KEY POINTS:
Mt Albert Grammar will be flat out to complete a treasured double over old rivals Auckland Grammar when they meet in a classic top-of-the-table soccer battle at MAGS on Saturday.
The MAGS 1st XV took the first leg of the double last Saturday with a hard-fought but deserved 21-13 home win. The soccer clash will almost certainly decide the A1 title as both teams go into the match unbeaten, with their only dropped points coming from their first-round draw.
The MAGS 1st XI warmed up for the game of the season with an easier-than-expected 8-0 home win over third-placed Westlake Boys High.
After withstanding the pressure for 27 minutes, the Westlake defence was breached when Mt Albert captain Ash Solly headed home from a well-placed corner.
Solly went on to score another two but was upstaged by striker Mark Withers, who banged in four.
Ahead 3-0 at halftime, MAGS coasted home with Withers completing his hat-trick two minutes into the second spell. Three minutes later, Solly scored a 25m cracker. The scoring was completed four minutes from time with a Zane Sole goal.
AGS go into Saturday's away game on the back of an encouraging 3-0 away win over Rangitoto College.
King's, who will join MAGS, AGS and Westlake at the Lotto premier tournament in Napier next month, were beaten 2-1 at home by Macleans, who have moved into the top four.
In the bottom-of-the-table clash St Peter's beat Avondale 2-0 away.
Basketball
In a classic see-saw premier boys battle, Westlake Boys High grabbed the points with their 77-76 win over AGS in the match of the round.
After leading 24-21 at the end of the opening quarter and stretching their lead to a handy 10 points, Westlake had it cut to five points in the third quarter before AGS grabbed the lead in the last.
But, led by MVP Liam Munday (20 points) and Zac Fitzgerald (28), WBHS stormed back after a time out to win. Patrich Bolstad (23) led the AGS charge with good support from MVP Corey Van Wout.
In another one-point thriller, Rangitoto, led by top scorer Scott Campbell, beat Dilworth 63-62.
In premier girls action, Massey were always in control but not always convincing as they beat Avondale 68-53.
Chevannah Paalvast (22 points), Julie Winter (19) and Mesha Blair (16) led Massey to victory. Georgina Solomon (17) led the way for Avondale.
Jahmelia Pritchard was the leading scorer and MVP for Manurewa as they beat Rosehill 56-39.
In a closer contest, Auckland Girls beat Rangitoto 63-60 without any player showing out with a big points haul. Michaela Hogarth led the way for AGGS, and Kate Alemann was named MVP for Rangitoto.
Curling
Newcomers Epsom Girls 4, in for Baradene 3 who have withdrawn, had a winning start when their team of Chelsea Farley, Angela Goodwin and Tessa Farley beat EGGS 2 11-3.
In a much tighter contest, the Birkenhead Girls 2 team of Gloria Faaee, Jasmine Fung and Asia Kennedy beat Baradene 2 (Marilyn Tan, Desiree Hee, Lara Derbyshire and Sarah Clark) 5-2 after leading 2-0 after the first end. The game, which was cut short by the time limit, then produced single shots on the remaining ends.
Rugby
AUCKLAND: De La Salle confirmed their standing as the hottest of hot favourites to win the 1A championship with their convincing 36-0 romp over fourth-placed St Paul's. It was the third straight game in which the table-toppers did not concede a point.
It took time for De La Salle to hit their straps but once Joseph Tupe scored what was to prove the try of the match, the home side were unstoppable.
MAGS was 14-6 ahead of AGS at halftime thanks to tries by Willis Halaholo and Ben Richards, converted by Dominic Stead.
When Tutu Tairea crossed under the bar and the lead was stretched to 21-6, there was a feeling the home side would take a bonus point with a fourth try, but a resolute rally from the visitors produced a converted AGS try and a final 21-13 scoreline.
King's snatched a bonus point from the last move of their game against Tangaroa, winning 26-7.
Tamaki too grabbed a bonus point with their 41-0 win over Papatoetoe after leading 17-0 at the interval.
In a game played midweek, Kelston Boys High beat Sacred Heart 10-8.
The game between St Kentigern and St Peter's was postponed to August 7.
NORTH HARBOUR: A late penalty steered Takapuna Grammar to an upset 8-6 away win over Rosmini in the first round of the championship proper. Two Rosmini penalties had the home side 6-5 ahead after the break following a six-phase try by centre Samuel Cunningham.
The arm-wrestle between two evenly-matched forward packs ensured it would always be close.
Westlake beat Massey 16-6 in the other match in a championship race that promises to be close throughout.
COUNTIES MANUKAU: Two victories in four days ensured the Wesley 1st XV remained on top.
They beat their 2nd XV 44-3 in a midweek catch-up game before beating Pukekohe 31-3 on Saturday in what promises to be a dress rehearsal for their semifinal clash.
Fullback Niko Ratamaitavuki dotted down twice for Wesley.
In another in-house clash, Manurewa 1st XV were too strong for the 2nd XV, winning 55-5, and in a rare draw Waiuku and Rosehill shared the points after finishing 15-15.
