Water polo contest best for years

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31656, 17 April 1968, Page 9

Water polo contest best for years

ALTHOUGH University " finished five points ahead of the second-placed team, last season’s senior water polo competition was one of the closest and most interesting for several years.

Throughout the season determined efforts by Christchurch, Wharenui, and Beckenham to oust the students from their position at the top of the grade ensured matches of a standard higher than normally seen in club competition. Notwithstanding this, and the noticeable improvement in senior reserve and junior grade games, the overall standard was not high in relation to the quality of play overseas.

During the season no more than a dozen players showed outstanding form in club matches, but with the record number of teams and some promising juniors in the lower grades, this number should rise sharply in the next few years. The first of two surprising features of the competition was the rise of Christchurch, a poorly-regarded team at the beginning of the season, to be the only side to beat University and, as that was in the local final of the New Zealand club knock-out tournament, to go through to the national final after a win over the Otago finalists. In the New Zealand final the team was severely weakened by the failure of several players to travel and Waitemata (Auckland) won 5-3.

The second was the failure of Beckenham winners of the title for the last four years, to field a regularly strong team. It was forced to rely heavily on the efforts of a current Canterbury representative, M. C. Scott, and a former New Zealand player, R. W. Henry, and only rarely did it show glimpes of its former teamwork.

To counter Beckenham’s slip to third place the young Wharenui side forced its way into second position with some excellent play in several of the harder matches. R. B. Erickson once again had a strong in, fluence over the team’s play while most of the goals were scored by New Zealand swimming champion. A. B. Kindred, and Canterbury player, T. M. McGirr. However, it was University which demonstrated the most constructive tactics and although it had some

lapses and, as a result, poor games, it generally showed good combination from goalkeeper, B. G. Spear, through 1. L. Gunthorp and W. R. Williamson in the halves, to A. Harrow and 1. MacDonald in the forwards.

The quick passing and accurate shooting of these players, coupled with the tight marking of G. M. Leek in front of their goal,

allowed opposing teams few opportunities to control play. The senior reserve and junior grades were also close, with Jellie Park winning the former from Spreydon and University A, and Elmwood the latter. The interest in these competitions was impressive and with indications of additional teams for next season, it would seem likely that standard of water polo-in Christchurch will continue to improve.