determination to continue their unbeaten start to the 1A season.

In an old-fashioned arm wrestle, the well-supported visitors emerged victorious 8-3 to wrest the cup from KBHS who had, a week earlier, claimed it from New Zealand champions Mt Albert Grammar.

After a week in which a clear top four has emerged, MAGS bounced back to humiliate long-time rivals AGS 46-0 and, in a game brought forward, Kings made good use of home advantage to topple previously unbeaten St Kentigern 18-16.

The focus was at KBHS however, where Sacred Heart were on a mission to savour Moascar Cup glory.

Electing to play with the wind, the home team took the lead after 15 minutes with a penalty to which the visitors, through Jack Halpin, replied in a like manner for 3-3 at halftime.

The second half was a battle royal with KBHS holding the upper hand by keeping Sacred Heart pinned in their own territory for long periods. The visitors responded by repulsing repeated Kelston attacks.

With seven minutes to play and using the wind to their advantage, Sacred Heart, led by player-of-the-day lock Villiami Rerasea, got deep, won a lineout, spun the ball wide and after stepping out of a couple of tackles, wing Aisea Bera scored out wide to complete the scoring.

Sacred Heart held on to spark jubilant scenes among their faithful supporters who can probably look forward to keeping their hands on the Moascar Cup for a month or so before more serious tests in facing St Kentigern and MAGS away on July 2 and 9.

Down but far from out after their loss to Kelston, MAGS were well-primed to welcome AGS and quickly showed they meant business racing to 10-0 in the opening seven minutes as Jarrod McAlister-Poi kicked a penalty and then converted Damon Niko's try in the corner.

The hosts were relentless and by the break were 34-0 ahead following tries to McAlister-Poi, Una Mohi and two from captain Dillan Halaholo with McAlister-Poi converting two.

AGS turned in a better defensive effort in the second half to restrict the home team to tries from player-of-the-day Sione Teu and Sean Tom and a lop-sided scoreline. AGS are back on the road tomorrow to play Tamaki in a match brought forward.

Back in eighth place, it is all uphill for Auckland Grammar. A win at Tamaki might help restore some confidence.

Kings, too, faced a hectic schedule but emerged victorious in beating St Kentigern last Wednesday and Tangaroa three days later.

Playing at home against St Kentigern, Kings were held 6-6 at halftime after trading penalties.

The visitors took first blood after the break with an early try to which Kings replied when captain Fa'asiu Fuata'i scored out wide.

With seven minutes to play, Kings applied scrum pressure on the St Kentigern line and were rewarded when halfback Julian De Vos was adjudged to have put downward pressure on the ball and the try awarded. Simon Hickey added the extras for 18-11 which was quickly cut to 18-16. From a handy position, the kick was unsuccessful and the home team held on.

Away to Tangaroa on Saturday, Kings ran in seven tries - two each to Ngataua Hukatai, Fuata'i - en route to a 47-8 win.

CYCLING
There is no stopping the St Cuthbert's senior time trial team. In stretching their winning streak to 10, including last year's North Island and National Championships, by winning Sunday's second race in the Avanti Plus time trial championships, the St Cuthbert's quintet (with the first four to count) smashed the record by 26s.

The team of Devon Hiley (captain), Helena Jackson, Elise Salt, Danyela van der Sande and Holly White zipped over the 16km out-and-back course in 22m 52s at an average speed of 40.64km/h.

Relishing the still, cool conditions, there was again some close racing as hundreds of cyclists went to the line. Honours were well spread with the four grades won by different schools.

Baradene claimed the junior girl's race while the boy's races were won by AGS (junior) and St Kentigern (senior) with their second team less than a minute back in third.

RUGBY
North Harbour: Top of the table Massey travelled to Westlake determined to retain their season-long unbeaten record while for the hosts it was the chance to see where they stood in relation to the 1A championship frontrunners.

After a slow start, Massey scored first, through exceptional flanker Dylan Masters after a great counter-attack. This was quickly followed by an opportunist Massey try, as centre Richard McQuarrie went over, after a great draw and pass by Ieti Tago.

Two Westlake penalties were all that kept them in the game, with Massey leading 12-6 at halftime. The second half was notable for promising attacks by both sides.

Westlake's first real try-scoring opportunity came with brilliant individual play from Ben Bugg who kicked deep into Massey territory, chased and put pressure on the Massey fullback causing a charge down which enabled flanker Sam Quinn to dive over for the try.

WBHS were coming back into the game but Massey struck back to neutralise the Westlake momentum, with a great try to Ieti Tago who broke through three lines of defence. With confidence and drive, Massey swung the match back in their favour and looked to have put it out of reach as Dylan Masters went over for his second try.

Westlake were not prepared to give in and after enjoying more than five minutes hard on attack, they broke the Massey line with fullback Jamie Williamson scoring under the posts.

With the score 24-20 heading into the last 10 minutes, the game was up for grabs, but Westlake seemed to undo all of their hard work, when a sloppy lineout allowed an easy Massey try to winger Pierre Pili. This try sank any WBHS hopes as Massey went on to win 29-20 and remain unbeaten.

While Massey appear to be the team to beat, Westlake have suffered two losses and will need to bounce back if they are to have any chance to retain their title.

In the other 1A fixtures, Rosmini beat Glenfield 63-8, TGS beat winless Orewa 36-12 and Mahurangi comfortably beat Rangitoto 34-12. In the mid-week round Mahurangi beat neighbours Orewa 28-13, Massey thumped TGS 46-8, Rosmini had a big win against Rangitoto 62-0 and, earlier, WBHS put away Glenfield 31-5.

All interest now is on Saturday's top-of-table clash between unbeaten Massey and Rosmini.

In 1B, the top-of-table clash between Northcote and Whangaparaoa ended 29-29, Long Bay edged KingsWay 15-6, Birkenhead beat Kristin 29-22 and Kaipara raced to a 50-0 win over Hato Petera.
- Toby Hurley

SOCCER
Premier league leaders MAGS had to come from behind in the match of the day to edge rivals AGS 2-1 and stretch their lead at the top of the table but individual honours were with Sacred Heart's star striker Steven Carmichael who bagged all five in their 5-0 win over Rangitoto College.

At the Quarry, MAGS trailed 0-1 at half time before staging a second-half comeback in the 158th clash between the two schools since 1928 and hand the home team their first loss of the season.

MAGS won with a couple of well-worked second half goals from left back Jonathan Quinn and left winger Joseph Dan-Tyrell.

Matt Hand-led MAGS displayed more attacking ideas than AGS who stuck with a direct, long ball, style of play which defenders Connor Lynch and Sam Redwood coped with comfortably.

In central midfield Hand and Nathan Atherton settled into their work against a three-man Auckland midfield of Marshall Gurney, Ryan Martin and Zarny Aung.

The game sprang to life in the 38th minute when a Jordan Vale left-wing cross was headed home at the far post by livewire striker Alex Ridsdale.

Unfortunately the linesman signalled the ball had crossed the line before Vale's cross and the referee was forced to change his decision.

Four minutes later a 35m freekick from AGS defender Stewart Mackay was knocked goalwards. The flight completely beat a surprised Patrick George in MAGS' goal.

No changes were made at halftime, and MAGS' endeavours were rewarded in the 56th minute when a Callum Kiddell right-wing cross found lurking left back Quinn who volleyed his shot beyond Nayler's reach.

AGS coach Stuart Robertson attempted to change the flow of the game with substitute Elliot Martin replacing a tiring Zarny Aung in midfield.

MAGS coach Kevin Fallon then introduced winger Arus Sem in the 63rd minute to give his midfield more go-forward.

With the score still locked at 1-1, tempers started to boil and the referee began to caution players from both teams for over-zealous tackles.

MAGS' breakthrough came in the 81st minute with a Vale right-wing cross which found Ridsdale who set up Joseph Dan-Tyrell to hit home the winner with nine minutes to play.

For the hosts there was great disappointment. The team had stuck to their game plan and left everything out on the field. The team now look forward to a fortnight's break.

"It's always good to win here and I felt we were desperately unlucky with the decision not to allow what looked like a perfectly good goal by Alex Ridsdale. Our win on the quality and balance of play was well deserved," said Fallon.

St Peters turned in a polished performance to outplay KBHS 2-0.

St Peters controlled possession for long periods and their patience was rewarded with two second-half goals to strikers Nathaniel Hailemarian and David Browne.

St Peters defenders Eneri Ali and Sohail Basha were superb in their organisation and control while midfielder Daniel Menzies was awarded man of the match.

A four-goal second-half blitz returned Sacred Heart to winning form with a 5-0 home win over a gutsy Rangitoto. The hosts were rewarded in the 17th minute when Tim Payne put Carmichael through to open the scoring.

Rangitoto rallied and did not let up with their aggressive tactics in the second spell. Sacred Heart found it hard to find momentum with late challenges, off-the-ball incidents and abuse, sadly a feature of the Rangitoto game who threatened to get back to 1-1 only to be denied by Matt Lewis in the Sacred Heart goal who made a spectacular diving save of what appeared to be a certain goal.

That appeared to sap Rangitoto's energy, whereas Sacred Heart stepped up a gear. In a frantic quarter-hour period Carmichael, supplied by teammates James O'Brien, Jordan Roberts, Reece Lambert and Payne again, thrashed four goals past the Rangitoto goalkeeper.

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