Canoe polo: Bay elite men's team runners-up

PADDLE STOP: Hurricanes B1 player Jayden Peterson finds an obstacle to his pass at Pandora Pond, Napier. PHOTO/Duncan Brown

The premier men's Hawke's Bay canoe polo team have finished runners up in the what is believed to be the country's biggest tournament in the code staged in Napier.

The Hurricanes A1 team lost 3-2 to archrivals Expose, of Manawatu, in the A grade final at the Pandora Pond during the Art Deco Championship boasting 52 teams in all grades.

"We lost by a golden goal in extra time," said player/coach Jed Graham last night after they played 10 minutes each way and were tied 2-all before the heart breaker in four minutes of added time.

Goalkeeper Matt Whitaker-Mills and Liam Barendsen scored for the hosts.

"The weather was perfect with not much wind so Pandora Pond put it on for us again the second year running," said an exhausted but delighted Graham of the HB Canoe Polo Club-hosted tourney.

Last year the tourney had only two pitches at the venue but at the weekend they were able to stage four games.

"I believe it's the largest canoe polo tournament in the country and it came off really well," he said, lauding the club players and volunteers who helped set up the venue from 4pm to 9pm on Friday night and then helped dismantle last night because permanent structures were not allowed on a multi-purpose pond.

The Hurricanes A2 team, also in the A grade, finished seventh after beating SC Slammers, of Auckland, in the playoffs. Hurricanes B1 team were last in the 12-team grade.

The youthful Hurrikats women's team were also last in the four-team competition. Valkries, of Palmerston North, were the champions.

The Jake Talbot-skippered Havelock North High School team beat Vikings (Palmy) to become B grade champions.