Water polo selection in doubt

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33739, 11 January 1975, Page 36

Water polo selection in doubt

(By

RAY CAIRNS)

Trying to peer into the minds of the New Zealand water polo selectors is a hazardous business at the best of times.

The last occasion they chose a team — for the European tour last year — a major surprise was sprung by the omission of lan Gunthorp. Messrs W. H. Dyson, M. C. Scott and L. G. McKay, the selectors, will announce their team of 11 — from a

squad of 21 —- tomorrow afternoon. They may add a twelfth player for training purposes. And it does seem that they and the amateurs trying to predict their selections have nine players earmarked as fairly certain choices.

Gunthorp is one, and the others are veterans of the European tour — Murray Davie and Robert Borgers, the goalies, Dennis Reid, Rene 801, Bryan Mustchin, Mark Harding, Doug Spoor and Wayne Martlew. The real problem is pick-

ing two more field players from the 10 remaining in the squad. The selectors gave a hint in the final trial game played at Queen Elizabeth II Park this week. One team was the nine nac.d, plus the biggest and very nearly the smallest in the squad, Paul Tuoro 1 Martin Craig, respectively. They might be the two chosen. Tuoro has an exceptional physique, well suited to the demands of international water polo, and he is a much improved player since shaking off the illness which bothered him up

to the time the squad was chosen.

Craig, befitting such an accomplished pool swimmer, a very creditable workrate. His standard of play went into recession after last year’s national championship, when he was very good indeed, but he now seems to be back to his best.

Their positions are by no means secure, however. Breathing down their necks are Russell ’ ''•Connochie, Ross Paterson and Peter Hay, the latter having a little extra in his favour because he is left-handed.

Gary Campbell is not far behind either, while all that are keeping back Paul Dyson are his age, 15, and a little inconsistency unusual in one so talented but perhaps understandable in one so young.

Play in the Trans Tours national club championship might shuffle things round a little, but if a team was to be named now, it might be that which played the last trial match, with the exception that Hay might edge out Craig, and that Craig be chosen as twelfth man.