WATER POLO

Evening Star, Issue 23448, 13 December 1939, Page 4

WATER POLO

I COMPETITION LEADERS DEFEATED Playing with more vigour and dash throughout, Dunedin provided the season’s biggest upset in the weekly water polo competition at the Municipal Baths last night by defeating Kiwi, premiers for the last four years, by 5 goals to 1. Kiwi has a commanding lead in the competition, but there was no doubt about Dunedin’s superiority on the night. The standard of polo provided in the B grade games was also high, and with the four leading teams all shaping well, interest has been maintained. Dunedin B has a 1-point lead over St. Clair, with Kiwi B another 3 points back. —A Grade.— Kiwi did not display its usual combination or clever positional play against Dunedin, and u failure to mark its men proved costly to the leaders, Dunedin running into a 3-0 lead in the first spell. Kiwi was bustled in the early stages and D. Pickard dragged the ball into the goal, while J. 0. Byrnes, playing his best game this season, found the net with a couple of sizzling shots. Kiwi attacked hotly on the resumption, and W. Dyson scored but several other shots went wide, and J. D. O’Driscoll and N. Williams placed Dunedin on the offensive again, Williams goaling twice in succession. B. Kerr was also conspicuous for solid defensive work and clever anticipation, and a bright game ended: Dunedin 5, Kiwi 1. Mr J. Swan was the referee. —B Grade.— Kiwi B’s combination and pace were more than St. Kilda could cope with, and the former ran out winners by 9 goals to 3. O. Lawrence was in goalgetting mood, and netted six times, Hoy Geddes goaling twice and D. Reid once, while for St. Kilda, Newlands scored twice and V. Newall once. Kiwi showed considerable improvement in handling and throwing. Mr J. Swan was the referee. St. Clair was too experienced for Kaikorai, and handling more smartly and playing better to position, St. Clair ran out by 4 goals to 2, J. Swan scoring twice, W. A. Springford and A. Pritchard each netting once. D. Fairley scored each of Kaikorai’s goals. Mr D. Watson was the referee. The Youthful Kiwi C team made a good showing against the competition leaders, Dunedin B, although the latter’s experience and combination proved the deciding factor, Dunedin running out winners by 4 goals to 1, the scorers being C. Ferguson (2), W. Williams, and B. Ingram. For Kiwi, J. G. Reid scored. Mr M. Taylor was the referee.

POSITION OF TEAMS, —A Grade.—

c a 42 C. nd a' o & c. qj s % O a C5 a rt s 0 ft s O 5 Kiwi .. 6 4 1 31 26 9 Dunedin 6 1 4 1 2G 31 3 •B Grade. . — Dunedin B ;6 5 0 1 38 15 11 St. Clair 6 4 0 2 23 14 10 Kiwi B . .. 6 3 2 1 29 20 7 Kaikorai 6 3 3 0 19 19 6 St. Kilda :e 1 5 0 11 42 2 Kiwi C . .. 2 0 2 0 3 9 0 Zenith . .. 4 0 4 0 5 9 0 Zenith defaulted to St. Clair, , Kiwi, and Kaikorai, and then withdrew, being replaced by Kiwi C.