Water polo clash today

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33676, 28 October 1974, Page 3

Water polo clash today

i By

R. M. CAIRNS)

WELLINGTON. The Canterbury senior team has only cruised in its programme so far at the Bank of New South Wales water-polo tournament in Naenae. It had no real problems with Manawatu (10-3) or Wellington B (12-3). and although the winning margin .against Auckland was only 16-4. that was a little flattering to the northern team. Canterbury coolly and .efficiently scored two goals lin each of the first three quarters, to which Auckland could only reply with two. and a certain slackening off in the final quarter served to close the gap. OUTSTANDING D. J. W. Reid has been outstanding, and the other New Zealand team members have been consistently good. I. L. Gunthorp has removed any, doubt that he may not be worthy of a national team place. The selectors, Messrs W. H. Dyson (convener), M. C.l I Scott, and L. G. McKay, have! ! not exactly been helped in I | their task of choosing a squad [for the New Zealand Games/ jby the two days play so far. I

The almost automatic contenders have done nothing to lose their places, but the young Canterbury players who should be rated a chance have not had sufficient opportunities to show their ability yet.

G. W. Campbell was forced to leave the water bleeding and with a broken tooth in an incident with the veteran former Canterbury player and Wellington B representative, L. D. Mclntosh. But he is still expected to play a vital role in the key game and effective final against Wellington A today.

R. A. Clark and the international, M. A. Harding, were outstanding for the Canterbury under-19 A team in its tense match with the top schoolboys’ squad side, which Canterbury lost, 5-7. BEST GAME

This was probably the best game of the tournament, and the basically young Canterbury team—four were in the under-15 representative side last season—played very well. J. R. Davie was outstanding, and the team certainly deserved the draw which a fine exhibition of goalkeeping by the captain, C. F. Trotter, almost gave it.