Spalding Sharks were runaway 19-4 winners in their East Midlands Water Polo League match at home against Milton Keynes B.
After a tight start in the first quarter at the Castle Sports Complex’s pool, Sharks took the advantage of being a man up with a goal from Tim Shields.
Two bounce shots from Jordan Templer and a superb lob goal from Shields from 10m out then quickly increased the lead to 4-0.
Amazingly, Tom Marsters soon added another goal after stealing the ball at the halfway line.
Templer was unlucky to have a close-range shot saved by an MK player with his face, but he soon added to his tally again following a well executed lob pass from Marsters.
However, visitors MK did pull one back just before the whistle, to make the score 6-1 to Sharks.
The second quarter saw the Sharks increase their lead in the first minute with a goal into the top left corner from Shields, soon followed by another Shields goal from Steve Rogers’ accurate pass.
Rogers was then excluded from play for a foul and the visitors took advantage of this to score their second goal. No sooner had Rogers joined play again when he took control of play and added another goal.
A furious two minutes ensued, with numerous exclusions for both teams.
Again, MK scored just before the final whistle when the Sharks’ defence were caught out from the attack to leave the Spalding side 9-3 up at half time.
The Sharks immediately started the third quarter on the attack, with excellent play from Calvin Wilson resulting in another goal each for Templer and Shields.
Templer then added another when he broke from the halfway line, catching Milton Keynes off-guard and leaving only one man in defence.
In another quick attack, Wilson found himself unmarked and easily scored at the back post.
Soon after Templer was on the scoresheet again, his second hat-trick of the night, successfully winning the one-on-one encounter.
Marsters then put George Rogers clear for a strong swim down the left for him to find the back of the net. In the last minute, a Marsters attack down the right drew the MK defence from the goal, and a pin-point pass to Shields allowed him to put the Sharks 16-3 up.
The away side defended well at the beginning of the fourth quarter, until the third minute when Steve Rogers slotted a goal below the keeper’s arms.
Templer was unlucky not to add to his tally when he broke away from halfway, to be denied by the opponents’ keeper who was the only man left in defence.
Steve Rogers soon added another goal when the Sharks charged on a counter attack and he slotted the ball home.
One more quick Sharks goal came courtesy of Shields, from another accurate Marsters pass.
MK scored a consolation goal in the final two seconds of the game to leave the score at 19-4.
Skipper Steve Rogers said: “This was a brilliant match. The goal rout in the third quarter was a great show of teamwork.
“There was also excellent keeping from Jon Davis.”
Goals: Tim Shields (7), Jordan Templer (6), Steve Rogers (3), Tom Marsters, George Rogers and Calvin Wilson.
