Following the conclusion of the Schick National Championships at the weekend it appears that the Secondary Schools power-base shows little signs of shifting – at least in the Boys’ competition.
Not only did the Boys’ National title remain in Auckland for the third straight year, and the 10th occasion in the past 14 years, the City of Sails schools occupied five of the top eight spots.
The story was similar in 2016 with six schools, Auckland Grammar, Rangitoto, Rosmini, Westlake, Mt Albert and Kelston cementing top nine finishes.
Kelston fell to 21st this year but all three podium places last week were taken by Auckland schools with Rosmini champions, Rangitoto runners-up and Mt Albert a highly creditable third after finishing fifth at the Zone 1 Premierships. It is believed that third place is the best ever finish by Mt Albert.
There is a ray of hope for the schools further south as a number of the Auckland schools were heavily laced with Year 13 boys this year and may not be as powerful next year.
Rongotai College from the capital, Cashmere High from Christchurch and Hamilton Boys High amongst others will be licking their lips at the prospect of turning over teams from Zone 1 in 2018.
2017 Boys’ Schick Championships ‘AA’ Competition Final Team Placing’s
1st Rosmini College
2nd Rangitoto College
3rd Mt Albert Grammar
4th Christ’s College
5th Palmerston North Boys High School
6th Auckland Grammar School
7th Westlake Boys’ High School
8th Rongotai College
9th Hamilton Boys’ High School
10th Middleton Grange
11th Hastings Boys’ High School
12th Napier Boys’ High School
13th Cashmere High School
14th Burnside High School
15th St John’s College Hamilton
16th Wellington College
17th Shirley Boys’ High School
18th Fraser High School
19th Waimea College
20th Melville High School
21st Kelston Boys’ High School
22nd New Plymouth Boys’ High School
23rd St Peter’s Cambridge
24th St Peter’s Auckland
The picture is not quite so clear-cut in the Girls’ arena although there is little doubt the balance is in favour of the Waikato region despite St Mary’s victory on Saturday. Waikato had won three of the previous five titles and prior to the double by Hutt Valley in 2011 and 2010 Church College had been the dominant force.
This year the Waikato schools occupied 3 of the top 8 places (three in the top six to be precise). Auckland matched that with three and Wellington two.
Last year Waikato boasted St Peter’s as champions and also had Hamilton and Melville again in the top eight. Mt Albert, Westlake and Auckland Grammar, as they were this year were in the top echelon with New Plymouth and Waimea rounding out the eight.
St Peter’s look likely major contenders for at least two more years, as the prolific Charlisse Leger-Walker is only a Year 11 student. St Mary’s, unbeaten in 2017, only lose a couple of players as do Westlake, Massey and Mt Albert.
Challenges will also come from the likes of Hutt Valley and St Andrew’s College but for now the Girl’s from ‘Mooloo Country’ rule the roost.
2017 Girls’ Schick Championships ‘AA’ Competition Final Team Placings:
1st St Mary’s College, Wellington
2nd St Peter’s Cambridge
3rd Auckland Girls’ Grammar School
4th Melville High School
5th Mt Albert Grammar School
6th Hamilton Girls’ High School
7th Hutt Valley High School
8th Westlake Girls’ High School
9th Massey High School
10th St Hilda’s Collegiate
11th Middleton Grange
12th Palmerston North Girls’ High School
13th Rotorua Girls’ High School
14th Hastings Girls’ High School
15th Rangi Ruru
16th St Andrew’s College
17th Western Heights High School
18th Sacred Heart Girls’ College, New Plymouth
19th Rangitoto College
20th Ashburton College
21st New Plymouth Girls’ High School
22nd Christchurch Girls’ High School
23rd Napier Girls’ High School
24th Carmel College
LACEY LOWDOWN 