College Sport: School's hopes ride on sisters' shoulders

Annie Keown and her kid sister Esther will carry the hopes of their 1400 schoolmates when they line up in the national secondary schools cross-country championships in Wanganui on Saturday.

They will be the only two Auckland Girls Grammar school students at the championships. But for her lacrosse commitments in the US - she flies out today - they would have been joined by older sister Gracie in a three-pronged attack on the titles.

At a school where much of the emphasis is on team sports, the sisters shine as individuals although they do play key roles in the lacrosse team.

Juggling their sport, and a heavy training schedule under coach Barry Magee (they were also coached by Eric Crosse who died suddenly while out training recently), and their studies, the sisters have quickly shown out.

In last month's Grand Prix cross-country race at St Kentigern, the sisters went close to scoring a huge trifecta.

Esther set the day alight with her win in the year nine race; Annie followed that with a win in the junior race and Gracie failed by just 9s to catch the senior race winner.

This month they showed their versatility by competing in the duathlon championships. Esther finished third in the junior race, Annie was eighth after doing the running legs in her intermediate race while Gracie teamed with Melissa Hunt to take the senior teams race after being a minute down before the final 2.5km run leg.

"We all get on pretty well," says Gracie. "We do a lot of our training together."

They obviously enjoy some friendly rivalry which extends to some pretty rigorous training times together, much of it on the testing Cornwall Park-One Tree Hill circuit.

The New Balance-sponsored championships have attracted 1200 competitors from 150 schools.

The largest field will face the start in the senior boys race, with 239 to tackle the testing course being used for the first time for the national championships which were last held in Wanganui 14 years ago.

Basketball

Rangitoto turned in their best effort of the year to topple previously unbeaten Avondale College 81-56 in the upset of the round. With Alex Petty, Daniel Horobin and Sam Butler leading the way, Rangitoto won every quarter. Only captain Kuan Le Proust Shepard showed out for Avondale.

In the match of the round, Westlake, without four key players who are in the US on Junior Tall Blacks duty, just held out a spirited AGS side 80-78.

Dilworth were always in control as they headed MAGS 95-65, with Lyden Aoake scoring 31 points, and enjoyed solid support from Joel Wiapo and Zach Makavilitogia who scored 21 points.

The Avondale girls had earlier given their boys the chance of a double-victory when they beat Rangitoto 66-51. Chatei Niha led the way for Avondale with 20 points while Rose Twaddle had a strong defensive game for Rangitoto.

Kushla Dunning, Talyea Makea and Kim Barnes kept the scoring rolling along for Rosehill in their 64-52 win over Northcote College.

Cycling

A bit of early morning fog which thickened as the record 83 teams charged along the Auckland waterfront on Sunday morning only added to the intrigue of race three in the schools time trial series.

On a dry road and no wind, fast times were the order of the day.

Relishing the conditions, the St Cuthberts junior girls set a course record for their grade of 25m 28.3s.

When considered alongside this year's best time in the senior girls race of 24m 23.6s, also posted on Sunday by Diocesan, the junior ride is quickly put into perspective.

Diocesan were well clear in winning their race but less than 10s covered the next three teams, with Macleans just holding off Epsom and St Cuthberts.

St Kentigern were more than half a minute faster than AGS in taking the senior boys but again failed to wrest the James Faulding Memorial Trophy held by AGS for the year's fastest time.

The close battle in the junior boys continued with Westlake getting home by under 12s from St Kentigern with AGS a further 7s back. The next race will be on June 26.

Rugby

King's College ruined Auckland Grammar's big day by upsetting their fancied rivals in top level rugby and soccer clashes.

In front of around 5000 fans, King's broke a four-year drought to win the rugby 8-6 and take away the Cooper-Greenbank Trophy.

The win was notable for Simon Munro's late runaway try - the first time AGS have had their line crossed in the senior championship this season.

Earlier, King's had stunned the gathered faithful on the lower field when their first soccer XI beat their fancied rivals 1-0.

Disappointed but far from down-hearted, Auckland Grammar headmaster John Morris was enthusiastic about the day.

"It was a fantastic occasion. It was not the best weekend for Auckland Grammar but again showed how successful the double-header concept can be," said Morris.

Of the rugby, Morris said: "The King's defence was brilliant. It was an outstanding game of rugby. You have to remember they too were unbeaten before the game."

Of the soccer, Morris, again: "We were awful. In a way it was very good for the game as it again showed anyone can beat anyone."

Kelston BHS went to the top of the table but they had to work hard for their 16-10 win over St Paul's, who at least picked up a bonus point.

Tangaroa beat Mt Albert Grammar 29-17 to join AGS in second place on the table, just a point out of the lead. King's are right in the race and in the top four.

St Peter's were out of it at 0-21 against Tamaki College at halftime but rattled the points on in the second half and, with just three minutes to play, could have equalised but had to settle for a 26-28 loss.

After a slow start, Otahuhu poured in four tries in 20 minutes and raced away to beat Macleans 46-3. De La Salle edged Sacred Heart 35-27.

Soccer

Jonathon O'Rourke's goal 10 minutes from time had real significance for King's College in their upset win over Auckland Grammar.

Not only did it end the home team's unbeaten start to their season, it was the first time since they first played in the championship (in 1989), King's had beaten AGS.

In another upset, Rangitoto won the battle of the Shore by beating national secondary schools champions Westlake 4-2 after Westlake had gone into the match unbeaten.

Ahead 1-0 early, Westlake took control but the home side hit back through captain Connor Archbold.

But 10 minutes on, the visitors were back in front when captain Tom Smith hit home from the penalty spot. Any joy was short-lived as they then gave up a penalty which Archbold scored.

Rangitoto coach Paul Seaman injected fresh legs and was rewarded with match-winning goals from Max Fowler and David Hunter as Rangitoto scored their first win over WBHS in at least five years to move into fourth place.

MAGS bounced back from their loss to WBHS to beat Liston 3-1 and go back to the top of the table on goal difference from King's.