Seventh water polo victory

Press, 22 February 1977, Page 30

Seventh water polo victory

Two goals in the final 70 seconds of play gave Beckenham-Sockbum its seventh successive victory in the Freshbake premier water polo competition at Queen Elizabeth II Park pool last evening. Although it was never headed, and eventually won 8-6, Beckenham-Sockbum almost lost control of the match in the third quarter. It had gone comfortably clear in the first quarter, 2-0, and stayed 5-3 in front at halftime, but Wharenui forced its way back into the game in the third quarter, easily its best. The fact that Wharenui actually went at all close to winning was largely due to Richard Clark, who was appropriately named “player of the year” a little later. But in its captain, Dennis i Reid, Beckenham-Sockbum I possessed a playr. who made just as great an impact on i the game. Reid was a power- 1 ful figure in the hole; he i started Beckhenham’s early ( scoring burst, then con- ( trolled things again in the 1 final quarter, for another two < of his five goals. John Davie I scored two goals for 1

Beckenham-Sockbum and Mark Harding one. Clark got five of his team’s goals and Richard Tweedie the other. Beckenham also won the other grand final against a Wharenui team. This was in the women’s competition, and except in the opening minute, Beckenham was not headed. Then, after 3min of the third quarter, Toni Grooby was put out for the game, for brutalitv, and Wharenui never had a chance. But the writing was on the wall before that. Jane Irwin’s strength and the swift breaking of Elizabeth Archer were more than Wharenui could handle. Beckenham won, 7-2, Archer (three), Jane Irwin, Ann Irwin, and Judith Sunbeam scoring the goals, and there was also an own goal. Grooby and Kathie McCombie scored for 'Tharenui. Services retained its hold on the senior championship with a clearcut 10-1 victory at the expense of Police. Gavin Sim, Selwyn Heaton (both three), Dave Jennings, Don Corlett, John Pettigrew and Gerald Mitchell scored for Services, and Mark Callaghan for Police.