WATER POLO

Evening Star, Issue 23128, 30 November 1938, Page 3

WATER POLO

G GRADE UPSETS KAIKORAI BEAT KIWI B Maintaining its unbeatttn reeoid. Kiwi A defeated Dunedin A by j goals to 2 in tin; A grade match at the Otago Centre’s weekly water polo carnival l.'isfc night, the game being prol>aoi> the best contested of the senior competition this season. Tim highlights of the evening, however, were provided by some major np«ets in the 15 grade competition, tin bottom team, Kaikorai, scoring its first victory by indicting a reverse upon Kiwi ii, one of the three leading teams. Kaikorai’s well-earned win "in not the only surprise of the night, tor St. Clair went down to Dunedin 15. *' ll improving side, and a decisive win n.v Zenith over St. Kilda onab.od the former to assume top place in the L> grade at the conclusion of the first round, St. Clair, Kiwi B, and Dunedin B being level in second position. POSITIONS OP TEAMS. The following table shows the state of the respective competitions: — —A Grade.—

THE TEAMS. Kiwi A.—D. Pickard, A. J. Eccdeii, U. Kidd, W. Dyson, A. Thomas, C. Lawrence, B. Goddca. Dunedin A. —P. W. Harkoss. J. DO’Driscoli, A. M Taggart, B. Kerr, J. 0. Bvrncs, E. Toasc, K. Leckic. Zenith.—J. Curry, W. Walker, K. Butler. W. Bnckland, J. Hand, i. Ellis, .1. Broadfoot. St. Kilda.—G Wnotton. M. Bell, B. Smith, A. Idonr, A. Baines. H. D. Gillies, C. Williams. Dunedin 8.--W. MThmnell, D Lcekie, C. Ferguson. B. Gibbs. W. Wil hams, A. Williams, •). Christie. St. Clair.—l. D. Alexander, A. Pritchard, ,1. Robert. J. Durand, J. Swan, W. Springford. Kiwi B.—W. M. Carr, D. Watson, D. Freeman, D. Beid, M. O’Connell. B. Geddcs. ,1. G. Beid. Kaikorai.—D. Fairley, E. Sonntim H. A. L. Laing, W. Darling. M. K. Xelson, D. M'Lachlan, F. Marett. THE GAMES. —A Grade. — Kiwi A and Dunedin A, meeting for the fifth time this season, staged the fastest game of the season, some very good moves being made by both teams, though the shooting of either team could have been improved on. O’Driscoll made his first appearance for Dunedin this season, and despite lack of training got through a lot of work, his clover handling of the ball being of considerable advantage to his side. Kerr also played his best game this season. Taking M. Taylor’s place at centre-half. Dyson played an outstanding game for Kiwi, and brought relief to his side time and again as well as making some fine openings for liis front line, several of which, however, were allowed to go begging. Leeden marked his man well and made some good clearances, while Kidd also played well. Toase used his pace, to good effect for Dunedin, but lost opportunities through faulty shooting. The only score in the first half came from an opening by Dyson, Kidd swimming up with the ball and sending on to Thomas, who goaled. Early after the resumption, Geddes swam up with Hie ball and passed to Lawrence, who shot a good goal. Kiwi 2, Dunedin 0. Dunedin made a strong rally, and after one of the prettiest bits of play of the nmht. O’Driscoll, who swam up. netted with a close shot. Kiwi 2, Dunedin 1. Dunedin maintained the pressure for a while, and O’Driscoll, who was always to he reckoned with, scored again to bring the scores level. Kerr looked dangerous half a minute later, but Looden saved well, and Thomas went up to lob the ball into the net. Kiwi Dunedin 2. In the closing stages, Thomas scored two more goals, ami the game ended : Kiwi A 5, Dunedin A 2. Mr D. E. Watson was the referee. B Grade. Zenith scored an easy win against a rather scratch St. Kilda team, and though plav at times developed into a scramble, the Zenith men always placed well to [position and had little dimculty in keeping St. Kilda out. In the first half St. Kilda offered fairly good resistance, and Wootton in goal made some brilliant saves. However, Butler found the net twice, and Zenith led liv 2-nil at half-time. Zenith combined nicclv in the second spell and the team, playing well together, handled the ball in good style. J. Broadfoot s left-hand shots were again in evidence and he goaled three times. Butler putting in two. the game ending; Zenith 7. S. Kilda 0. Mr J. Swan was the referee. , , . , in one of the most evenly-contested games of the season Dunedin '3l scored a well-earned win over St. Clair by 7 goals to 5, the issue being in doubt until the closing stages. Dunedin’s positional play was good, and although St. Clair handled smartly at times, Dunedin invariably had its opponents closely marked and nothing was given away. The first spell was solidly fought and ended with the scores 2 alfi Springford and Ellison scoring for St. Clair and W. Williams and A. Williams for Dunedin. Dunedin staged some bright moves in the second half, Ferguson, Gibbs, and A. Williams showing up well. Ferguson and Gibbs found the net twice and A. Williams goaled once. Robert, Ellison, and Swan scored for St. Clair Ellison always took a lot of stopping, and Swan played his usual sound game Mr D. F. Watson was the referee. Kaikorai scored the most popular win of the season. Kiwi B going down to its second defeat im successive weeks by .1 goals to 1. Kaikorai’s play showed a big improvement on that of recent weeks, and while the throwing and handling of both sides left room for further improvement, Kaikorai marked its men more closely than did Kiwi. M’Lnebhin played an outstanding game for KaDkorai, scoring the only goal"of the first spell: while in the second half O’Connell equalised for Kiwi. Then Nelson swam up and scored for Kaikorai and M’Lachlnn put the issue beyond doubt by scoring a third goal. Kiwi made sporadic raids on the Kaikorai goal, but the defence held. Fairlev making some good saves in goal, while Sonntag also pot through a lot of useful work. Boy Geddes, who earlier filled a gap in the Kiwi A team, was playing his second game, and gave a pood account of himself; but generally Hu- Kiwi plovers did not handle well. The game ended : Kaikorai A, Kiwi B 1. Air B. Kerr was the referee.

rj o .3 o a u o ° b bT ti C JTS E -- CU Kiwi A ... o 5 0 9 29 10 Dunedin A ... 5 0 5 9 0 —B Grade. — s Zenith ... 5 4 1 33 9 St. Clair ... 5 3 2 27 19 G Kiwi B ... 5 3 2 23 ]G G Dunedin B ... 5 3 2 24 17 G Kaikorai ... - r J 1 4 8 30 2 St. Kikla ... 5 1 4 5 29 2