N.Z. puts up good fight

Press, 24 August 1988, Page 72

N.Z. puts up good fight

By

DIANNA LESLIE

New Zealand met its match against Hungary on the second day of the fifth F.I.N.A. women’s world cup water polo tournament at Queen Elizabeth II Park yesterday. Hungary won the vigorous battle, 12-6, but Richard Clark, the New Zealand coach, was thrilled with his side’s performance against the highly rated European country. “We couldn’t have played any better unless the team had been together for 12 months and then toured Europe for three months,” he said. “They played above themselves.” Hungary used physical tactics designed to wear the New Zealanders down and three pairs of togs were ripped off New Zealanders in the under

water skirmishes. Alison Carter, the New Zealand captain, accepted the strong arm play as part and parcel of the game. “We thought they would be physical, but they weren’t as bad as we expected. The bigger girls who made the early difference tired later in the match because their own tactics were wearing them down as well.” Carter praised the team’s all out effort. “It was the best that New Zealand women have ever played. We pressed them on defence and made some good attacking moves.” In the first quarter Hungary was just one goal ahead of the New Zealanders but as soon as the second quarter started the strong arm of Alice Kertesz came to the fore as she dominated her team’s

scoring, hammering in six goals during the match. Deborah Somerville, the New Zealand goalkeeper, curtailed several impressive attacking moves and forced Hungary to dig deep into its bag of tricks. Carter scored three goals in between marshalling the team and directing play with skill. Ildiko Kokai, Hungary’s No. 8, played aggressively and her verve was realised in the four goals she slammed home. In other matches yesterday Australia trounced Puerto Rico 25-1. Australia proved that it is a team to be reckoned with as it handled the ball with deceptive ease and scored at will. Canada and the United States had a tense match as the score was deadlocked for most of the match. Canada found the

necessary form in the last quarter to sneak ahead 10-8. Results:— Hungary 12 (A. Kertesz 6, I. Rafael 4, I. Kokai 1, A. Eke 1) beat New Zealand 6 (A. Carter 3, L. Mazzoleni 11, M. Hesketh 1, J. Bone 1). . Canada 10 (H. Kaulbach 3, M. Deslieres 2, P. Deslieres 1, G. Brunetta 1, N. Deschenes 1, M. Nickless 1, M. Thorington 1) beat United States 8 (T. Breckon 3, M. Mendoza 2, 5. Smart 1, K. Billish 1,. M. Kelly 1). Australia 25 (D. Cummings 6, J. Northam 5, J. Rohl 3, K. Podmore 3, J. Rayner 2, A. Leeson 2, D Watson 2, K. Jones 1, K. Alp 1) beat Puerto Rico 1 (M. Garcia 1).

P W L F A Pt Hungary 2 2 0 22 15 4 Aust 1 1 0 25 1 2 Holland 1 1 0 10 4 2 N.Z. 2 1 1 22 18 2 Canada 2 1 120 18 2 U.S. 2 0 2 12 21 0 P.R. 2 0 2 7 41 0