College sport: Westlake pair shine in their class

By DAVE WORSLEY

Westlake hold a three-point lead over St Cuthberts and Epsom Girls Grammar going into the final day of the national secondary schoolgirls yachting regatta on Lake Pupuke in Takapuna.

There were five races yesterday in ideal 12-15 knot conditions. Dominating the Sunburst class are the Westlake crew of Jo Aleh, who has recently returned from Canada where she won the youth and open Byte class, and Tali Abercromby. The pair won four races and finished second in the other and are on 41 points, with St Cuthberts and Epsom on 44.

Leading the Starling class is Shandy Buckley from Whangarei. Buckley won the world Splash class in Britain in July.

A total of 17 schools are taking part in the regatta, organised by Westlake Girls and the Takapuna Yacht Club.

RUGBY

Another draw in another final for Rotorua Boys High School as they ended up sharing the national secondary schools title with Napier Boys after a 6-6 draw at Eden Park.

Played in dreadful conditions, but in good spirit, Napier had an edge in the tight exchanges, but trailed 6-3 at halftime.

Napier centre Joe Utiera made several useful breaks while Rotorua's Liam Messan at No 8 and blindside flanker Steve Setaphano dominated in the loose.

Willie Ripia kicked two penalties for Rotorua and Napier's points came from the boot of Ricky Blundson.

Rotorua also drew the final in 1998 against Otago.

BADMINTON

Rangitoto and Epsom Girls Grammar won the boys and girls title respectively at the national teams championships in Christchurch, both dominating the competition.

Rangitoto won three of their matches 6-0 before beating Palmerston North in the final, 4-2.

Epsom, led by Michelle Chan at No 1, beat Manurewa High 6-0 in their final.

CURLING

Rangitoto College won the inaugural North Island curling championships this week.

The champs were hosted at the Paradice Ice Rink with selection for North Island teams an aim of the competitors.

Four schools took part, Rangitoto Blue finishing narrowly ahead of Rangitoto Red followed by Birkenhead College.

The national champs will be held in Queenstown on October 26-27. The North Island team will be named early next week.

Organiser Liz Matthews said: "The students felt it was great and really enjoyed it, plus there was some fantastic curling."

TENNIS

A large team of New Zealand students are competing at the Australian tennis 14s and 16s claycourt nationals in Melbourne this weekend.

Marina Erakovic is one of the big hopes and instead of playing in her age group the Glendowie College student will play up a level in the 16s.

Joining Erakovic is Baradene's Melissa O'Keefe.

In the boys, Auckland Grammar's Andrew Allen, Westlake's Kevin Doh and Cambridge's Matthew Stark will compete.

The 14's tournament features Bradley Cox from King's, Martin Colenbrander of St Kentigern and Adam Siddall from King's.

The girls also include Diocesan's Joanna Carswell and Rosehill's Shona Lee in a strong contingent.

Coming up:

Tuesday: Secondary schools netball championships, Taupo, continue until October 4.