Beckenham retains water polo trophy

Press, 20 February 1980, Page 27

Beckenham retains water polo trophy

The latest gripping chapter in the long saga of gripping premier water polo grand finals was played out at Queen Elizabeth II Park on Monday evening. Beckenham-Sockburn retained the Freshbake Trophy with its 6-5 victory over Wharenui, and once again the match went to extra time.

There have rarely been closer games, and this was reflected throughout the game. Each team scored a goal in every quarter, and neither looked like slipping away at any stage.

But Beckenham-Sockburn got an all-important break on its opponent in the first half of extra time, Dennis Reid scoring in the first minute and Graham Hern with only six seconds left before “half-time.” Both teams had their problems, Wharenui’s starting before the game when it had no regular goalie, David Ferlgo, Steven Wakefield and Stephen Ward successively sharing the position.

Beckenham-Sockburn’s problem lay in losing players. Lachie Marshall was fouled out in the fourth quarter, John Symon followed him in the second half of extra time, then Reid too incurred his third major foul with just 11 seconds remaining. That period of time had to be replayed with. Wharenui unable to score the* equalising goal. Reid, Symon (both two), Hern and Greg Harding scored for Beckenham - Sockburn; John Koens, Ward (both two) and Wakefield for Wharenui.

Tlie senior grade final was won very conclusively bj' Services, which made light of playing a man short for twothirds of the game. It beat University 16-4, after leading 9-2 at half-time.

The goals for Services were scored for Brian Coulter (seven), Lance Cleeve, Brian Ewart (both three), Keith Pollock (two), and Wayne Cooper. Richard Tweedie scored all four University goals.