Water polo tests?

Press, 22 February 1977, Page 30

Water polo tests?

By

RAY CAIRNS

Though the results of the New Zealand water polo teams in Brisbane were disappointing — the view of the chief coach, Murray Scott — the best results from the tour should be seen next year.

Mr Scott said that he and other New Zealand board members in Brisbane — Jaap de Haan, Phillip Wild and Merv Smith — had discussions with Queensland officials, and the upshot could be a recommendation that annua] fixtures be played between the two areas. “It may also include New South Wales,” said Mr Scott. He said that the Queensland government supported the three New Zealand teams financially, and “I hope we can get someone here to give us a hand.” “Although our scores were not good against Queensland, I felt our team was just as capable, and it was disappointing we didn’t beat them,” he said. Mr Scott said it seemed

that Queensland teams in each of the categories of the recent trip by New Zealand would like to compete in the New Zealand championships next season, and probably to play three tests each also.

Before that. however, there is the prospect of the New Zealand senior team playing Italy, runner-up at the Olympic Games: Italy has a tour to Australia involving six international matches in December and January. All of the New Zealand teams improved considerably in Brisbane, said Mr Scott. The women’s side started by losing to Queensland by 15 or 16 goals, but improved immensely to lose the last two games by only four goals on each occasion. The outstanding player was the Wellington 14-year-old, Anne Jackson, and Pam Steele the most knowledgeable; and Mr Scott considered Jane Irwin, a Canterbury player surprisingly omitted from the side, would have ranked with Jackson. The under-19 team was

handicapped by being without some of its top players, unavailable for different reasons, but after losing to Queensland by seven goals, ended the tour with a victory.

The outstanding players were Grahame Duffy, John Davie and the goalie, Rob Lewington. said Mr Scott, and he considered that Michael Baart, Svein Sandoy, Eddy Smulders and Alan Hesketh the most improved. The senior side started badly for the same reason as the others, said Mr Scott: insufficient practice together as a team, and it was also very weak in man-up or man-down play. In the end. that team lost the final test 5-9, although without Dennis Reid for the whole game, and with Mark Harding fouled out in the second quarter. Those two, with Murray Davie, were the outstanding players, with Ashley Fogel much improved and next in ranking. Neville Wiig also improved markedly, said Mr Scott.