College sports: Finalists seek Junior Kiwi spots

By DAVE WORSLEY

The New Zealand schools rugby league championship will be decided today when St Pauls College (Grey Lynn) clash with Aranui (Christchurch) at St Pauls. The final kicks off at 3pm

St Pauls, who are looking for their third win in a row, recently won two of their three matches in the Australian Cup competition. Aranui are trying to win back the title they last held in 1999. They made the final after beating Wainuiomata two weeks ago.

Several players have set their sights on becoming Junior Kiwis.

The squad will be named this week. The Junior Kiwis have two games this year: against the West Tigers elite squad and against an Australian Institute of Sport side as the curtainraiser for the Kiwis versus Kangaroos test in Wellington on October 12.

St Pauls players Jerome Ropati and Roger Elui are in the Warriors elite squad and should go close to selection. Other contenders include Iszraal Lo-Tam, James Koloamatangi from St Pauls, and Jason McDougall, Tim Rangihuna and Kane Ferris from Aranui.

Soccer

The domination of Avondale and Epsom Girls is likely to continue today.

After beating Epsom 2-0 to win the national title last week, the Avondale side will be trying to win the Auckland title at Keith Hay Park at 3.30pm.

Two Avondale players, Sam Shorter and Kirsty Yallop, have been named in the New Zealand secondary schoolgirls team for a two-test series against Australia. Epsom player Rosamond Kember was also named.

Titles

Auckland Grammar have won 11 Auckland premier or senior secondary schools sports championships.

They picked up a national soccer title at the weekend by beating Tauranga 1-0 in the final. The team also beat their main rivals, Mt Albert, 2-0 in the semifinals and had Sean Mathews named as player of the final. Auckland Grammar are also the Auckland and national champions, and will go to Australia in October for the world secondary schools championships.

Auckland titles have been won in duathlon, triathlon, cross-country, rugby, hockey, cycling and orienteering.

The school won the Auckland squash title but were beaten finalists in the nationals.

Auckland Grammar have a chance at two more titles this week: they have representatives in the weightlifting champs and have reached the Auckland basketball championship semifinals.

Rugby

St Pauls won the Waikato first XV championship and regained the Tricolor Trophy after beating Church College 9-3.

St Pauls now clash with John Mitchell's old school Francis Douglas Memorial College on Saturday at St Pauls in New Plymouth.

Basketball

The strength of secondary schools basketball appears to be in the northern part of the North Island.

Church College (Waikato) won the boys' and girls' titles. The boys beat Westlake Boys in Dunedin 87-80 and the girls beat Takapuna Grammar in the final.

The other teams in the boys semifinals were Takapuna and Auckland Grammar.

John Paul College and Westlake were the other teams in the girls semis.

Church College player Sam Walker, 16, was rated as a player with a huge future by tournament team selector Carl Dickel and Westlake captain Jeff Paltrey also made the team after scoring 12 points for his side in the final.

The tournament team: Sam Walker, Everad Bartlett, Romana Graham (Church College), Andy Fitchett (Nelson), Daniel Evans (Taradale), Conrad Kahu (Hastings), Darryl Jones (Hutt Valley), Brent Raven (New Plymouth), Cain Paraniti (Aranui), Kahu Le Prevost-Shepherd (Avondale), Nikola Lakatus (Takapuna), Jeff Palfrey (Westlake), Charlie Piho (Auckland Grammar).

The girls tournament team, is: Hannah Fleming (New Plymouth), Melissa Letoa (Sacred Heart, Lower Hutt), Abish Lolesi (Manurewa), Masina Sholl (Avondale), Chanel Pompallier, Puawai Halkyard, (Takapuna Grammar), Katie Eggers (Nelson College), Aroha Jennings (John Paul), Lisa Wallbutton (Westlake), Rebecca Wihongi, Arielle Parai, Kimberly Hetting (Church College).

The Auckland basketball semifinals will be played on Friday night.

The boys semifinals will be played at Youthtown.

Westlake take on Mt Albert at 6pm and Takapuna will play Auckland Grammar at 7.30pm. The girls semifinals will be played at the Auckland YMCA.

Avondale take on Diocesan at 6pm and Penrose play Manurewa at 7.30pm.