KEY POINTS:
The civil emergency warnings didn't put a stop to most secondary school sport on Saturday.
Many teams and gumboot-wearing spectators braved the elements, with the wind turning several umbrellas inside out. The inclement weather provided some exciting games of Rugby and a few upsets.
Unbeaten Mt Albert Grammar were met by a focused Tamaki College who used the conditions on their home field to their advantage.
Mt Albert came into game at the top of table, while Tamaki have played well this year, though results often have not reflected this.
Although neither team was at full strength, this promised to be a close game with numerous representative players in action and both teams holding major trophies from 2007.
Mt Albert gained early territorial advantage and slowly edged closer to the Tamaki line with each attacking raid.
Tamaki's defence was resolute and the back three of Afa Pakalani, Isimeeli Hafoka and Grady Hunt diffused any kicks and line breaks with ease.
Mt Albert was rewarded after 20 minutes when impressive No 8 Manu Ene crashed over from a five-metre scrum. Tamaki attacked right from the kick-off and began their period of dominance.
They were awarded a penalty right on half-time after a number of line breaks. Semisi Ahoafi expertly allowed for the wind to make the score 5-3 to Mt Albert.
Tamaki started the second half the stronger, turning Mr Albert around with kicks and a dominant scrum. They were rewarded when young right winger Grady Hunt finished off a try-scoring move after a good build-up and ball handling in the difficult conditions.
Tamaki exerted more pressure, but were unrewarded as MAGS staged a bold comeback Twice Mt Albert were denied close to the line, one a knock-on in the act of scoring. Tamaki were able to work themselves out of trouble on the back of their scrum and good ball security.
When the final whistle went Tamaki had repeated their achievement of 2007 - the only team to date to beat MAGS.
MAGS will look to regroup from the result and push on in defence of their 1A title.
Men of the match were locks - Francis Latu (Tamaki) and Michael Fatealofa (MAGS).
In another close match, St Peters caused an upset by knocking off top four contenders Kings in the weekend.
With the wind at their backs St Peters applied all the early pressure. The pressure turned into points with a try in the 10th minute to hooker Finnbahr Boyle. Boyle pounced on a sloppy tap back lineout from Kings. Bryn Hall added the extra two with the conversion from the side line.
Shortly after Hall stretched the lead to 10 with a 40m penalty kick.
St Peters continued to dominate possession and territory for the rest of the half but was unable to add to their 10-point advantage. In the second half it was Kings' turn to dominate possession and territory as the wind picked up to near gale force. However stoic St Peters defence coupled with numerous Kings handling errors meant Kings were unable to breach the line. At fulltime St Peters fully deserved the 10-0 win.
Kelston also beat second placed De La Salle 16-10 to make the final 2 rounds of the regular competition in coming weeks closer for top-four placings.
The current standings are: MAGS 39 points, De La Salle 30, St Kentigern 28, Sacred Heart 25, Kings College 23, AGS 22, Kelston Boys 22, St Pauls 19, St Peters 17, Tamaki 13, Tangaroa 9 and Otahuhu 7.
* Rugby
North Harbour
Westlake 1st XV continued their winning way, from an impressive display against New Plymouth BHS the previous weekend, to put Massey to the sword on Saturday, winning the match 21-0.
Westlake dominated in all facets of the game to shut Massey out in the biggest match of the round. A good try scored by winger George Kupu and two Chris Winks penalties gave Westlake a handy lead after playing with the strong wind at their backs in the first half.
Massey applied pressure when the wind worked in their favour early in the second half, but at their first opportunity in the Massey 22 Westlake forwards drove from a line-out 10m from the line for the ever-present "try-a-game" flanker Mark Haldane to claim yet another.
Late in the second half Westlake capitalised on good pressure again to put Jamie Foster in for Westlake's third and final try of the game. Impressive contributors to the Westlake cause were fullback Josh Cooke in his second game for the side, the fast improving Peter Hellesoe in midfield who was devastating when running on to the ball at speed. The Westlake forward pack are working strongly as a unit.
Massey looked ring rusty in their first game after the holidays and will improve quickly on this performance. They had some strong individual performances but were not good enough on the day to threaten the Westlake line.
Orewa took the game to Rosmini, but Rosmini showed their class to end up as convincing winners 19-0. Rosmini led 7-0 playing into a strong wind in the first half after being pinned down by Orewa for most of that period of play. Orewa had threatened the Rosmini line on a number of occasions and strong defence was needed to keep them out.
Good tries to No 8 Todd Rankinhurst, flanker/captain Michael Olsen and winger Scott Siaki - including two conversions to Gareth Anscombe - completed the scoring for the strong Rosmini side.
Rangitoto played "new boys on the block "Northcote in a tight affair before winning 18-0. Rangitoto scored only 3 points off the boot of Richard Mills in the first half when playing with the wind. They had to pull out something special in the second half into the strong wind and did so through their forward pack who took Northcote on up front. This tactic resulted in three second half tries to Matt Graham, Liam Brown and Matt Cochrane.
Northcote defended strongly in the first half and it took an outstanding performance by the Rangitoto forwards to overcome the rapidly developing Northcote team in the second .
Takapuna Grammar scored an early try in the first half when having first use of the wind, later adding 2 penalties, in their 13-7 win over Mahurangi. Takapuna had to withstand a strong challenge in the second half by a determined Mahurangi with the wind at their back. However Mahurangi were only able to capitalise on one of their opportunities with a try and conversion to Jason Husband.
Birkenhead proved to be too strong for Long Bay, winning by 20-5. Strong running with the ball in hand and driving play by the Birkenhead forwards, led by outstanding North Harbour U18 squad member and No 8 Viliami Siale, proved to be the undoing of the spirited Long Bay side.
Tries to Michael Cox, James Napier and James Fielding for Birkenhead were answered only by the outstanding prop Ben Dew for Long Bay scoring his side's only try and points.
Westlake BHS 21, Massey 0; Rangitoto 18, Northcote 0; Rosmini 19, Orewa 0; Takapuna 13, Mahurangi 7; Birkenhead 20, Long Bay 5; Kaipara v Kristin deferred.
Counties Manukau
After eight rounds Wesley College 1st XV remain unbeaten, scoring a massive 434 points for and only 9 against, Pukekohe High lie in second place on the table with six wins from eight games. In the weekend's matches Pukehohe High School defeated Manurewa High 2 XVs 39-0, Wailuku College beat Rosehill College 10-0 and James Cook High School beat Papakura High 13-5.
There is one more week to play in the regular competition. SOCCER St Peters 1st XI proved far too determined and skilful for Rangitoto in a match played under trying conditions on Saturday.
St Peters scored an impressive four goals. Mid-fielders Vincent Paget and Isaac Fitzgerald provided multiple opportunities for the St Peters strikers.
Rory Kelly was the main benefactor of this. He scored a hat trick. Kelly has been a goal scoring machine this season. Saturday was his third hat trick of the season.
Year Nine student Nathanael Hailemrian completed the misery for Rangitoto with a further goal. The final score, 4-0 to St Peters.
* Curling
After eight rounds of the Auckland secondary school curling championships, leaders are beginning to emerge. In the girls pool, an Epsom Grammar team, Ku, are leading the competition on six points followed by Birkenhead College girls on four points. However Birkenhead still have two games to play.
In Pool B both Epsom Girls Team Farley and Baradene College Team Hill are tied at the top of the pool, and the head-to-head will determine the winner of the pool.
In the Boys/Mixed Grade Birkenhead Team Mori lead on nine points, followed by Massey High Team Pearson and Henderson High on six points.
In the next scheduled matches, Epsom Team Farley will play Baradene Team Hill, Massey Pearson will play Auckland Grammar, Long Bay Team Bauer play Kelston Boys Red and Birkenhead Team Edwards play Kelston Boys Blue
Results:
Birkenhead Team Mori (Yuki Mori, Filipe Casal, Felix Hailer, Aaron Newson) drew with Henderson High (Brittany Taylor, Cory, Toni, Kyle) 7-7. Birkenhead took 2 on the first end and Henderson replied with a single and a steal of one to tie it up after three ends. A big steal of 4 had Henderson confident but Birkenhead came back with a triple and a steal of 2 to be up 7-6. With hammer on the final end Henderson took their single to tie the game.
Epsom Team Ku (Lisa Ku, Courtney Kay, Monica Stone, Vanessa Bradley) were too strong for newcomers Baradene Team Melrose (Sally Mason Melrose, Claudia Cucca, Catherine Longbottom, Bree Downie) taking the game 9-0. The first two ends were scoreless and then EGGS found their weight taking a deuce and then stealing 5. Baradene hung in and kept them to singles on the final two ends.
On Sheet C Auckland Grammar (Ciaron MacElvann, Derany Patel, Jono McGlashan, Phillip Speetar) had a convincing win over Birkenhead College Team Edwards (Simon Edwards, Gabriel Eisenkolb, Meshari Rasheed, Hayden Patel). Grammar took singles on the first three ends before Birkenhead scored. They then proceeded to take a 2 and steal a 2 before Birkenhead found form and took a 2 on the final end.
Teams are looking forward to a visit from the New Zealand national coach, Sharon Delver, in August which will help them prepare for the New Zealand secondary school championships in Naseby in October.
* Cycling
The Avanti Auckland Secondary School cycling team time-trial event No 4 will take place on Sunday along Auckland's Tamaki Drive. the event starts at 6:30am and will see more than 400 cyclists complete a team time trial from Mechanics Bay to St Heliers and back.
* Director retires
Peter Sharp has retired from his role as executive director of the New Zealand Secondary School Sport Council. Sharp championed the role of sports co-ordinators in secondary schools throughout the late '80s and early '90s.
