Water Polo Canterbury Loses To Wellington

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29391, 19 December 1960, Page 12

Water Polo Canterbury Loses To Wellington

Canterbury lost the Nordon Cup to Wellington but won the Miller Cup against Otago when a series of inter-pro-vincial water polo matches was played in Christchurch at the week-end. Also competing was a Canterbury B side, and seven matches were played, at the Centennial Pool and at the Burnham Military Camp’s pool. Wellington won the Nordon Cup match against Canterbury by 3 goals to 2, and in a later interprovincial fixture won again, 3-1. Canterbury also played Otago in two matches, winning the first, the Miller Cup Fixture, 18-5, and the second 11-1. The Miller Cup is played on a home-and-away aggregate basis, and Canterbury had won the first match in Dunedin on the previous Saturday, 9-5. In other matches Wellington beat Otago 11-7 and 6-1, and beat Canterbury B 6-3. Canterbury v. Wellington (Nordon Cup) The experienced Canterbury side must have entered the Centennial Pool with confidence against the unusually youthful Wellington seven. Several of Wellington’s top players were unable to make the trip, and had been replaced by promising youngsters. The latter immediately showed their ability by out-swimming Canterbury and taking a 3-2 victory. Wellington’s win was based upon the fine play of its centreback, G. Schuster, and the speed of its swimming players. Seldom was a Canterbury man able to make a clean break down the pool and, on the occasion when the Wellington goal was in danger, the massive R. Freer usually made a good save. Canterbury’s most dangerous scoring player, H Schout, was very closely marked by Schuster in the first spell, and was unable to get a clear shot, at the goal. If Schout did manage to complete his movement to make a shot at goal, it was only to give Freer an easy save. In the second spell, the international, R. Henry, took Schout’s place as centre-forward, but could do no better. Henry gave a good exhibition of blocking for Canterbury, and did as much as any player to contain the quick Wellington men During this match a fair wind was blowing down the pool, causing some drift of the ball both in the air and on the water. One shot from Schout was partially stopped by Freer, but almost drifted back into the goal. Canterbury 'was under severe pressure for most of the first snell. with the Wellington captain. R. Stobbs. directing operations well. It was from a break by Stobbs that T. Richmond, unmarked, scored Wellington’s first goal. C. Chambers equalised from well out, but Wellington scored again to lead 2-1 at halftime. The Ibng arms of Freer frustrated Canterbury’s efforts to score on several occasions. J. de Haan did just as well in the Canterbury goal, and saved several shots under difficult circumstances. A star of the Wellington side was M. Harvey, aged 16. who was very quick to the ball and who swam intelligently With 45 seconds to go and Stobbs out of the pool Canterbury had a great chance to even, but P. Hatchwell’s shot went straight to Freer. Scorers for Wellington were T. Richmond, M. Harvey and F Steiner, and for Canterbury C. Chambers and H Schout scored. Canterbury v. Otago (Miller Cup) With the Miller Cup being played on a home-and-away aggregate basis, and Canterbury four goals to the good after the first match. Otago had a hard job ahead to take the trophy. Canterbury made virtually sure of retaining it with three goals in the first two minutes of the match. Canterbury received much more latitude in this match, and was not subjected to the constant harrying imposed by the Wellington side earlier. The slower but well-con-trolled play was given full scope, and its success against a slightlv disorganised side is well reflected in the 18-5 final score. B. McNeilage, who has perhaps the best ball-control in Canterbury, was outstanding in this match for his positional play and tactics. He sizes up the position very quicklv, and very sldom loses control of the ball even when swimming and turning at full speed. He scored three goals and made several others. R Hatchwell was always looking for a chance to make a break, and

is a very much improved player. He shot well for Canterbury, and one backhand into the goal, scored while swimming away from it, was a gem. Schout was allowed plenty of latitude, and he took full advantage of this to score some spectacular goals. The Otago goalkeeper, B. Smaill, had a bad match, and Canterbury’s players shot from well out with a good measure of success. Early in the match C. Chambers scored from very close to the half-way mark, and other attempts from well away from the goal were also successful. G. Leach did his best in the Otago side, but suffered from lack of support. Leach is a very fine player, but could not do all the work on his own, W. Broughton scored some opportunist goals, and G. Paape was the best of the other Otago players. B. Tremaine was slightly hindered by a hand injury. Goals for Canterbury were scored by H. Schout (5), P. Hatchwell (4), B. McNeilage (3), C. Chambers (3), N. Roake (2), and R. Henry. W. Broughton (3) and G. Leach (2) scored for Otago. Canterbury B v. Wellington Canterbury B made a good showing against Wellington, losing only 6-3. For the whole of the first spell the comparatively inexperienced Canterbury players matched the Wellington youngsters for speed. Canterbury B led 2-1 until an equalising goal was scored four seconds from the interval, but in the second half the Wellington team, realising that this was to be no walkover, settled down to play solid polo to take the score to 6-3. K. Lampe played a good game in goal for Canterbury B, and he saved some very difficult shots. I. H. MacDonald made a brave attempt to combine defence with attack, and covered a lot of the pool. C. McFadden, said to be one of the province’s most improved players, gave a good exhibition. For Wellington, G. Schuster, moved into the forward line, showed that he has a hard attacking shot to combined with his fine defensive Play. MacDonald marked him well for a while, but the Wellington player obviously has, great ability. F. Steiner played another good game for Wellington, and R. Stobbs was. responsible for Wellington taking a firmer control of the game in the second spell. Goals for Wellington were scored by G. Schuster (2), R. Stobbs (2), T. Richmond, and F. Steiner. For Canterbury. L. Mclntosh. C. McFadden, and A. N. McPhail scored. „ Wellington v. Otago Wellington gave a competent allround display to beat Otago 11-7 in a match played immediately after the Nordon Cup fixture. Otago put up a good showing, but towards the end it was obvious that the Wellington team was suffering from the effects of playing two hard matches in quick succession. T. Richmond swam strongly to score three good goals for Wellingm?tnh^ d ’ » as a in Wellington’s other matches, good combination and fast favoura ble results, ’nd, M. Haryey. and A. Leslie formed a hard-swimming trio. hJ' , T 1 dr 0 £ Wellington were scored X’ Rlchm pnd (3), A. Leslie (2). ??• ?V ve . y Steiner (2), and Rr«oSk. Ster ,2 2) ' G - Leach (3), W. B - Lud wig and J. Dubbeldon scored for Otago. o. Cant <’ rb ury v. Otago Mihtarv 6 S'? Pla> o ed _, at Bur nham - mp pn Sunday morning pu L?P a good ?«2 re *u agamst Ota so- The area used e , matchea at this pool was at g thL y / on f er than the match aTea at the Centennial Pool, and the water was considerably colder. nla? X bv mar * in .? and positional the . majority of the Otago h!?™ ers a^ain allowed Canterbury plenty of time to plan its movements and to make th? best possible use of its turn at possession. The Canterbury playe?s were able to take their time and make certain that they were in possession before shooting. Can't had - a good match for nr n lhl bury ’ SCol ?ng six goals. Four w S e ln Quick succession sn2n w ter the start of the second spell. He was well fed by C. ChamboS ni nd B ’- Henr -V- Henry was the moU e e S n P t°s nSible £ “ i„ N ;i, Cham s e £ s ’ who had not Played ma } c h on Saturday, was a tenacious defender for Canterbury. 5F ail k did his best to hold together the Otago team, and R. nHhi g ,?£ d G * X aape were the bes t of the other Otago players’. K Lampe was again safe in goal Tor canterbury. b. G 2r alS o f S r Canterbury were scored c y c £ oUt (SlX) ’ R - Henry (two). C. Chambers (two), and B. Mc=oaI aSe ' G ' Leacll scored Otago's ° , Canterbury v. Wellington Wellington confirmed its superiority with another win over Canterbury on Sunday. The score was again I ? w L. 3 "1: and Canterbury was at a slight disadvantage in playing this match immediately’ after ite ericounter with Otago. Canterbury scored the only goal before the interval. but in the closing stages of the match it was again apparent that a team which plays two of these strenuous matches in succession will not win unless it has a clear superiority. J. de Haan gave another outstanding display in goal for Canterbury and his opposite number, R. Freer although having less to do. also gave a good display. The Canterbury players again impressed with their ball-handling ability and their skill in making play for each other, but Wellington had more left in reserve and finished much the fitter team. H. Schout was again carefullv marked by G- Schuster, and found it difficult to take advantage of the

opportunities made by C. Chambers and R. Henry. N. Chambers on defence helped to keep the Wellington score to three goals. The Austrian players Schuster and F. Steiner again showed their ability for Wellington, the former on defence and Steiner as centre-for-ward on attack. The swimming players R. Stobbs, T. Richmond and M. Harvey continued to harass the Canterbury defence. and bustled them into occasional errors. For Wellington T. Richmond, R. Stobbs and M. Harvey scored, and H. Schout scored Canterbury's goal. Wellington v. Otago Wellington’s record of five wins and no losses in this tournament was completed with another win over Otago. Although this was Wellington’s second match in succession, the team was so obviously superior that it made no difference. The final score of 6-1 probably flattered Otago slightly. For Wellington F. Steiner, P. Perkinson and R. Stobbs each scored two goals, and G. Paape scored for Otago.