Spalding Water Polo’s Sharks fended off a late comeback from fellow club side the Orcas to defeat them 11-9 in a cracking derby last Tuesday night.
The all-Spalding affair was a return ‘grudge’ match for the two stable-mates, with the Orcas hoping to avenge their defeat at the Castle Sports Complex pool in September.
No sooner had the match started than the Sharks were awarded a corner, with Jordan Templer passing to Gareth Lord to score. Both teams then took advantage of being a man up after an exclusion for either side, scoring a goal each, from Steve Rogers after an excellent pass from Calvin Wilson and Ed Martin following an accurate pass from Jimmy Hook.
Three further goals from the Sharks, Tim Shields and two from Templer, meant the Sharks ended the first quarter 5-1 ahead.
The second quarter was non-stop end-to-end play for the first two minutes, with Templer finding the net again. The Orcas pulled one back through Martin after Sharks’ player Gareth Lord was handed a double exclusion.
The Orcas continued to attack and were rewarded with a goal from James Teesdale after Shields had scored again for the Sharks.
Outstanding goalkeeping from the Orcas’ Alan Butler then denied the Sharks further goals before Jack Carpenter scored in the last few seconds of the quarter to make the score 7-4 in the Sharks’ favour.
A quick goal from Wilson straight after the start of the third quarter increased the Sharks lead, but Carpenter scored again after more fast end to end play to keep the Orcas in it.
However, the Sharks quickly slotted home another goal from Lord to go 9-5 up.
Carpenter quickly added to his tally at the beginning of the fourth quarter, before the Sharks added two more – Rogers scoring from a back-handed pass from Templer and then Templer bagging after a long pass.
Two quick goals from Orcas players Oliver Clutson and Martin, reduced the deficit and a frantic last minute followed as Templer scoring again for the Sharks with his trademark bounce shot.
Carpenter added another in the dying few seconds, but the final whistle came too soon for the Orcas to get their much-sought after win over the Sharks.
Scorers: Orcas – Carpenter (4), Martin (3), Teesdale, Clutson. Sharks – Templer (4), Rogers (3), Lord (2), Shields (2), Wilson.
- A hat-trick from Jordan Templer and a top team performance steered Spalding Water Polo’s Sharks to a fine 9-2 victory at Milton Keynes B.
The Sharks started well in the first quarter, maximising their ability to break away from their opponents and utilising their swimming speed.
They converted four out of five ‘man up’ situations, with goals from Steve Rogers, Templer (2) and a perfectly executed back shot from Gareth Lord. Milton Keynes pulled one back in the last 20 seconds of the quarter as Spalding were caught napping, but they still boasted a confident 4-1 lead.
With the Sharks attacking the shallow end in the second quarter, the match became a scrappy affair due to continuous infringements by both sides. A late goal from Templer did increase their lead to 5-1 at half time.
The third quarter saw the Sharks add to their lead with goals from Tom Marsters, Chris Scotney and Tim Shields.
Calvin Wilson and George Rogers were excellent in defence, stopping any attacks created by MK – and with the continued reflexes of goalkeeper, Jon Davis, they ensured the Sharks goal remained empty for another quarter as they turned around 8-1 to the good.
The fourth quarter was much like the second with both sides struggling with the shallow end. Again, the Sharks were caught napping and MK punished them with a goal.
But Strong pit play from Shields resulted in another goal for the Sharks.
Tight marking and defending in the final minute maintained the visitors lead as they cruised to a 9-2 triumph.
Scorers: Templer (3), Shields (2), Lord, Marsters, Rogers and Scotney.
