Spalding Water Polo’s Sharks romped to a 14-6 win over Kettering in a bad-tempered clash at the Castle pool.
Having fallen behind, the Sharks hit back to lead 4-1 after the first period thanks to goals from Gareth Lord, Jimmy Hook, Ben Marsters and Ed Martin.
Spalding again dominated the second quarter, scoring four against Kettering’s one. Spalding’s goals were from Martin (2), Lord and Josh Rowland.
Kettering were increasingly becoming rough and had Andy Withpeterson dismissed for violent conduct.
The third quarter saw Spalding increase their lead courtesy of a hat-trick from Calvin Wilson, an accurately placed lob shot from Lord and a brilliant backhand shot from Marsters.
They ended the period 13-5 to the good.
The final quarter saw both teams find the net once each, with Spalding’s goal another accurate lob shot, this time from Tim Shields.
Stand-in captain Rowland said: “This was a great game against a rough Kettering team. In the course of play, they head-butted three of our team, Teesdale, Martin and Hook, forcing them to sit on the sidelines.
“They had two players excluded, but credit to our players, they didn’t retaliate but pulled together and put on a brilliant winning performance.”
