College sport: Gruelling schedule takes toll on De La Salle

The demands of balancing international rugby with the desire to turn in solid games week in, week out in the local competition is hitting home for the De La Salle first XV.

As last year's Auckland 1A champions - after beating Kings College in the Eden Park final - and then handed the chance to play in the Sanex Cup in Japan as New Zealand's representative, the Otahuhu-based school had the best of both worlds. Or did they?

While most rugby-playing schoolboys had last year's fourth term and the first term this year away from the football field, the De La Salle players had to balance school work with fundraising and the intense preparation required to go head-to-head with the best schoolboy players in the world.

They did well enough in Japan - reaching the semifinals - but the effort has obviously taken its toll.

While given a few days break on their return, they have since played three matches in the Auckland championship for three losses.

They battled well first up against competition leaders Aorere before going down 33-32 and claiming two bonus points. They then lost 34-11 to MAGS and in last Saturday's catch-up game, a replay of last year's final, they went down 41-17 away to Kings.

From three games De La Salle have just those two bonus points and are 15 points behind Aorere with only St Pauls and St Kentigern (one point each) below them on the table.

Auckland Rugby's secondary schools development officer Mike McCahill admits it is a tough ask for schools returning from Japan but says it is a problem schools have to deal with.

"No one would ever want to deny the boys what might be a once in a lifetime opportunity," said McCahill. "But it is hard for them when they get back after what is an intense competition where on some days they play two games.

"St Peters was the last Auckland school to go away like this and they too found it difficult when they got back."

Against Kings, De La Salle were quickly on the back foot as Simon Healy, Sam Morris and Luke Graham ran in tries in the first 35 minutes. Dylan Collier converted two for a 19-0 lead which was reduced by five points just before halftime when Vennie Maatafa scored.

The visitors further closed the gap with a good try from elusive wing Sione Lolohea before Kings picked up the pace, capitalised on turnovers and slick passing to score freely.

De La Salle's Sione Kolo scored a consolation try midway through the second spell with Tim Lafaele adding the conversion.

De La Salle are away again this week to play KBHS while most interest will centre on the top of the table clash between leaders Aorere and AGS who are three points back but still awaiting the outcome of the committee's decision on their game against Sacred Heart.

In what should be another close encounter, second-placed Kings are at home to St Peters.

BASKETBALL

Selection in the Junior Tall Blacks for next month's world under-19 championships has given aspiring North Harbour players Sam King and Rob Loe the chance to follow fellow Shore players Sean Marks and Kirk Penney into the tough world of professional basketball.

King and Loe, from Rangitoto College and WBHS respectively, are hoping to follow Marks, a Rangitoto old boy, and Penney, who played at Westlake, into the NBA.

Their hopes, and those of their New Zealand teammates, will be enhanced by the expected courtside appearances of up to 100 player agents/scouts who will watch the 62 games at the July 2-12 championships in Auckland.

HOCKEY

There is an all-too-familiar look to the Auckland and North Harbour championship tables as they approach the midway point.

Auckland Grammar and Kings have won three-from-three to take a clear lead in the Auckland open A boys' championship.

Again, the match of the season is scheduled for the last round on June 24 before the top teams are joined by the best from North Harbour and Counties for the inter-city competition.

Westlake BHS and Rangitoto are clear front-runners in North Harbour and will meet in the last round. WBHS had the toughest test of the season in the latest round when limited to a 2-0 win by their second XI while Rangitoto had their biggest win of their campaign with a 16-1 romp over Mahurangi.

WGHS and Rangitoto are both unbeaten in North Harbour grade one play with Westlake three points ahead.

Diocesan are setting the pace in the Auckland girls' open A championship with a five-from-five start to their season. They lead perennial rivals St Cuthberts, who have a game in hand, by five points. Diocesan were given a tougher than expected battle before edging St Kentigern 2-1 and Diocesan 2 had a 1-0 win over Macleans.

RUGBY

NORTH HARBOUR

Rosmini bounced back from their loss to Massey High with a stunning 78-3 win over Rangitoto College in 1st XV action on Saturday.

Wing James Siaki and second-five Josh Sabin scored three tries each as Rosmini ran in 12 tries.

Massey continued their winning way with a 33-7 away win over Orewa College.

The home side battled well in the first half to hold the championship leaders to 13-0 but in the end could not contain the visitors. With halfback Jonathan Fox sparking the team with a strong debut, Massey scored five tries with Troy Stirling converting four.

Orewa got on the board with a second-half try to Andrew Fluker.

WBHS too had a comfortable bonus-point win in beating Mahurangi 41-0 after leading 15-0 at halftime.

No 8 Jordan Mann capped a memorable game by scoring three tries. Dylan Ferreira, who scored one of his team's seven tries, kicked three conversions.

The fourth game was also one-sided as TGS beat Northcote 31-0. Led by outstanding flanker Matt Lowe, Takapuna scored four tries for a bonus point. Ben Blucher converted them all and kicked a penalty.

In 1B matches Long Bay continued the day's big-scoring theme with a 57-7 win over newcomers Whangaparaoa.

Kristin beat Glenfield 17-12, Kaipara defeated Birkenhead 16-14 and Hato Petera overcame a gutsy Kingsway 29-12.

* www.asbcollegesport.co.nz