Water polo grade plan shelved

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33601, 1 August 1974, Page 18

Water polo grade plan shelved

A plan to “sub-divide" the open grade water polo competitions into three grades, with no more than six teams in each of the top two sections, has been shelved by the Canterbury Water Polo Board.

Although some delegates to the annual general meeting of the board saw merit in the scheme — and appeared to favour the introduction of a Christchurch United team — the meeting felt no action could be taken until entries were received.

i If did, however, set up a gradI Ing committee to recommend :the divisions of teams, and two I members of this are former long-serving and senior members of the board, Messrs R. W.l Henry and E. Tuyn. The Christchurch United team; I proposal was to cater for players “whose teams are unable or unwilling to play in the Senior A grade,” but It provided that 1 these players might also compete I for their clubs in a lower grade I and be granted special dispensation to play in the two grades. I As a result of the discussion,

it seems grading games will: probably be played in October,] not just to decide the ranking of teams but also to assist in the selection of Canterbury open and under 19 teams for a tournament in Wellington at Labour week-end. Sponsored by the Bank of New South Wales, the tournament is for teams in the open, under 19, under 15 and women’s grades. However, because of the heavy l expenditure facing the board ini the summer national champion- j ships, both teams will travel at; their own expense. Otago will be offered represen-; tative games against the under, la and under 13 teams at Christ-; church the same week-end. with Canterbury to make a reciprocal; visit in November Some delegates questioned the wisdom and reasons for conduct- 1 ing a tournament in the under 19 grade, and suggested tliati Wellington was offering this! grade because it last year won! the national under 18 tourna-i ment, and also because it has I expressed an opposition to the under 21 grade. I “Canterbury and Wellington!

'will be there, but who else?” j asked Mr G. A. Mustchin. “Manawatu and Wanganui maybe, but Auckland must be doubtful starters. so must Otago.” The main reasons for the tournament are to select a squad for the New Zealand Games, In January, and to finalise the national secondary schoolboys’ team to tour Australia in December. The team will play matches in New 'South Wales and Victoria, i The meeting appointed two j three-man panels to select the ifive representative teams, while agreeing that coaches need not i necessarily be selectors. In most teases they were. Messrs M. C. Scott (senior coach). L. G. McKay (under-21 ;coach) and P. J. Carpinter were I appointed to ’ the senior panel. :The junior panel is Messrs T. !M. B. McGfrr (under-15 coach i. ,P. R Tweedie and R. M. Cairns ]Mr B. R. Hazlett is under-18 iecach and, with Mr McGirr, ! coach of the schoolboys' team. Other officers elected were:— i-Chairman, Mr O A Chappell; -secretary-treasurer, Mr J A iSymon; delegate to swimming (I centre, Mr Hazlett.