College Sport: AGS sides take some beating with six of the best

Matthew Greenslade (L) of Auckland Grammar challenges James O'Brien of Sacred Heart in a hard-fought final won by AGS on penalties. Photo / Dean Purcell

After playing second fiddle at times over the winter, the drums were beating at Auckland Grammar on Monday as they reflected on one of their more successful weekends with six coveted trophies in the cabinet.

They were given a flying start on Friday with two titles at basketball's finals night at the North Shore Events Centre.

First-up, AGS claimed the under-15A title as captain Joseph Kang landed a free throw in the dying seconds to sink WBHS 40-39.

Spurred by that and seeking to add the Auckland title to their Northern Region honours, the premier team beat surprise finalists Onehunga High to claim the much sought after Auckland premier crown for the first time since 1987.

Magnus Holding and Josh Young led from the front for AGS with Holding named the MVP.

Heading outdoors the following day, AGS had two teams in action in knockout soccer finals day at St Kentigern College.

Again, the youngsters showed the way with Alex Metzger's 14th grade team beating perennial rivals WBHS 2-0 with goals from Nick Josephs and Christian Gray - son of former All Whites captain Rodger Gray - to win the Auckland Junior Knockout Trophy.

The 1st XI then got home in the Senior Knockout Cup in a nail-biter.

They beat season surprise packet Sacred Heart - who had eliminated MAGS in the semifinals - 6-5 on penalties after extra time ended 3-3.

AGS had to battle back from 2-0 down at halftime to force extra time with goals to Cameron Martin and James Routledge. In extra time Isaac Brealey put AGS ahead only for Sacred Heart to equalise just before the final whistle.

The penalty shoot-out was excruciating for the players and supporters with both goalkeepers making excellent saves to leave the scores locked 4-4 after the mandatory five penalties. AGS then succeeded with their next two attempts while Danny Hay-coached Sacred Heart hit their seventh attempt straight at AGS goalkeeper Kyle Smart.

The victory earned AGS the championship/knockout double for the first time since 2003.

Long-time champions MAGS managed to salvage something from their season with a 3-1 win over Rangitoto in the 15th grade final.

Auckland Grammar's successes continued early on Sunday morning when their senior A cycling team retained the Bigwood Trophy (as winners of the final race of the season) beating WBHS by more than 20 seconds in the final round of the Avanti Plus time trials on the Waterfront.

WBHS took the overall honours by two points from AGS. The two schools shared the title last year.

After also winning silver at the North Island cycling championships AGS now have their sights set on gold at this month's national championships in Levin.

Auckland Grammar's triumphs continued later on Sunday when the premier team, coached by old boy Andy Rodgers, were crowned national weightlifting champions claiming six gold, four silver and a bronze medal.

AWARD

The hard work often done behind the scenes at Auckland schools is to be recognised with a new award for the Sports Educator of the Year.

The award, sponsored by Sportime New Zealand in association with ASB College Sport, carries $500 Mizuno prize packages for the winner and his or her nominator and a $500 package from Sportime for the winning school.

All nominations must be made by a fulltime sports director, sports co-co-ordinator, PE head of department or school principal from a College Sport-affiliated school.

All nominees must be in fulltime employment at an affiliated school. The nominee must be involved in delivering a quality physical education or sports programme.

They must serve as a positive role model and reflect personal health and fitness, enjoyment of activity, sportsmanship and sensitivity to the needs of all students.

Nominations close on September 24 with the winner to be announced at the ASB College Sport Awards dinner on November 11.

BASKETBALL

Led by a player of the match performance from inspirational captain Moengaroa Subritzky, AGGS scored an emphatic and breakthrough 81-68 win over MAGS in the premier girl's final at the North Shore Events Centre.

Subritzky, last year won regional and national SS honours while at Church College. She and ex-Church College, now AGGS, teammate Megan Aben have the chance to win back-to-back New Zealand titles with different schools when they head to Palmerston North for the September 27-October 1 championships.

This year's premier title race was a three-way affair with AGGS, MAGS and Rangitoto all in the mix through the 14 rounds of the regular season with MAGS eventually taking the minor premiership.

AGGS won through to Friday's final with a two-point semifinal win over Rangitoto.

MAGS quickly silenced the vocal AGGS crowd, racing to an early seven-point lead before AGGS fought back to tie it up 17-17 at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter was all AGGSwho led by 20 heading into the third quarter.

Down but far from out, MAGS closed to within five thanks mainly to the accuracy of three-point shooter Courtney Powell-Poto.

In the end AGGS dominated the final quarter to claim their first premier title.

In celebrating, they could look back on a four-year development programme which started when core team members Caitlin Tuala, Subritzky, Tyla Tariau and Lillian Ioane won the 2007 Greater Auckland under-15 championship.

Friday also gave the top age group basketball teams the chance to become the Greater Auckland champions.

The intense afternoon programme began with the under-15 contest between Avondale College and MAGS in the girl's final and WBHS meeting AGS in the boys. The same two schools met in all age group finals.

At the same time as AGS were fighting back to edge WBHS in the under-15 boy's final, MAGS had a similar see-saw battle for the under-15 girl's title against Avondale.

Neither team were able to take a commanding lead as the score bounced back and forth.

Captain Lyric Taurua-Wolfgramm had the hot hand for MAGS with a game high 23 points, while Anjelica Matapo was the leading scorer for Avondale with 17. MAGS held on to win 41-38.

The under-17 boy's final was another keenly-anticipated WBHS-AGS match-up.

WBHS took a slim 23-21 halftime lead but they stepped up a gear in the third quarter to race to a 12-goal lead on the back of some sharp-shooting from Ana Haku. WBHS continued their domination to clear out and win 55-34.

Led by a strong game from captain Ella Fotu, Rangitoto raced out to an early 12-5 first quarter lead over Avondale in the under-17 girl's final.

Avondale quickly regrouped to rein in Rangitoto and take an 18-16 halftime lead. Avondale hung on to win 28-27.

Dominant performances by Manurewa High School and WBHS earned them open grade honours.

Northcote were no match for Manurewa in the girl's final.They struggled as the South Aucklanders used their superior height to make the most of their rebound opportunities. Led by Charlotte Davis' impressive three-point shooting Manurewa cruised home 49-14.

In the boy's final Westlake raced out to an early 20-7 lead. AGS were never in it after that as Callum Welch led from the front for Westlake, leading all scorers with 12 points. WBHS dominated all four quarters en route to their 65-24 victory.

CHESS

As if to prove they can win indoors as well as on the field, WBHS have come up trumps on the chess board.

Under the guidance of chess master Arnold van den Heuvel, the junior A team claimed the Auckland title with wins over St Kentigern, Macleans, Mission Heights, WBHS 2 and a draw with arch rivals AGS to win the Auckland championship unbeaten.

The WBHS senior A team finished second behind AGS with both teams qualifying for the national tournament in Christchurch during the school holidays.

It is the first time in 10 years the Westlake juniors - with their team of Jerry Chen, Yishen Zhou, Kevin Lee and Campbell Wang - has won that title while Dean Zhao, Kevin Zheng, Cornelius Soon and Harry Cui just failed to win senior honours for their school for the first time since 2002.

CYCLING

St Cuthberts broke through for a famous first with their overall victory in the senior girl's grade at the Avanti Plus time trials but not until after Sunday's seventh and final race were they able to relax and savour the moment.

Out of the points in the first race when one of their team crashed and another had mechanical problems, the Scott Hotham-coached side could ill-afford any further slip-ups as they needed to count their best six results in their overall championship quest.

They did, winning the remaining six races to finish with six points - the only championship-winning team able to boast such a record.

The Epsom-based school took the honours by seven points from Rangitoto with perennial winners Diocesan a point back in third.

St Cuthberts completed the double with their junior team pushing defending champions Diocesan back to second with 13 points, three behind St Cuthberts.

St Cuthberts will aim to add the national title to their haul in Levin during the school holidays.

MULTISPORT

While they might not be enjoying the success of years past on the local scene, Rangitoto College pupils continue to make their mark internationally.

In an all-New Zealand quinnella in the 16-19 year category at the ITU World Age Group Triathlon Championships in Budapest, Rangitoto Year 11 student Danielle McKenzie finished second behind Southland's Penny Hayes.

McKenzie, who turned 16 last month, has another two years in the grade. She recorded 1h 08m 07s with Hayes winning in 1h 06m 46s.

It was a memorable day for New Zealand's southern-most province with another southerner Robert Huisman winning the 16-19 boy's race.

Just days before departing for Hungary, McKenzie competed at the AvantiPlus NZ SS individual cycling championships finishing second overall behind Diocesan's Georgina Wilson in the under-17 grade.

In mid-August Rangitoto Year 12 pupil Georgia Williams was a member of the three-strong team that finished second in the team pursuit at the UCI World Junior Track Cycling Championships in Montichari, Italy.


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