College Sports: Westlake triumph in premier soccer race

By JENNI RUTHERFORD

North Harbour's Westlake Boys' High School, lacking punch in past years against south-of-the-bridge soccer supremos Mt Albert and Auckland Grammar, have been crowned Auckland premier champions for the first time since 1996.

Needing to beat lowly placed Liston College by at least two goals to win the championship, Westlake more than doubled the minimum, winning 5-1 to pip defending Auckland and national titleists, Mt Albert Grammar.

Westlake coach Gary Moore was rapt with his side's effort throughout the season.

They faced compounding pressure in the last three weeks, having to beat Auckland Grammar, Mt Albert Grammar away from home and Liston soundly. But they did it.

"There are no stars in the team," Moore said, speaking from the national secondary school championships in Christchurch.

"Auckland Grammar and Mt Albert may not be as strong as in other years but Auckland Grammar are the biggest school in the country and Mt Albert import players. We are just a pool of North Shore boys."

Westlake have suffered one loss in four games on the opening two days at the Christchurch championships and are tied with Nelson College at the top of their pool.

Moore is not too hopeful of a finals spot, with his strikers sidelined with injury.

"I'm only thinking as far as the quarter-finals," he said. "If we get there, that would be superb."

Westlake face another tough challenge on their return, battling Mt Albert in the final of the Knockout Cup next Wednesday.

RUGBY

Exhausted Macleans College and Dilworth School were forced to endure 100 minutes of tough tackling and desperate defence after being tied 9-all at fulltime in the Auckland 1B final.

The try-less match was finally won by Macleans College with a penalty in the first half of extra time, to eventually win 12-9 and gain promotion into the A grade next year.

Dilworth had several opportunities to score, penetrating Macleans' tryline in both the first and second halves of regulation time.

But the Macleans players laid their bodies on the line, halfback Graeme Brent playing with a broken bone in his foot, and Derek Arnold, who kicked the winning penalty, suffering from a strained hamstring.

In the 1A final, St Peter's College beat St Kentigern 17-13.

In the North Harbour competition, unbeaten Massey High suffered their first loss at the most crucial time losing the final 12-24 to Westlake Boys' High.

Massey, who boast All Blacks Troy Flavell and Ron Cribb as old boys, as well as several players in the current New Zealand Secondary Schools squad, were unable to dominate a fired up Westlake pack.

HOCKEY

After a 10-year drought, St Cuthbert's College have succeeded in winning the Auckland intercity girls' championship.

St Cuthbert's downed favourites Rangitoto College 1-0 in the final.

Kate MacMorran's penalty corner late in the second half sealed the win.

The Epsom-based school have had an outstanding season, conceding just two goals while netting 48 of their own.

King's College had a perfect warm up for their defence of the Rankin Cup this week, beating Auckland Grammar 4-1 to take out the Auckland intercity title.

This week -

Upper North Island netball tournament, ends tomorrow, North Harbour. NZSS under 16 and zonal boys basketball tournaments, end Friday, New Plymouth.

NZSS boys and girls soccer, end tomorrow. NZSS boys and girls hockey, including Rankin Cup, Federation Cup and satellite tournaments, end tomorrow.

Tomorrow: NZ regional rugby tournament, August 24-26, Wellington. NZSS underwater hockey August 24-27, Wellington.

Friday: Auckland: badminton, basketball premier boys round-robin and girls semifinals. North Harbour: grades 3 and 4 girls hockey.

Saturday: NZSS weightlifting championships, Te Kauwhata. North Harbour: netball.

Sunday: Auckland: cycling.

Monday: Auckland: junior boys squash.

Tuesday: Inter-region basketball open playoffs. Auckland: central/east Auckland zone cross-country.