KEY POINTS:
An unnecessary attempt at a second run from the first ball of the last over proved costly for King's College as they went down by four runs to Westlake boys in a tense 1A one-day final at King's.
Sent in to bat, the visitors piled on the early runs with Andy MacDuff, promoted to open the innings for the first time, and Beaumont Schoeman scoring half-centuries as Westlake reached 122. The innings then lost some momentum when both openers were dismissed on that score just before the drinks break.
The combination of some tight slow bowling and the key wicket of Brad Cachopa brought the home side back into the game. Tony Manning and Elliott Power then steadied the middle order, allowing a late surge from Trevor Brian and Craig Cachopa - who continued to run aggressively between the wickets - to steer their side to 225/9 from their 50 overs after a 300 looked likely early on. William Brittain, 2-31, was the best of the King's bowlers.
In reply, Angus McLean and Brittain gave the home side a solid start scoring at just under four runs an over in reaching 45. The loss of Brittain and Kai Petersen - brilliantly caught in the gully by Brian - slowed the momentum. When McLean followed Brittain in departing to a leg-before decision, the key King's pair of Andrew de Boorder and Jonathon Bassett-Graham came together. The latter departed with 129 runs still needed.
Tim Southee hit a six but not much else and when Tom Talbot joined captain de Boorder, they were still 110 runs shy. De Boorder, kept away from the strike by the Westlake field, fell at 42 and it was left to the lower-order to keep the favourites in the race.
They needed 11 runs from the last three overs. Talbot continued to score freely but was undone by Brad Cachopa for 50 and then, with six needed from the last over, Chris Goldsbury failed to beat a throw from the square leg boundary and was run out.
It ended a 30-match unbeaten run for de Boorder as captain of the King's XI who now prepare for next month's Gillette Cup tournament.
WAIKATO
Where King's fell at the last hurdle in Auckland, there was no such drama for St Peters in the Waikato grand final played at St Peters.
In a game umpired by former Northern Districts coach Bruce Blair and Northern's greatest wicket-taker Cliff Dickeson, St Peters beat Hillcrest High by three wickets to claim their fourth successive title. They also retained the Dave Hoskin Trophy for an entire calendar year - the first school to achieve that.
The visitors won the toss and elected to bat - a decision they quickly regretted, as St Peters claimed two quick wickets. Not for the want of trying by the Hillcrest batsmen, wickets fell regularly with only Jack Bruce offering much resistance. But for his unbeaten 48, Hillcrest would have struggled to set any kind of target.
After being rocked at 102/8, Hillcrest picked up some lower-order runs to reach 150.
It was not all one way for St Peters in reply. Like the visitors, they lost a couple of early wickets and at 75/5 were still in some trouble, especially when facing Chris Jamieson, who ended his 10-over spell with 3-25.
A 60-run seventh wicket partnership between the day's top-scorer, Thomas Wansbone (50), and Scott Mongstone saved the day with Wansbone dismissed when only two runs were needed for the victory. They reached their target with three wickets in hand.
St Peters now look to their tour to Australia and then next season when they will be without seven of their current team. Hillcrest have all players back next year.
AWARDS
The honours keep coming for multisport star Rebecca Spence. Days after being named the ASB Young Sportswoman of the Year, the Rangitoto College seventh former was among the 99 New Zealanders recognised by Sparc in the Future Champions awards.
The winners were selected from a variety of sports from many schools nationwide. From the 627 nominations from 216 schools, Sparc made 99 awards.
It also highly commended 127 athletes and recognised the remaining 401 as finalists in third place.
Sixty-one sports were represented in the nominations including BMX, snowboarding and sumo wrestling.
KILIKITI
The 20-person teams take to the field at the Auckland Domain today (B grade) and on Friday (A grade) in the 15th annual Milo junior secondary schools tournament.
The unique tournament might see the whole team dismissed in under half an hour, with the players doing their best with a three-sided bat.
TOUCH
Another popular annual tournament is sandwiched between the two days of Kilikiti.
The 12 best junior boys and girls touch teams will be in action tomorrow at the Mt Wellington War Memorial Reserve after coming through many hectic rounds of qualifying play.
Papakura HS (girls) and De La Salle College (boys) will defend their titles in which all the top teams from the various zones are brought together. Play starts at 9.15am with the finals scheduled for 2.15pm.
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AWARDS
SPARC FUTURE CHAMPIONS INITIATIVE
Northland
Charlotte Harrison (Whangarei GHS), hockey; Kelsey Dunn (WGHS), Caitlin McLean (WGHS) lacrosse; Jessi Scott (Kerikeri HS) roller hockey; Mason Pure (Kaitaia College) league; Rose King (Kaitaia) waka ama.
Auckland
Chance Cheng (WBHS), Jessica Jonggowisastro (WGHS) badminton; Anthony Benny (Avondale College), Jessica McCormack (Northcote College) basketball; Andrew de Boorder (Kings) cricket; Sharon Ahn (Pinehurst) golf; Misha Koudinov (WBHS) gymnastics; Teegan Metcalfe (Diocesan) rhythmic gymnastics; Joseph Bartholomew (WBHS) hockey; Ryan Sissons (Macleans), Rebecca Spence (Rangitoto) multisport; Paula Griffin (Massey HS) netball; Nicola Peat (St Cuthberts), Thomas Reynolds (WBHS) orienteering; Ria Percival (Green Bay HS) soccer; Jamie Love (St Peters) softball; Kurt Bassett (AGS) swimming; Phillip Xiao (AGS) table tennis; Melissa Timperley (Rosehill) Tae Kwon Do; Kairangi Vano (St Kentigern) tennis; Kierran Tuhi (St Peters) trampolining; Caroline Semisi (Otahuhu College), Sam Tuivai (Penrose HS) volleyball; Lauren Sieprath (Diocesan) water polo; Holly Gardner-Walker (Rosehill) wrestling; Kate Ellingham (TGS) boardsailing.
Bay of Plenty
Hamish Randle (Rotorua Lakes HS) archery; Danny Lee (Rotorua BHS) golf; Genevieve Armstrong (Mt Maunganui College), Peter Burling (Tauranga BC) sailing; Tim O'Connor (Mt Maunganui) surfing; Daniel O'Dwyer (Whakatane HS) wheelchair sprint.
Waikato
Krista Whitewood (Hillcrest HS) beach volleyball; Ivica Pavlinic (Hillcrest HS) judo; Trent Renata (Hamilton BHS) rugby.
CRICKET
AUCKLAND
1A one-day final
Westlake BHS 225/9 (B. Schoeman 50, A. MacDuff 50, C. Cachopa 33) bt Kings College 221 (A. McLean 33, A. de Boorder 42, T. Talbot 50; L. Wealleans 3-60) by 4 runs.
WAIKATO
1st XI grand final: Hillcrest HS 150 (J. Bruce 48no; G. Fewkes 3-16) lost to St Peters School 153/7 (T. Wansbone 50; C. Jamieson 3-25) by 3 wickets.
3rd-4th: Cambridge HS 98 (M. Santner 4-12, V. Stock 3-16) lost to Hamilton BHS 99/3 (Stock 31) by 7 wickets.
Plate final: Morrinsville College 188 (D. Lowe 44; A. Sweetman 5-22) bt Matamata College 72 (J. Niel 4-11) by 116 runs.
7th-8th: Fraser HS 127 (A. McLean 38; T. Te Wharau 3-35, T. Bourke 3-23) lost to St Johns College 128/8 (J. King 34; A. Manjino 3-31) by 2 wickets.
COMING UP TODAY: Kilikiti, junior B grade tournament, Auckland Domain, from 9am, finals 2pm.
TOMORROW: Touch, Greater Auckland SS junior tournament, Mt Wellington War Memorial Reserve, from 9.15am.
FRIDAY: Kilikiti, junior A grade tournament, Auckland Domain, from 9am, finals 2pm. Table tennis, Auckland Table Tennis Hall, B grade, AGS 4 v AGS 5, AGS 6 v Parnell 1, AGS 7 v AGS 3, AGS 8 v AGS 9. C grade, AGS 10 v AGS 11, AGS 13 v AGS 14, Mt Hobson MS 3 v Onehunga 5.
