LEADING WATER POLO TEAMS

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28158, 22 December 1956, Page 5

LEADING WATER POLO TEAMS

With six rounds played in the Christchurch water polo competition, Beckenham and Spreydon A head the senior grade, Beckenham, Elmwood, and Air Force lead in the B grade, and Elmwood, Wharenui, and Christchurch lead the C grade. In the senior competition, the two leading teams are playing excellent waterpolo and the Canterbury team is likely to be made up largely from members of these clubs. Spreydon, the present holder of the J. M. Ryan trophy for the premier club team in New Zealand, was beaten this year in the first round by Beckenham. As a result, the Beckenham team is Canterbury’s nomination for the competition in 1957, and will play a zone final against the North End Club of Timaru. The winner of that game will play the winner of the Otago-Southland final. The North Island and South Island finalists play off at the New Zealand water polo championships at Auckland in March to decide the champion team. Beckenham has every chance of being the South Island finalist and retaining the trophy. On January 19. Wellington will visit Canterbury to play for the Nordern Cup—an annual competition between the two provinces. Wellington won the title at the New Zealand championships early this year and the match should be a very even one. This year it will be played in conjunction with the Canterbury swimming championships. The Canterbury team will be led by Noel and Colin Chambers and R. Henry, all of whom were chosen to represent New Zealand in the Olympic water polo team. Canterbury and Wellington have been close rivals over the last five or six years and the results of the game should give a good indication of Canterbury’s prospects at the New Zealand championships. A large squad for the national championship is in training, and two Canterbury teams will be sent to Auckland. Younger players will therefore have a chance to learn from the top teams at the championships. '''illlllllllliUillllllllllll'.llllllllllinilllllllllillill'llillllllllltlHllllllitiiiittiiiiiitiiiiiliiiititiiiiiiiitimtiiiii