Tough task ahead of water polo squad

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33189, 31 March 1973, Page 4

Tough task ahead of water polo squad

(By

R. M. CAIRNS)

When the New Zealand water polo party of 13—to lie supplemented in a week by the international referee from Christchurch. Mr J. de Haan —leaves for Australia tomorrow, none of its members will lie under any illusions as to the task ahead.

New Zealand last year suffered two humiliating defeats, by 13 and 16 goals, respectively, at the hands of its closest water polo-play-ing neighbour. Since .hat time. Australia has competed with great distinction in the Olympic Games and thereby lifted its standards. New Zealand has had to wallow in its own little backwater with no such international competition.

The two-week tour, which starts in Victoria and finishes with three internationals in Sydney, will be the first step towards redressing the balance, at present leaning heavily towards Australia. The new coach of the New Zealand team (Mr M. C Scott, of Christchurch) cautious!*' thinks the team

will perform a lot better than last year’s squad ”lt is a younger team, and the older members who were in last year are playing better and are fitter.” said Mr Scott this week. “Also, I think the week in Victoria will be helpful. "We will be playing Australia m Australia, and this will make our job much harder.” said Mr Scott. "But I am moderately confident of doing much better, and I i n t think so many of the players will be overawed Mr Scott said he was surprised at the fitness of al! the players. "They have expected of them " he said were together and none of f were iagjj; ng after The ream has a happv birmd of ages G L Schuster—at 38 easily the oldest 1 aptain K. A. Mark, are in th- older category; B G. Spear, W. E Mart lew and T.

M. McGirr are in their midtwenties; and the remaining five still in their teens or very early twenties. “I like this balance of youth and experience.” said Mr Scott. “We will be looking to Schuster, Mark and Williamson for a lot of help, not just in their plav. but in general team-

work, experience and steadying influence. “Warwick Williamson will be especially useful with his knowledge of Australian play, and it is helpful that four of us are going back to Australia after being there so recently." Mr Scott, as manager. Mark (coach), and M. A. Harding and D. Spoor were members of the New Zealand schoolboys’ team which toured in October. It is fairly safe prediction that this particular New Zealand team will not be playing a static centre-for-ward. This is given added weight by the composition of the team: all are from Canterbury or Wellington, teams which abandoned the

use of such a player this season. Also, as Schuster is the only specialist guard—with B. M. Mustchin and Williamson, and perhaps sometimes D. J. Reid, also likely to appear at the back—the New Zealand pattern will probably be of a very fluid nature. Players such as Harding, Spoor, McGirr and Martlew will probably not fit into

the accepted pattern of for? ward or centre, but continually change position. Indeed, if Shuster is used in breaks at all —and he has a powerful shot—the goalies Spear and R. K. Borgers, will probably be the only players to remain relatively static. The latter comment is made, of course, in the expectation that the Australians will not give the goalies the amount of work they did last year.