An impressive away display saw Spalding Orcas win 11-6 at Northampton in their second match of the season in the East Midlands Water Polo League season.
The squad of ten players included four juniors – John Baxter, Harry Bumfrey, Oliver Clutson and Jimmy Hook – as well as regulars Alan Butler, Jack Carpenter, Ed Martin, Ben Marsters, Nick Rickett and James Teesdale.
Spalding were first on the scoresheet with Martin scoring from Carpenter’s accurate pass. Despite tight defending from the Orcas, Northampton hit back with two goals to lead 2-1 after the first quarter.
The second quarter was very tight and Spalding found it hard to find the finishing touch after three shots from captain Marsters went wide, with further shots from Baxter, Hook and Marsters again hitting the post. However, a goal from Bumfrey in the top corner levelled the scores at 2-2.
The third quarter was a bit of a rout from Spalding, with a hat-trick from Martin and two goals from Marsters leading the charge.
Martin’s first goal was a fantastic individual effort, as he swam from halfway to score. Marsters’ second goal was a culmination of tight, precise passing by his players. Excellent keeping from Bumfrey kept Northampton’s tally to just two and Orcas finished the quarter 7-4 up.
The final period saw Bumfrey score two more goals from open play, while excellent defending when one man down and two further scores from Carpenter secured the win.
Skipper Marsters said: “After the disappointment of our first league match, it was great to come away with three points from a strong Northampton side. This was a real team performance with the juniors showing they can perform at this level.”
