Top water polo teams ready for major test

Press, 14 December 1977, Page 21

Top water polo teams ready for major test

Their build-ups to the Trans Tours international water polo tournament later this month have been ail but completed by Beckenham-Sockburn and Wharenui. i The. clubs A teams maintained their first and second placings in t.lie Freshbake premier competition with easy wins against North Beach and BeckenhamSockburn B respectively. In the oilier game, Wharenui B maintained its third placing with an unimpressive victory against Waimaii i-Pegasus. Points;—Beckenham - Sockburn IA 17. Wharenui A 15, Wiiarenui iB 10. Beckenham-Sockburn B 6, (North Beach 5, Waimairii Pegasus I. ; WHARENUI A 7 <G. W. Campbell 1. .1. N. Koens. R. A. I Clark, R. E. MeConnochie), (BECKENHAM-SOCKBURN B 2 ,'li. .1. Lee, B. M. Mustchin). I Although only one goal ; separated these teams in the I lirst round, this time Wiiarenui I had far too much strength and combination for BeckenhamSockburn. Quite its strongest asset was its driving, which attracted three penalties, and it also iiad a marked advantage in ma jor fouls. When Wharenui was a player short — on four occasions — BeckenhamSockburn scored only once. Gary Campbell was in better form for Wharenui, while Beckenham-Sockburn suite red still further, when already out of the game, by having Bryan Mustchin fouled out BEC KENHAM-SOC KBU R N A 12 fM. A. Harding 5. D. .1. W. Reni 3. J It Davie. M. .1 Trentbath. 1.. .1. Marshall G. J. Hardling). NORTH BEACH 1 (C. L. \ Bceb.vi,

Though North Beach scored! first, and held the competition I leader to 2-1 after the. first I quarter, it thereafter had no? chance. Loose passing, and keen anticipation by ’he Beckenham-j Sockburn players, spell North] Beach’s doom, and once again] John Davie and Mark Trembath combined well on attack. Markl Harding and Dennis Reid hadi far too much strength for their] opposites. \VII AKEN IT B 3 (E. P. ‘ Smolders, VV. R. Williamson. B , W. Bucwi. WAIMATRI-PEGASUS! 1 -B Honeybone ■. This was one of Wharenui's ] poorest performances of thei season, though the closeness of (lie score reflected the improvement by Waimairi-Pegasus. Wharenui only gained its goal advantages in the second and final quarters, and it stood a very real risk of dropping a point when only leading 2-1 in tlie final quarter. No players stood out really significantly for either team, though Paul Rowe had another dependable all-round game for Wharenui. and he teamed well with the efficient JetT < onro.s.