Big interest in water polo

Press, 15 November 1977, Page 36

Big interest in water polo

By

RAY CAIRNS

When the New Zealand Water Polo Board changed the format of its national inter-club championship to a tournament — formerly, it was a straight final between North and South Island finalists —- it could not have envisaged the international flavour which will be featured this year.

The Trans Tours tournament in Christchurch immediately after Christmas is more than just a competition to find the country’s top club. Indeed, it would be surprising if a New Zealand club was to win. For New Zealand will be only one of four countries represented. The top seed will probably be the Queensland state team, reciprocating the tour to Brisbane and other parts in February by New Zealand. And Greg Arth, who has twice brought American teams — mainly from Hawaii — to New Zealand,

is on the South Pacific trail again.

This time it is with the American All-Stars, again mainly from Hawaii but also with a sprinkling from the mainland United States.

West Germany will be represented by one of its top clubs, Neustadt, and the second Australian entry is that of St GeorgeSutherland, of Sydney, notified only this week. New Zealand's top five clubs have also confirmed their entries. They are Beck-enham-Sockburn, winner of the tournament for the last four years; Maranui, the first and only other winner; Wharenui, with Maranui the only club to have beaten Becken-ham-Sockburn in recent years; Newmarket, effectively the Auckland provincial team; and Hutt. Entries have also been indicated, but not confirmed, from Victoria University and Wanganui East, and the four-day tournament will probably have to be divided into sections if there are more than nine entries.