Stanmore 1sts share water polo premiership The Newington 1sts Water Polo team are again Premiers and for the first time since the sport became recognised as an AAGPS Competition, our players have secured an AAGPS Premiership. “Newington College” will be engraved on the Thomas Whalan Shield alongside The Scots College, who are co-premiers. It was a competitive season for both the 1sts and 2nds Water Polo teams. Our three top water polo teams, the 16As, the 2nds and the 1sts can all boast undefeated Combined GPS/CAS Premierships and the 1sts and 2nds are both Co-Premiers of their respective GPS Andrew Michael Competitions. ‘The boys trained really well through the pre- season and won convincingly against most teams’ After one of Newington’s most dominant seasons ever across all age groups, coach of the 1sts Anthony Hrysanthos Thomas Harris. Photo: Jared Leibowitz said: “It was just great to finally get ourApart from that the boys had an almost great time coaching the boys in the 2nd hands on the GPS Shield. faultless season.” grade team. I also had the opportunity “The boys trained really well through the to coach a number of the younger age pre-season and won convincingly against 2nds coach Wil Cotterill said his team group teams throughout the summer most teams. Our only minor hiccup was had improved every week. and watched many boys mastering new the 7-all draw with Scots in round three. “Over the past six months I have had a skills and loving their sport training.” Table Tennis thrives In training, Table Tennis this summer Newington continued their dominance of focussed on the return of serve, the top the schools competing, but the gap is spin forehand drive and the backhand narrowing as other schools embrace block, while maintaining our development stronger training regimes and appoint of alternative serving methods. Doubles qualified coaches. play also became a feature of home We saw many of our stronger, experienced training. The competitive nature of our players from Year 12 participate in great training gives boys the opportunity to matches againsopponents. Ben Streetert , play against all standards and this has Toby Walsh and Eri Liu were our seen a dramatic improvement in the standout performers. newcomers to our sport. The challenge ahead is to keep up the In Term 1 our competition teams used development of the sport, appoint a the Homebush Olympic Sports Hall each Captain of Table Tennis, move to a Saturday for our schools' competition. formal GPS/CAS Competition and This brought together six schools, with 100work with other staff on ideas about players and staff, and with consistent our future, including a central Edward Dam. Photo: Jared Leibowitz conditions for play the competition thrived.competition venue. OPPORTUNITY| NEWS AUTUMN 2018 | 31