A depleted St Kentigern College First XV will host Whangarei Boys' High School in this afternoon's Blues regional schools final for a place in next week's national Top 4 rugby tournament. The Auckland 1A champions lost three key backs in last Saturday's dramatic 17-15 win in the decider against Auckland Grammar. Whangarei BHS beat North Harbour winners Rosmini 11-7 on Tuesday. Aorere will host Kerikeri HS, also at 2.45pm, in the Blues co-ed final. The Chiefs regional final, at midday, is between Rotorua BHS and New Plymouth BHS.
Back on the track
Russell Ingall will come out of V8 Supercars retirement to replace the injured James Courtney in next month's Sandown 500. Ingall, 51, will drive alongside Jack Perkins while Courtney recovers from broken ribs and lung damage caused by a pit-lane accident last weekend. Perkins, Courtney's co-driver, is taking over as No1 driver for the team's No22 Commodore for the September 13 race.
NZ record in Beijing
Auckland race walker Alana Barber set a New Zealand record in finishing 18th in the 20km walk at the world championships in Beijing yesterday. Barber took 1.47s off her own national mark, set in Adelaide in February, in clocking 1h 33m 20s. The time was narrowly outside the Olympic B standard. China's Hong Liu won the race in 1:27.45.
