College sport: Young competitors vie for top sports honours

The annual college sports awards will be handed out on Friday for excellence in the past year.

Around 600 students are expected at the event in the ASB lounge at Eden Park, when the speaker will be Tall Black and Breakers basketballer Dillon Boucher.

Three of the leading candidates in the boys' category are New Zealand volleyball team member John Alatini, Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate; tennis player GD Jones, Kings; and swimmer Corney Swanepoel, Rangitoto College.

Strong challengers for the girls' title look to be Anna Sieprath from Diocesan in waterpolo and fellow Dio student Frances Kreft in hockey, as well as last year's winner, swimmer Melissa Ingram from Epsom Girls'.

"The high standard and level of achievement from secondary school students is amazing. There are a number who have represented New Zealand at senior level. All are continuing the legacy of past winners," said Mike Thompson, head of College Sport.

Past winners of the awards include such big names as Beatrice Faumuina, Jonah Lomu, Sarah Ulmer, Sheryl Clarke and Valerie Adams.

WATERPOLO

Diocesan student Anna Sieprath has been named in the New Zealand women's water polo squad who face Australia to qualify for the Athens Olympic Games through their upcoming series to be played in Auckland next month.

Avondale College student Kimberley Summich has withdrawn from the team because of a family commitment.

Diocesan School won the North Island junior girls title, ending a Sacred Heart, Lower Hutt run of titles 4-2 over the weekend.

The win gave Diocesan its first title and capped a top year for the school which also won its first national title in May.

St Cuthbert's took the bronze medal, also by 4-2, over Rangitoto. For St Cuthbert's it was a rare appearance in a medal game at North Island level. Like Diocesan, they also have a strong Year 7 and 8 girls' programme.

Five goals by Rangitoto's James Starnes contributed to his team taking out the boys' A grade final at the North Island juniors in Auckland.

Rangitoto repeated their 1994 win with an 8-4 victory over Sacred Heart Auckland, who captured their second successive silver medal at this tournament. Rangitoto began the match in blistering fashion, going three goals up against the Sacred Heart combination.

When Sacred Heart had narrowed the score to 5-4, the match looked to be slipping from Rangitoto's grasp, but Starnes and team-mate Scott Taylor chipped in with another three goals to seal victory.

Defending champions Rosmini were beaten 5-3 in the semifinals by Sacred Heart but bounced back to take the bronze medal by a goal from new St Kentigern's.

THIS WEEK

CRICKET - Saturday's games

1A Championship (home team first): Kelston v Westlake; Auckland Grammar v King's;

Avondale v Rangitoto;

Saturday's games

1A Plate: Macleans v Mt Albert; Sacred Heart v St Kent's; Takapuna Grammar v Auckland Grammar 2nd XI.