Day two at the 2018 Schick Secondary Schools Nationals threw up its fair share of surprises.
In Pool C of the AA Girls Tournament Queen Margaret College remain unbeaten with a 3-0 record. Rangi Ruru got the better of Rotorua Girls 61-45 in the early game on Tuesday but then went down to St Mary’s Ponsonby 76-58. Mt Albert Grammar, despite a 68-56 loss to Queen Margaret sits second with two wins and a loss equal with Rotorua Girls High.
Pool D action saw Auckland Girls Grammar preserve their unbeaten record with a 64-52 win against Napier Girls High. These two teams plus Hamilton Girls High (also 3-0) look likely to be play-off bound.
In Pool B St Peter’s Cambridge, winners in 2016 and 2017 have won three straight games as have Hutt Valley High.
Westlake Girls sit top of Pool A with four wins alongside Sacred Heart Girls College, New Plymouth. Rangitoto College are also well placed to progress from the group.
The semi-finalists have been found in the Girls A competition with favourites Manukura and Ellesmere College progressing from Pool A. Te Aroha College join them from Pool B having defeated Stratford High (that also qualify) in the last pool game late on Tuesday.
Mt Albert Grammar continued its strong showing in Pool A of the Boys AA Tournament. They have won four games straight to secure a play-off berth including a 76-69 defeat of Rongotai College. Rosmini pipped Hamilton Boys 72-69 with those two teams and Rongotai fighting for the remaining two spots in post pool play.
Cashmere High appears to be on course to sweep Pool D although with two rounds to play. However Napier Boys are lurking at 2-1 with the two to meet late on Wednesday.
With two rounds to play in Pool C each team has recorded at least one loss and no team is unbeaten – there is plenty to play for on Wednesday for all six teams. In two tight encounters Hastings Boys defeated Auckland Grammar 94-92 and in an equally tight affair Otago Boys downed Palmerston North Boys High 73-70.
In Pool B Westlake Boys and St Kentigern both have unblemished 3-0 records – the two teams clash in the final round of games on Wednesday. With two rounds to play both Rotorua Boys and St John’s, Hamilton still harbour hopes of a top three place.
In one of the best games of the day Stratford High beat Te Aroha College by the slimmest of margins 63-62 in their A Boys Pool A match up. Stratford finished the day 4-0 to book a semi-final place
In Pool B Opunake High have also claimed a semi-final slot as they also boast a 4-0 record.
The other two semi-final berths will be claimed early on Wednesday when the last round of pool games are completed.
Boys AA Tournament standings after Day 2
Teams listed in order of seeding.
Pool A
Rosmini College 3-1
Rongotai College 2-2
Hamilton Boys HS 3-1
New Plymouth Boys HS 0-4
St Andrew’s College 0-4
Mt Albert GS 4-0
Pool B
St Kentigern College 3-0
Westlake Boys HS 3-0
Shirley Boys HS 0-3
St John’s College 2-1
Rotorua Boys HS 1-2
Fraser HS 0-3
Pool C
Rangitoto College 1-2
Auckland GS 1-2
Palmerston North Boys HS 2-1
Middleton Grange 1-2
Otago Boys HS 2-1
Hastings Boys HS 2-1
Pool D
Cashmere HS 3-0
Napier Boys HS 3-0
St Patrick’s College, Kilbirnie 2-1
Waimea College 0-3
Tauranga Boys HS 0-3
Macleans College 1-2
Girls AA Tournament standings after Day 2
Pool A
Sacred Heart Girls College, New Plymouth 4-0
Westlake Girls HS 4-0
Rangitoto College 2-2
Christchurch Girls HS 1-3
Melville HS 1-3
Hillcrest HS 0-4
Pool B
St Peter’s, Cambridge 3-0
Hutt Valley HS 3-0
St Andrew’s College 2-1
Otago Girls HS 1-2
Wellington Girls College 0-3
Tauranga Girls College 0-3
Pool C
Mt Albert GS 2-1
Rotorua Girls HS 2-1
Rangi Ruru 1-2
Queen Margaret College, Wellington 3-0
St Mary’s College, Ponsonby 1-2
Massey HS 0-3
Pool D
Hamilton Girls HS 3-0
Auckland Girls GS 3-0
Napier Girls HS 2-1
Fraser HS 1-2
Waimea College 0-3
Palmerston North Girls HS 0-3
Boys A Tournament standings after Day 2
Pool A
Stratford HS 4-0
Manukura 3-1
St Kevin’s College 1-3
Te Aroha College 3-1
Tai Wananga 1-3
Rangiora New Life School 0-4
Pool B
Hillmorton HS 2-2
Opunake HS 4-0
Waihi College 0-4
Dunstan HS 1-3
Catholic Cathedral College 2-2
Nga Taiatea Wharekura 3-1
Girls A Tournament standings after Day 2
Pool A
Manukura 3-0
Te Kura Kokiri 1-2
Kavanagh College 1-2
Ellesmere College 1-2 (Ellesmere progress to semi-final on points differential).
Pool B
Te Aroha College 4-0
Stratford HS 3-1
Buller HS 2-2
Te Wharekura o Mauao 0-4
Te Kuiti HS 1-3
LACEY LOWDOWN 