College sport: Grammar grind out nailbiting win over Kings

Auckland Grammar remains unbeaten at the top of the 1A Auckland rugby table after a nail-biting 14-11 win against rival Kings College.

Playing in front of a large crowd in excellent conditions, and inspired by an outstanding Tibbs House haka, Grammar started with a hiss and a roar. When the game was just two minutes old, George Maka floated though a hole in the Kings' midfield and offloaded in the tackle to Konileti Hurrell, who shook off the remaining defenders to score under the posts. Scott Bracey converted.

However, Grammar was unable to continue in such clinical fashion. Throughout the first half, Grammar was a mixture of good and bad - excellent lineout drives were ruined by sloppy handling, and good groundwork by the backline was often undone by forced passes. This inability to play with any real continuity kept Kings in the game, and they proved to be dangerous with ball in hand. They also managed to disrupt the Grammar lineout, which did not operate anywhere near its best. While their effort was never in question, time and again Grammar let Kings off the hook with their inability to execute the basics. And they paid a heavy price, first conceding a penalty, and then a very good Kings try in the corner. Grammar trailed 7-8 at the break.

Playing with a significant breeze at their backs in the second half, Grammar always backed their ability to regain the lead. However, this was a long time coming. Kings kicked another penalty, and then employed a series of box kicks over the Grammar backs, and it was purely good fortune that poor control of these kicks did not lead to more points.

With 15 minutes remaining, Grammar was still behind. But a single movement turned the game, and not for the first time this season it was Omar Slaimankhel who provided the spark. Receiving the ball on his own side of halfway, he sliced through the tiring Kings' defence and set sail for the try line. When the defence reeled him in he found player-of-the-day Maka at his shoulder who scored the winning try. Ali Hitchcock added the conversion.

It was grinding team effort rather than a day for individual brilliance, but David Adams was again a thorn in the Kings' side, and Andy Cartwright at lock was a standout with a gutsy all round effort. Senior players Kurt Eklund, Nili Moala, and Scott Bracey also deserve special mention.

De la Salle College led Sacred Heart College at halftime 10-3 with a converted try and a penalty and went on to take out the match 20-13. The second half started with points going to De la Salle first through a converted try. Sacred Heart fought hard but were only able to score a converted try and two penalties before fulltime.

St Peters College scored four tries in the first half which set the tone for their 36-10 win over Tamaki College.

It was St Peter's fifth straight win against Tamaki. For St Peter's D.J. Solomona scored two tries while Bryn Hall, Nepia Fox-Matamua, Michigan Lam and Levi Holland all crossed the line for five pointers. Man of the match for Tamaki, Sam Finau, scored their only try.

Aorere defeated St Kentigern College 30-22. Aorere were looking to reverse their recent slump in form while St Kentigern were looking for their third consecutive win.

Aorere opened the scoring with a well-worked try before Saint Kentigern College came back with a try to Dennis Heather from a lineout error by Aorere. Aorere finally exerted some dominance in the forwards to lead 22-12 at the break.

A second try from a lineout drive gave Aorere a comfortable lead but the tenacious home side kept coming back and a try to centre Liam Steel closed the gap to 30-22.

North Harbour

A highly motivated Westlake showed great character to romp to a 53-3 win over Orewa. Westlake take on perennial rivals Rosmini at home next weekend and will be full of confidence after this performance, while Orewa will want to lift their spirits after their very disappointing display.

For Westlake, lock forward Kima Iosua was prominent with openside Zane Turner and fullback Regan Green among Orewa's best.

Takapuna beat Mahurangi 21-3 and were dominant in the first half. However solid defence from Mahu kept them from crossing the line for most of the half. A set move from an attacking scrum midway through the first half led to a try by blindside flanker Tahu Whatuira, giving TGS a 7-3 lead at half-time.

The first 15 minutes of the second half was a stop-start affair with handling errors costing TGS territory and position. Finally they got their game on track and with wave after wave of attacks from the TGS forwards they were rewarded with a try by hooker Michael McNeish. TGS continued the pressure, eventually spreading the ball wide to winger Ash King who dotted down in the corner. All three tries were converted by Ben Blucher.

Rosmini accounted for Northcote 89-0 in a one-sided affair, scoring 13 tries. Gareth Anscombe kicked 12 of 13 conversion attempts and scored a try to cap off his day.

Birkenhead provided the shock of the day beating Kristin 7-3.

AEROBICS

Rinata Clooney from Howick College took first place in the Level 1 section of the Auckland event. Shyvon Campbell from Macleans took out Level 2 and Melody Martin from Avondale won Level 3.

MacLean's College had a large showing in the teams events.

Jessie Fromont placed first in the tightly contested Junior B competition with a score of 15.75, followed by Payton Woodmass and Laura Furse. The Junior A competition saw two competitors out front with Shae Ramsey from Macleans taking out the title on a score of 15.80. Charlotte Cheyn placed second on 15.4 and Alex Rabl third with 14.90.

Ashleigh Pettifor was the only competitor entered in the Sub Junior International but showed her strength and ability with a score of 15.80.

HOCKEY

It was always going to be hard for the Diocesan 2nd XI to pull off a win against their 1st XI team but they weren't going to go down without a fight.

Calm defending led by Dio 2 captain Kaylis Kesry and superb goalkeeping from Holly McKinley kept the Dio 1 attack at bay. However the first chink in the armour was made at the 13-minute mark. Arabella Nelson finished off a neat baseline move to take Dio 1 to a 1-0 lead.

That lead was extended to two goals towards the end of the first half. Francesca March received the ball from a sideline hit and took off down the left flank weaving in and out of Dio 2 players like they were cones in a training drill.

The second half started just as hard, if not harder than the first but it was not long after the whistle when Danielle Sutherland put another goal past the Dio 2 defence for the 3-0 win.

CURLING

Epsom Girls Team Kwon defeated Epsom Girls Team Lee 9-3 in a game that was tied 3-3 at the end of three ends. However the more experienced team lead by Jina Kwon then proceeded to take 1 on the fourth and steal the next three ends.

Henderson High defeated Epsom Girls Putts 3-2 in a very tight encounter - frosty ice conditions made it hard for the girls to get the stones to the house and there were three blank ends in the game.

Kelston Boys led by Brett Sargon continued their run with a 7-2 win over Massey High Team Cooke to lead the boys competition.

In the final game of the night Birkenhead College Team Kim defeated Birkenhead College Team Patel 8-7 in a real nailbiter which came down to the last stone of the game.

After five rounds Henderson High and Epsom Girls Farley are undefeated in the girls competition and Epsom Girls Kwon have a two win one loss record.

In the boys' competition Kelston Boys are leading on three wins followed by Birkenhead College Team Kim on two wins and Massey High Team Cooke on a win and a draw.