College sport: Rivalry promises close final

By DAVE WORSLEY

Hillcrest High and St Peters will contest the division-one final of the Waikato secondary schools cricket competition.

Hillcrest have lost only once during the season - to St Peters, by six runs.

St Peters have not been as consistent as Hillcrest but seem to be producing their best form at the right time in winning their last three games. Hillcrest scored more than 300 runs in their last two games.

The final will be played at St Peters on Saturday.

In the semifinals, Cambridge won the toss and put St Peters in to bat. Openers Chris Sclater and Thomas Wansbone got off to a good start by putting on 60 for the first wicket.

Anton Kivell top-scored with 82 while Andrew Sclater gave him support with 41 not out. St Peters posted 228-5 off their 50 overs.

James McKay was Cambridge's best bowler with 2-35 off his 10 overs.


Cambridge never really mounted a serious challenge. They lost wickets at regular intervals and missed Keith Vincent, who had travelled to play against Northland for the Waikato Valley men's team. Brad Kay looked good while he was at the crease, scoring a quick 22, before being undone by off-spinner Scott Mongston, who finished with 5-5 off five overs. Cambridge were bowled out for 80 to lose by 148 runs.


In the other semifinal Hillcrest batted first and blasted Matamata out of contention by scoring 309/9, including Leandre Scheepers, Andrew Kedian and James Baker all passing a half-century.

Tim Mickleson was the best of the bowlers, finishing with 3-64.

Matamata then batted - or it should be Josh Robb batted - and he watched all his team-mates fall by the wayside as he scored 62 not out in his side's total of 84.

Byron Barrowclough was the chief destroyer with 6-43.

Cambridge are at home to Matamata in the third and fourth playoff.

In other matches, Te Awamutu defeated St Johns by 70 runs. Morrinsville completed a five-wicket victory over the St Pauls second XI, and the Hamilton Boys High third XI beat Fraser High to finish ninth.

Awards

A multi-tasking Epsom Girls Grammar student has won the top secondary schools sports award for girls in Auckland.

Phillis Meti, who excels at national and provincial level in four sports, took away the ASB Young Sportswoman of the year award from some tough competition.

She is currently the national secondary schools junior shot put and discus champion and a member of the New Zealand junior athletics team. She has played representative golf and has a 5.6 handicap. Meti is a talented netballer who played at Auckland age-group level and is in the Diamonds development team.

Meti also recently represented New Zealand at the world outrigger canoe championships, making finals in all events.

The other finalists included Paddy Walker, (cycling, Diocesan), Maria Tutaia (netball, Mt Albert Grammar), Kirsty Yallop (soccer, Avondale College), Amanda Preston (softball, Auckland Girls Grammar), Anna Hamilton (triathlon, Rangitoto College) and Karlie Maloney (hockey, Rangitoto College).


The boys' winner was Olympic swimmer Corney Swanepoel of Rangitoto College, who was this year ranked third fastest in the world in the 100m butterfly.

He holds New Zealand age-group and open swimming records.

Swanepoel had stern competition from Kerry Vuna (league, Otahuhu College), John Love (water polo, Westlake Boys) and Cameron Sinclair (weightlifting, Auckland Grammar).

THIS WEEK: Today: Softball, Auckland junior tournament, Rosedale Park. Volleyball, N. Island junior schools championships, Waitakere Stadium, until Friday. Thursday: Touch, Auckland junior championships, Dunkirk Reserve, Mt Wellington.