College sport: Winter of content for proud MAGS

The Mt Albert Grammar First XV are jubilant after beating Auckland Grammar in the 1A final last week. Photo / Kenny Rodger

When his Mt Albert Grammar teams won the netball-soccer-rugby treble in 2007, headmaster Dale Burden did not dare contemplate a repeat.

He was right, it has not happened - two years on they have done even better with the chance of more to come in what has been an amazing winter.

While Kevin Fallon and his A1 soccer team were expected to add to an already impressive record and the MAGS netball team too were a better than even chance to figure in their premier race, few would have given the First XV more than a starter's chance while the girl's soccer team rarely rated a mention.

But in the space of a few short days, and on the back of a visit by their most famous old boy and now a knight, Sir Peter Snell, the trophy cabinet was bulging.

The boy's soccer team, after another season of some often-tense matches, eventually claimed the Beswick Shield from long-time rivals AGS and WBHS.

In the 12 years since the Fallon-headed academy was established, MAGS have won the coveted trophy 10 times. This season they were unbeaten.

Since the senior championship was first played in 1927 - with MAGS the first winner - the title has been shared by eight schools. With 38 (three shared) of 83 titles, MAGS have been by far the most successful.

Yet, from their 1971 success until Fallon's arrival, there was not one championship claimed by the Alberton Ave school. Today they play AGS in a Knockout Cup semifinal and next week will be in Nelson to defend their Lotto Premier title won a year ago in Napier.

For the girl's soccer team winning the APC premier title was a journey into uncharted territory. Like the boys they are off to their premier tournament, in Napier, next week, after beating Diocesan 1-0 in the final.

Netball scored the double in last week's finals - both against teams from old rivals EGGS.

While the Darrell Leota-led premiers were expected to back up their unbeaten run through round-robin play with that title, few expected the senior A team to win after they had been edged by EGGS in the regular season.

The highlight of the action-packed week came with the last of the finals - the much-talked about 1A rugby championship at Eden Park.

For a team who had undergone much change and played the always keenly contested competition as the underdog, they were perhaps the youngest of the 12 teams in the championship.

When they lost first up - 14-0 to KBHS and 22-12 to St Peters in round three, few would have given MAGS much chance.

They lost again, 22-0 to AGS in round eight and needed to win their last three games to firstly make it into the top four and then hold their place.

In the semifinals they upset minor premiers St Peters by a point at the "cage" to set up Saturday's showdown against an AGS team underdone by the events of the week following their semifinal debacle against KBHS.

Shrugging off such distractions, MAGS ran in six tries to one at Eden Park to claim the trophy and book their place in the northern regional play-offs - against North Harbour champions Rosmini, at MAGS, this afternoon.

The winner progresses to the national final.

Earlier in the year the girl's tennis team won the NZSS title - beating Rangitoto 5-1 in the final - with the boys runners-up to St Peters, 4-2, in their final after beating Wellington College in the semifinals.

The top basketball teams have both qualified for next month's premier semifinals.

The girls trailed top qualifiers Rangitoto only on points differential while the boys were the fourth of the teams to win through. Both will play the zone one premiership at the North Shore Events Centre from Tuesday.

GOLF

New Zealand's best young male golfers have the chance to add their name to a trophy already bearing one of the world's best when they contest the NZ under-19 championship at the North Shore Golf Course next week.

Among those to have won the coveted title is world top 10 player Australian Adam Scott. The strokeplay championship, which traditionally attracts a very strong field, will be played over 54 holes.

The girl's event, which also combines the national under-19 championship with the NZ SS title, will be played at the Peninsula Golf Course.

Both also cater for under-13, under-15 and under-17 grades.

NETBALL

MAGS had to come from behind to beat EGGS in a tight premier final 31-28 at the Auckland Netball Centre.

EGGS took the early advantage to lead by one after the first quarter. Led by strong games from Rebekah Roache and Portia Woodman on defence around the edge of circle, MAGS played their way back into the game and were ahead by three at halftime.

That rear court pressure forced crucial mistakes as EGGS attempted to lift their game and paved the way for Tuaine Keenan and Ashley Kelmon Poti to make timely intercepts.

At one point in the third quarter MAGS stretched their lead to a handy seven goals but that was back to three going into the final quarter.

Led by captain Darrell Leota - with a 100 per cent shooting record - MAGS kept pressing with a good supply of ball from wing attack Erikana Pederson ensuring an armchair ride for her and goalshoot Tera-Maria Amani who too was faultless despite the best endeavours of some solid EGGS defence.

RUGBY

AUCKLAND

For all manner of reasons, the 1A final was among the most-anticipated sporting events of the year.

That close to 7000 poured into Eden Park - a ground equidistant from the participant schools - to watch schoolboy rugby at its best, was testament to the occasion.

In the end the underdog MAGS team prevailed 45-11 over AGS, in a game which was closer than the score suggested.

In his match summary, AGS coach Gordon Pope paid tribute to the MAGS team.

"MAGS in contrast played some superb running rugby, using their size advantage well and showing excellent organisation," said Pope. "Their victory was well-deserved."

While making no mention of the decision which cost him four key players, Pope was obviously left wondering what might have been.

To their credit, MAGS shrugged off any likely distractions to win well although they had to come from behind to do it after Ali Hitchcock pounced on a charge-down to score an early try. It did not take long for MAGS to reply and when Scott Malolua darted over from a ruck after 12 minutes it was the start of things to come. With 17 unanswered points in six minutes, MAGS raced to 17-5 which was reduced to 17-11 when Scott Bracey and Hitchcock kicked penalties for AGS.

By halftime MAGS had stretched their lead to 26-11 and ran in another three second-half tries to complete a richly deserved victory.

In the curtainraiser, Otahuhu College claimed the 1B championships with a gripping 27-25 win over Onehunga High in a game in which both teams scored three tries and kicked two penalties. In the end, the difference was just one conversion - three to two.

NORTH HARBOUR

There was nothing left in the tank as the Rosmini players and their loyal supporters celebrated a sixth 1A championship with their gripping 21-14 win over season-long rivals Massey High at North Harbour Stadium.

The epic clash was a fitting curtainraiser to the Air New Zealand Cup which ended, a couple of hours later, in disappointment for North Harbour in going down to Northland.

Rosmini were always in front but in the dying throes Massey had the chance to draw level only to be denied by a match-saving defensive play.

Fired up by another passion-filled haka, Massey hit the ground running, determined they should make the most of their size advantage.

After weathering that initial onslaught, Rosmini played their way into the game and struck first when pivot Gareth Anscombe raced down the touchline and scored a magical try. An early 5-0 lead became 8-0 20 minutes later when Anscombe slotted a penalty.

In the shadow of halftime Massey sensed the chance to close the gap when they found space on the left. The overlap was created but the pass aimed to send left wing Jonah Luatua away for a try was snaffled by Rosmini wing Patrick Clarke who scampered away to dot down between posts. Anscombe quickly added the extras for 15-0 at halftime.

With 20 minutes to play second-five Sam Aolele gave the Massey faithful something to cheer about with a brilliant solo try also under the posts. Troy Stirling, who had earlier missed what would have normally been kickable penalties, added the conversion for 15-7.

A penalty at ruck time resulted in another Anscombe three-pointer for Rosmini. Again, Massey hit back when, from a quick tap, prop Tony Keresoma charged over. Stirling added the extras. At 18-14 with 10 minutes to play it was game on.

Anscombe booted a third penalty for 21-14 but again, Massey were not done with.

Aolele again found space inside his own half and weaved into opposition territory, his sights set on the corner. With the line looming he was knocked off his stride and the cover closed to dash hopes of a dramatic try.

Rosmini, beaten only once in the season - 22-9 by Massey early in round-robin play - savoured another success in the 25th year of what has become a keenly-contested championship.SOCCERWith their sixth-straight A1 title already in safekeeping, MAGS had little but pride to play for in their last match of the regular season.

Against relegation-threatened Rangitoto they were not expecting too much resistance but found their determined hosts something of a handful.

MAGS needed 28 minutes to break the deadlock when Dakota Lucas finally got the better of his marker. With an ounce of luck, Rangitoto could have gone to the break at 1-1 but for a desperate clearance from captain Caleb Duncan.

The resolute Rangitoto side kept the champions scoreless for more than an hour before Arnold Kochasira doubled their lead in the 81st minute. Pomare Te Anau then made victory certain with a third in the dying minutes to leave the hapless hosts disappointed with the 3-0 loss.

"We contested the game really well," said Rangitoto coach Paul Fields. "Once or twice we were unlucky not to score."

Second-placed AGS completed their season with a 5-2 win over Danny Hay's Sacred Heart while WBHS, already assured of third place, got home 3-2 at Kings.

All three teams, along with St Peters now head to Nelson for the national premier tournament.

WINTER TOURNAMENT WEEK

For schoolkids it is the chance to represent their school at their chosen sport. The highlight of their year. Their parents might not be so sure.

In these testing economic times trekking around the country and staying for up to a week in acceptable accommodation does not come cheap.

Mt Albert Grammar head Dale Burden, savouring a plethora of titles in an amazing sporting year, is one counting the cost.

"It is not easy juggling training and regular competition with the demands of fund-raising," said Burden. "If it was not for the massive assistance we get from the charitable trusts, we would really be struggling to get our teams to these tournaments."

Burden also paid tribute to the support the school and their teams get from parents.

"Without their support - in all manner of roles - we would not be able to do what we do," said Burden. "These parents, and I'm certain it is the same at all schools, play a huge part in ensuring their children have the opportunity to participate in all manner of activities - and not only sport."

MAGS will have nine teams in action next week - in, among others, soccer, basketball, hockey, netball and underwater hockey - with 166 pupils involved. The total cost - $89,725 - all raised on a user-pays basis.

"As well as that we have 12 staff members involved at a cost of $250 a day for up to five days. Another $15,000."

Costs for individual sports vary greatly. The players in the boys and girls basketball teams, who will play in the North Harbour-based zone one tournament, must find $110 each. The soccer players heading to the boy's premier tournament in Nelson need $1045 for the privilege of defending their title.

"And it does not meet five star motels or anything like that," said Burden. "More backpackers and the greasy spoon."

* www.asbcollegesport.co.nz