College Sports: Kelston claim school match was rigged

By JENNI RUTHERFORD

Controversy surrounds King's College's victory in the Auckland secondary school premier two-day cricket competition.

King's defended their senior boys title for the fifth consecutive year, finishing two points ahead of Kelston Boys High School.

However, Kelston complained that King's and Avondale College fixed the result of their first-round match in the fourth term.

Kelston's complaint was lodged after the match, with two rounds remaining.

Suspicions were raised when Avondale declared their rain-affected first innings at 61-1 and then King's forfeited their first innings.

The forfeiture gave Avondale two precious first-innings points that helped them from relegation. King's went on to win the match outright, gaining four points.

Kelston principal Stephen Watt has written to the Auckland secondary schools cricket executive committee, complaining that two of his senior 1st XI cricket players said the match was a "jack-up" after speaking to some members of the Avondale team.

Watt is satisfied that after interviewing the two senior players he has a case for the committee.

The committee - minus the King's and Kelston representatives (Avondale does not have a member) - is expected to make a final decision by the end of the week.

The secretary of the Auckland secondary schools executive committee, Simon Toon, said: "It's my opinion that cricket shouldn't be boring ... Forfeiture is a legitimate part of cricket.

"When you forfeit it makes teams take risks.

"There are plenty of options the two teams could have taken - forfeiture and declaration is just two of them."

The past chairman of Auckland secondary school cricket, Peter Watt (no relation), agrees.

"That's sport. It's not a jack-up. There is no evidence of conversations to suggest the match was rigged."

Peter Watt says he believes the case will be thrown out. He says the allegations have "flabbergasted" Avondale coaching staff.

ATHLETICS

New Zealand cross-country champion Stephen Lett (Mahurangi College, Warkworth) is hoping to at least repeat last year's fourth-place performance in the senior boys 3000m at the national secondary schools athletics championships.

Lett will finish his final Bursary exam today before flying to Dunedin for the meeting.

He is up against some stiff competition and has had only minimal training behind him because of a stress fracture injury to his lower leg, but is still optimistic of a top-four placing.

"Some of the guys will have had to run the 1500m, so hopefully they will be a bit worn out," Lett said.

The event, at Logan Park, will attract more than 2000 athletes from around the country.

VOLLEYBALL

Kelston Boys High School have capped a meteoric raise in junior volleyball, winning the North Island secondary school championships in Tauranga. They beat Western Heights High School in the final.

In the girls' division one, defending champions Avondale College were knocked out in the semifinals by eventual winners Tauranga Girls College.

This week:

Today

Auckland: junior boys cricket tournament continues (ends tomorrow); one-day junior softball tournament.

Tomorrow

Auckland: junior touch rugby championships, zonal cricket final between Kelston and Whangarei Boys High School.

Friday

Auckland: reserve day for zonal cricket final.

Saturday

New Zealand secondary school athletics. Dunedin (ends Sunday).

North Harbour: day two of premier two-day cricket final between Orewa College v Kristin School.

Tuesday

Auckland: equestrian ribbon day.