Black Sticks coaches Mark Hager (left) and Shane McLeod get their first look at the impressive new artificial turf at Westlake GHS. Photo / Paul Estcourt
A pilot programme aimed at bringing closer co-operation between ASB College Sport and local sporting organisations is to be tried next year.
ASB College Sport chief executive Manoj Daji said the Sports Advisory Groups (SAGs) would be trialled in soccer, hockey, tennis, water polo, volleyball and cricket.
"In the current environment I believe the SAG pilot is integral to achieving the objects of the heads association and its strategic priorities," said Daji. "In a nutshell the concept is about bringing together best people, best practice and fresh ideas to ensure each of these sports keeps up with the times.
"I am confident that SAG members will leave any school, club, and sport gender affiliations at the door and derive outcomes that are best for their sport in the secondary space."
Daji said the aim of each SAG was to review and improve existing competition formats, grades and draws to ensure fluid, flexible and innovative competitions to "keep up with the times", be less person-dependent and more structure-dependent and address barriers to sport participation for youth in the Super City and to ensure positive outcomes.
Each SAG will involve teacher representatives, a regional or national sporting organisation game development representative and an experienced sports co-ordinator forum representative with leadership of each SAG resting with College Sport managers. The SAGs will put forward proposals to the ASSHA board's subcommittee responsible for competitions review.
Principal nominations for teacher representatives to sit on the various SAGs close on October 3. Considerable positive feedback has already been received about the concept to date with two major sporting codes expressing an interest to also being involved.
Basketball
Auckland Grammar's Nipuna Mohottige sank a three-pointer on the 24-sec buzzer to ensure his team's victory over Westlake BHS to claim back-to-back Auckland premier championships. The 70-64 victory handed AGS successive titles for the first time since their wins in 1984 and 1985.
AGS were hardly at their convincing best early on as they began slowly, missed what should have been simple baskets and allowed their opponents too much space inside the key.
Trailing by six points after the first quarter, AGS picked up the pace in the second but were still three points down at halftime after again allowing WBHS too many open shots by failing to close them down. The third quarter too was tense and low-scoring - the result of nerves, good defence, and officious refereeing - but AGS edged ahead to lead by a point, 51-50, heading into the final quarter.
That too was tight as the lead changed a number of times.
AGS sneaked ahead by four with 90secs to play before Mohottige sunk the basket which broke Westlake hearts.
The victory was based on AGS' gutsy second half and in the end seen as just reward for a team who have battled well all season.
Mark Kelly and Mohottige were the AGS standouts but there was also special mention of Tom Ashby and Reuben Te Rangi who were members of the New Zealand 3-on-3 basketball side who won the Youth World Championships last weekend and who were on court for Friday night's final just five hours after getting off a 30-hour flight back from Italy.
Their appearance was a huge psychological boost for the team, with Ashby capping a great week in being named the final's MVP.
The earlier premier girl's final promised to be every bit as close but in the end Rangitoto prevailed 81-72 over MAGS.
Heading into the match it was level pegging as both teams had scored a win against each other during the round robin. The first quarter was level, with neither team being able to stamp their dominance, however Rangitoto went into the break with a narrow three-point lead. They then began to show their class and pulled away to a nine-point lead at halftime.
Mt Albert Grammar came out firing in the third quarter to close the gap to within two, but Rangitoto regrouped to take their lead back out to 11 by the end of the quarter.
Morgan Tupu-Roberts fought to keep her MAGS team in the hunt, shooting four three-pointers in the final quarter to take her to a match high 35 points. However, Rangitoto, led by MVP Brooke Blair who scored 30 points, kept their composition to hold on to claim the honours.
While the premier finals claimed centre stage, there was huge interest in Rosmini's appearance in the boy's open final against Lynfield with the winner guaranteed a spot in next year's premier league.
As many expected, Rosmini, the surprise winners of the national title, underlined their undoubted class with a decisive 47-32 win.
Lynfield still have the chance to win through to the premiers when they tackle KBHS in a promotion-relegation battle early next year.
St Kentigern, seeking to avenge their section loss to Avondale College and gain automatic qualification to next year's premier girls grade and join their boys team in the highest league, tackled a determined Avondale.
In a closely fought affair, Avondale battled bravely throughout with just three points separating the two teams heading into the final quarter.
But, led by outstanding three-point shooting from St Kentigern's Roana Paterson, who led all scoring with 20 points, which included six three pointers, St Kentigern pull away to a 37-24 triumph.
Glenfield led throughout in the boy's under-15 final but it was close at times before they got home 50-40 over Selwyn after being held to just a two-point lead at halftime as Selwyn captain Lis Haragia, who topped all scoring with 21 points, rallied his troops.
Jayden Johnson was the difference in the final quarter, scoring eight of his 13 points and leading Glenfield home.
The under-15 girls gave MAGS a winning start to finals day with their 61-43 win over Avondale.
The first two quarters were tightly contested with MAGS going into the halftime break with a narrow two-point lead. However, sharp shooting from Lyric Taurua-Wolfgramm in the last half saw her with a game high 32 points and to lead her team to a 61-43 win. Top scorer for Avondale College was Lavenia Solomon with 17.
WBHS A proved too strong for Massey High in the under-17 boy's final as they shot out to any early 8-2 quarter-time lead - one they would not relinquish. Massey worked hard to pull Westlake back but Westlake ran out 37-18 winners.
Not to be outdone by their successful under-15 team, the MAGS under-17 girls took an early 11-3 lead over St Kentigern. St Kents fought back to close the deficit to five points but a strong second half performance led by captain Luisa Roberts, who top-scored with 11 points, saw Mt Albert Grammar claim their second title with a 34-20 win.
Swimming
A worrying sign for already-troubled Swimming NZ? The Auckland SS individual championships scheduled for Sunday have been cancelled due to "insufficient entries".
ON THE WEB