College Sports: St Peter's again top in softball

By JENNI RUTHERFORD

The end of the softball season could not come any sweeter for St Peter's College.

For the second year in a row, the school has won the New Zealand secondary schools boys' title, downing Levin's Waiopehu College 4-3 in the grand final at Albany yesterday.

The boys' tournament team pinpointed the dominance and talent that St Peter's have nurtured over the past few years. Even though they have lost two of their star players, Nathan Nukunuku and Thomas Cameron, the base of junior players carried the team through, with Taiki Apu named most valuable player.

Five of the 15 spots in the tournament team were filled by St Peter's players, with the other 10 places made up of Waiopehu and Naenae College and Hastings High School players.

Schools travelled from as far afield as Greymouth for the championships, but it was the local colleges who dominated, Auckland Girls' Grammar securing the girls' title by beating Naenae College 4-3.

Last year's winners, Penrose High, were well off the pace.

The tournament highlighted the solid depth in New Zealand softball, with players who have the potential to advance to future White Sox and Black Sox sides.

MOUNTAIN BIKING Massey High's Gillian Bearman was in a league of her own in the Auckland secondary schools championships last Sunday, finishing over seven minutes ahead of second-placed Azra Hewitt in the senior girls' event at Riverhead Forest.

Nick Hotchin (Westlake Boys' High) was the best of the senior boys, taking the title by over a minute from Pakuranga College's Stuart Robinson.

CRICKET The R. H. Marryatt and Gillette Cup zone two final ended with Auckland Grammar beating St Kentigern by just nine runs at Eden Park's No 2 ground.

It was the first time since 1990 that Grammar have made the finals of the national tournament and 10 years since they have won the Auckland regional competition.

St Kentigern's Sam Whiteman made secondary school cricket history, in making 120 runs, the first time a century has been scored in the one-day competition.

St Kentigern appeared to be in control of the match but succumbed to pressure in the final few overs.

Gene Andrews top-scored for Grammar with 76.

In round four of the First XI A-grade competition, Kelston, St Kentigern and King's all go into the next leg at the top of the points table and will be the sides to watch out for when play resumes for round five in term four.

In the girls' Yoplait Cup, Westlake downed Whangarei Girls' High by eight wickets.

Needing 58 runs to win, Westlake reached the target for the loss of only two wickets.

Jennifer Singleton was outstanding for the North Shore school, taking six wickets and making almost half Westlake's required runs. Westlake will now meet Epsom in the northern region finals on Friday.

TRIATHLON Rangitoto's Terrenzo Bozzone rocketed home in front of the seniors in the Auckland secondary schools championships at Manly Beach.

Terrenzo was first in the intermediate boys' race and first outright in a time of 45m.35s.

He was 30s clear of the winning senior boy, William Green, of St Kentigern, who defended his title over the 500m swim, 15km bike and 4km run course.

In the intermediate girls' event, Jade Gilbertson (Epsom followed suit, beating senior Julia Scopes (Epsom) to the finish. Gilbertson had the intermediate title firmly in her grasp, fending off second-placed Seah Martin, of Diocesan, who was about 90s behind.

Both Bozzone and Gilbertson should put Auckland in strong contention for a top-10 placing in the New Zealand secondary school triathlon championships in Mt Maunganui on April 8.

TENNIS Auckland Grammar have once again qualified for the New Zealand championships in Christchurch from April 7 to 9.

The Simon Rea-led team have been in every final since the tournament's inception in 1994.

Grammar defeated King's in the zone final to qualify, while Westlake Boys' High had to overcome Whangarei, Long Bay and Orewa to reach the final.

National academy member Tanja Marikovic will lead a strong Rangitoto team in the girls' division.

OUTRIGGER CANOEING A huge turnout is expected for the fourth annual regatta on Saturday at Orakei Basin.

A rapidly growing sport in Pacific rim nations, outrigger canoeing has secured a spot on the college calendar.

Ninety-seven teams from 25 schools have entered the 300m sprint race.