Another gripping match in water polo

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32462, 24 November 1970, Page 16

Another gripping match in water polo

Senior championship water polo matches ore providing their quote of excitement this season. In another gripping match at the Centennial Pool last evening, the champion, Wharenul, scored its fourth and winning goal against Jellle Park, then hed to see out the lest half-minute with the scorer and captain, B. R. Hazlett, ordered from the waler. Wharenul has now taken a one-point lead over Jellle Park, University and BeekenhamSockburn. But in such a topsyturvy competition as this has been, with the top four teams so even, it is very difficult to predict the winner. Beekenham-Sockburn also had a narrow win, over University; and Elmwood-Taylor’s Mistake hauled itself off the bottom with a comfortable win over Services. Points after four rounds are: Wharenul 3J. Jellle Park, University, Beekenham-Sockburn each 2±; Elmwood-T.M. 1, Services 0. WHARENUI 4 (B. R. Hazlett 3. R. Tweedie). JELLIE PARK 3 (C. Robinson, D. Reid, P. Sturge). If ever a team appeared to throw away its chances, it was Wharenul in the first quarter. It scored first, through Tweedie, but Jellle Park equalised, then went ahead, and as Wharenul twice hit the woodwork—with shots by R. A. Leach and P. Yardley—the team seemed . to lose its composure. Possession was thrown wildly away, and Jellie Park seemed set for a comfortable win. But the hardy J. O. Turpin, who had made a good Job of marking Tweedie, was taken out after the first quarter and Jellie Park never regained control. Hazlet brought Wharenul level In the second quarter, and put it into a 3-2 lead in the third with a penalty. Sturge’s goal brought Jellie? Park back into the match in the final quarter, but Hazlett was not to be denied. Two of the best men in the match were between the goalposts: M. Godinet (Jellie Park) and K. Burrows (Wharenul),

both of them Canterbury under-' age representatives last season. 5 BBC KEN HAM-SOCK* URN 6 (M. Harding 2, G. J. McEwaiZ2, *. J. K. Cookson, B. M. Must- . chin). UNIVERSITY 5 (P. J. Hay 3, I. > H. McDonald, P., Carpinter). -<’ Although the combined team I *- made better use of its oppor- *. tunitles, University could that it squandered the match / when it was firmly, if narrowly, *- in its grasp. * The crucial moments were at the opening of the final quarter, '• when University had two men J out of the water, and each with a half-minute of his suspension still to serve. Beckenham could not waste • such an opportunity and swarmed in. It fell to G. Me- • Ewan to equalise at 4-all with v. a superb back-hander. University went ahead again, > but in the hectic last two * minutes, first Harding equalled ■- the scores and then Mustchin * won the match with a bullet- ’• like shot from 12 yards. It augurs well for Canterbury water polo that such young play- > ers as Marding, only 14, andf McEwan, just 15, should show such outstanding form. It is * equally reassuring for Canter * bury that the New Zealand goalkeeper, B. G. Spear, should be... In such outstanding form University. ■ LMWOOD-TAYLOR’S MISTAKE* 7 (M. J. Hay 3, M. Shillito 3,'C. Read). SERVICES 3 (R. Bell, K. Larsen/. B. Manson). % The clash between the bottom* teams produced the expected ’ win to Elmwood, but there wasj more red-blooded action thaiv_ pool skill on display. Hay apart, the most ing players for the winner were*. S. Mason, who. swam well position, and Read, who ageing, indicated that he has thek physique and swimming to succeed at water polo if hemcan develop his skills—-especially-a positional sense. Si senior Reserve.—Boys’ High* School 3, Wharenul 3; University* 4, Jellie Park 2; New Brighton* 5, Beekenham-Sockburn 1.