College sport: Waka ama races growing in popularity

The increasing popularity of waka ama was obvious when a record 121 crews dipped their paddles into the calm waters of the Orakei Basin on Saturday.

Twenty-one schools were represented at the ninth Auckland championships which produced some close, hard-fought outrigger canoeing over the testing 300m course.

In a hectic programme, 70 races were contested in the division one and two categories as the paddlers honed their skills ahead of next month's national secondary schools championships at Rotorua's Lake Okareka.

Division one races are contested by crews of six, while in division two there are five paddlers with their craft steered by an adult who does not paddle.

The boys' final produced an upset win for Kelston BHS who were comfortably clear of defending champions James Cook HS with Hoani Waititi third.

In the girls' final, Papatoetoe HS just got home ahead of Epsom GGS with Hoani Waititi again claiming third. Defending champion Edgewater bypassed the championships but will be back for the nationals.

With Mangere College another non-starter this year, the combined Kelston BHS/Auckland Girls GS crew claimed the sought-after mixed division one title.

Cricket

Waikato: Batting first was the recipe for success in fourth round Waikato first XI division one matches. All four teams, making the most of the favourable early conditions, got home even if it was close at Cambridge where St Johns College just held on to win by three runs in a high-scoring affair.

Electing to bat was a somewhat questionable call for St Johns as they struggled at the top of the order in the face of some impressive pace bowling from Stephen Ross, who went on to claim 5-40, and Andrew George. After 12 overs, St Johns were in some trouble at 70/5 and not much better off at 144/7 after 25. An eighth-wicket partnership of 174 between Hayden Mourits and Brooke Tremayne helped them to an eventual 314.

The home side raced to 100/0 after 12 overs before leg-spinner Paul O'Halloran struck. Riding his good luck after being dropped four times, Richard Singleton scored 90 to keep Cambridge in the hunt.

Needing only 61 runs from the last 10 overs with five wickets in hand, the home side were handily-placed but the well-organised St Johns attack saw it through.

Led by Toby Hawes' maiden century, Matamata posted a handy 209 against Fraser HS despite five of their batsmen failing to score. Hawes was well supported later in his innings by Matt Ring. Andrew McLean's pace and swing demanded respect and earned him 4-46.

Fraser, too, found early runs difficult in the face of some controlled bowling from Matamata captain Allan Swetman and Ring.

Sent in, Hillcrest HS made merry on the well-paced pitch and equally quick outfield at Morrinsville College. Sloppy fielding and too many extras aided Hillcrest's cause. Opener Bryce Reed helped himself to a handy 55.

In the middle order, Bryce Reed maintained the momentum with a solid 62 while Oliver Leydon-Davis added a quick-fire 58 not out to ensure a 300-plus total.

The home side chased with a vengeance early with Shaun Peek (65) and Scott Laurence (28) adding 83 for the second wicket but the target was a bit rich and they fell 110 runs short.

Leaders St Peters School were also asked to bat first and continued the trend of posting a good score.

Good batting throughout the innings, led by Scott Major's 53, saw the home side reach 287/6. The best of the Hamilton BHS attack was left-arm spinner Mattie Thomas, with 2-39 from his 10 overs.

There was little aggression in reply as Hamilton meandered to 160 all out in the 48th over.

Kilikiti

Lynfield College confirmed their standing as the top boys team by defending their A grade title with a nine-run win over Mangere College at the Auckland Domain.

Lynfield scored 70 runs from their 76 deliveries and restricted Mangere to 61 runs. It was their second title in the 15-year history of the tournament. Aorere College and Massey HS shared third.

Auckland Girls Grammar ended a seven year drought to claim the girls A grade crown with a one-run win over Kelston GHS. AGGS scored 33 runs from their allotted 52 deliveries and held Kelston to 32.

Defending champions Otahuhu College, seeking to become the first four-time winner, were knocked out in section play. McAuley, like Otahuhu a three-time winner, finished equal third with Aorere College.

The B grade tournament was postponed and will now be played at the Domain tomorrow.

Tennis

St Kentigern and Rangitoto will represent Auckland in two of the three grades at the national secondary schools teams championships in Christchurch this month.

The mixed playoffs produced some clear-cut results in difficult conditions with play switched from the North Shore to Vodafone Park.

After St Kentigern and Rangitoto had beaten MAGS, they played off to find the top qualifier with St Kentigern getting through 4-2 despite losing the top boys singles when Josh Crozier beat Ben Hunt in a tiebreaker.

The boys and girls play-offs were decided in blustery conditions, also at Vodafone Park. Top girls seed St Cuthberts waltzed through with 6-0 wins over Orewa, Diocesan and Rangitoto who will join them at the national finals.

Despite dropping two matches against Auckland Grammar, St Kentigern also went through unbeaten with comfortable wins over Kings and Westlake BHS, who did manage to take one game in losing 5-1. AGS made sure of their spot in Christchurch on a countback which got them home 25 games to 24.

Water Polo

Spurred by an enthusiastic crowd, Rangitoto College won the battle of the unbeaten premier girls contenders with their 8-5 win over Diocesan.

A hard-fought 5-3 win over St Cuthberts kept Epsom GGS on course for the semifinals. They followed that with a 11-4 win over St Kentigern. Westlake GHS found Massey a difficult opponent before getting home 11-7 while Mt Albert GS bounced back to winning form beating Mt Roskill GS 10-5.

Rosmini College scored a good win in the premier boys championship when they came from behind to grab a late 5-4 win over St Kentigern after scoring two goals from a seagull set.

Long Bay kept their play-off hopes alive with a 7-6 win over the improved Massey HS side. But it will not get any easier for the two schools as they face Auckland Grammar in the lead-up to the play-offs. Westlake BHS scored an important 7-3 win over Sacred Heart.

COMING UP.-

TODAY:Athletics, Auckland, girls qualifying, Towers Track, Ericsson Stadium (1086 entries) 8.45am (qualifying meet for finals on Marsh 22).

Cricket, Auckland girls, premier/senior A pool B (from 4pm, home team first), Diocesan v Avondale, Baradene v WGHS. Senior B pool A, EGGS v Macleans, Melville 4 artificial, Mt Roskill Grammar v St Cuthberts.

Softball, girls, premier (all 4pm, home team first), Avondale v Howick, Penrose v AGGS, KGHS v James Cook HS. Senior west zone (all Starling Park), Henderson v Lynfield, Massey v Rutherford, 4pm. Lynfield v Rutherford, Massey v Henderson 5pm. Senior east zone (both Meadowlands Park), Tamaki v Penrose 4pm, St Kentigern v Tamaki 5pm.

TOMORROW: Athletics, Auckland, boys qualifying, Towers Track, Ericsson Stadium (1200 entries) 8.45am (qualifying meet for finals on March 22).

Kilikiti, B grade tournament, Auckland Domain from 9am.

FRIDAY: Rowing, North Island SS championships (until Sunday) from 8am.

SATURDAY: Cricket, Auckland 1A two-day championship (second day, all 12.30pm), WBHS 138 v MAGS 60/5, MAGS; St Kentigern 124 v AGS 40/1, St Kentigern; Avondale 77 v Kings 111/7, Avondale. 1B (home team first), AGS 2 v Rangitoto, St Peters v St Kentigern 2, Papatoetoe HS v Howick. Waikato 1st X1, division one (one-day games, home team first), St Peters v St Johns, Morrinsville v Cambridge, Fraser HS v Te Awamutu, Hamilton BHS v Matamata, Hillcrest bye.

MONDAY: Athletics, combined Auckland/North Harbour SS 3000m championships, (Sovereign Stadium, Mairangi Bay).

Golf, North Harbour premier division one (from 4pm), WBHS v Wentworth, Peninsula GC, Rangitoto 1 v Kristin, North Shore GC, Avondale v Orewa, Redwood Park GC. Auckland premier division one (all 4pm), AGS v MAGS, Maungakiekie GC, St Kentigern v Rosehill, Howick GC, Kings v Strathallan, Aviation GC.

Triathlon, Waikato schools championships, Lake Karapiro.