N.Z. wins water polo series

Press, 8 January 1980, Page 22

N.Z. wins water polo series

’ Not without’ several anxious moments, New Zealand ■ yesterday won its first under-16 water polo series against South Australia. But’ where New Zealand had won the first international in moderate comfort, it yesterday struggled to 5-all and 4-3 .results. But there were no such problems for the New Zealand women’s team. Underlining the considerable progress it has made since the heavy defeats of the early days, New Zealand beat Queensland under-20, 9-1. When New Zealand led the third, of the under-16 internationls, 2-0, at quartertime, the match seemed safe enough. But it slipped to 2-1, then 2-2, 3-2, and 3-3, before Bruc'e Wilson ' scored the second of his fourthquarter goals with 2 minutes remaining.

The other two New Zealand goals, both in the first quarter, were by Joe Boyce; while the fourth Australian-, goals were to-. Dana Eiler, Mike ' Woods and Darren Thomas.

' There could hardly have been a more nerve-racking conclusion, to .the second of the under-16 internationals.

- -New -Zealand,• so f 1 uid and certain in the first two quarters',. steadily frittered away its “hard-won advantage, and in the space. of ,455, in / the' finaL>76 of the- match,. conceded .two’. penalties. - 1 - So with a mere : 31s ret maining, it trailed by a goal; with two seconds remaining, the New Zealand; captain, Lachie Marshall, ’ shot for goal; and because it was stopped with two hands- by a field player, he faced a ■.penalty shot in the final second; Marshall shot straight and his( team had salvaged a 5-all draw.',