College sport: Squad cram in some sevens swot

By JENNI RUTHERFORD

Defending champions Wesley College will be stepping into the unknown when they start the defence of their national secondary schools sevens title in Rotorua on Monday.

Wesley have been drawn in what coach Nick Leger describes as the "pool of death."

Exams and first XV commitments have limited their preparation. They had their first training session yesterday and will cram in three more before Friday.



Wesley's pool includes Rongotai College, Tangaroa College, Waiopehu College, former champions Western Heights and Kaitaia College. Leger believes each of them presents a danger.

Four members of last year's championship-winning Wesley side are back, but the tactics will be different this year.

"We don't have the same exceptional speed as last year, but more all-round pace throughout the team," Leger said.

Wesley have a proud tradition of sevens success. All Black winger Jonah Lomu, who was instrumental in New Zealand's win at the London Sevens tournament yesterday, is a former pupil. He was part of the victorious 1993 team.

Wesley have won the tournament four times since it started in 1986 but are aware that only Western Heights have managed to win it back to back.

Organiser Ron Bragg said it was disappointing that only one South Island school - Aranui High from Christchurch - will be represented at the event.

Thirty-six teams North Island teams will take part.

CROSS-COUNTRY

Organisers postponed the Auckland championships due to be held yesterday because it would have ruined the St Kentigern College course.

Warren Ogilvie of College Sport said the muddy conditions meant the course was "not in any condition to give an optimum competition."



With at least 400 pairs of feet running around the 2km circuit up to three times, it would become a muddy bog, ruining the St Kentigern fields ahead of the national schools cross-country, due to be held on June 16.

The Auckland event has been rescheduled to either next week, or September.

SOCCER

Mt Albert Grammar are through to the last 32 teams of the Chatham Cup after a convincing 4-2 win against Western Springs.

Mt Albert are the last Auckland college team left in the club competition after Auckland Grammar and Westlake were knocked out in earlier rounds.

Mt Albert conceded an early goal but were back in the match when Prince Quansah's solo effort made it 1-all. George Suri scored soon after to give Mt Albert a 2-1 halftime lead.

They extended their advantage to 3-1 when captain Naveen Prasad outfoxed the Western Springs goalkeeper.

There were some anxious moments for the schoolboys when Vinnie Sibley reduced the deficit to one.

But Lance Eesom, a former Zimbabwean under-16 rugby representative, proved he is as talented at soccer as he was at rugby, slotting the winner a minute later.

MOTOCROSS

An initiative from a Howick College fifth former has snowballed into an Auckland regional schools motocross competition.



Melissa McCarthy, who has ridden a trail bike for the past four to five years, put her idea on paper in term one this year and has largely organised the competition herself.

At least 40 riders from secondary and intermediate schools have signed up.

Half the entries are from Avondale, St Kentigern, Pukekohe, Howick and Te Kauwhata colleges, and the rest from intermediate students. The event is at the Ardmore Motocross Club on June 13.

THIS WEEK

* Today:

Auckland: rugby league, premier boys hockey, girls soccer.

Counties Manukau: netball.

* Tomorrow:

Auckland: rugby - St Paul's College v Marcellin College (Moascar Cup), artistic gymnastics championships, premier girls hockey.

Counties Manukau: premier girls hockey.

* Friday:

Auckland: premier basketball, badminton, squash.

North Harbour: badminton, basketball.

* Saturday:

New Zealand secondary schools wrestling championships.

* Monday:

New Zealand secondary school sevens tournament, Rotorua.