Thrilling 10-10 draw keeps title chase afloat

Goalkeeper Matt Papworth scored a buzzer-beating final throw across the length of the pool as the Spalding Men’s Water Polo team clinched a comeback point at home to Cambridge on Tuesday.
Despite being 9-6 behind with one quarter to play, top goalscorer for Spalding, Tom Marster (three) bagged a brace in the final eight minutes before Papworth’s heroic effort.
Hunting down Bedford at the top of the table with a backlog of games still to play, Spalding needed a result but started on the back foot with an early goal from Cambridge inside the first couple of minutes.
However, neat finishes from Tom Norfolk and Nathan Henfrey put the home side ahead to end the quarter.
Going into the second half, it was a pulsating ten minutes with neither side grasping the opportunity to take a convincing lead.
Goals from Toby Rickett and John James kept Spalding in the game but Cambridge dominated with four goals of their own to end the half 5-4 to the away side.
Things got interesting in the third period as both sides continued to pepper the opposing goalkeepers, with Papworth making a few notable saves, as well as both sides hitting the woodwork on separate occasions.
Cambridge began to pull away in the third quarter with four goals in quick succession, in addition to goals from Marster and James once again.
With the pressure on in the final period, 9-6 down, Spalding mustered all their remaining energy to get back into the game, as Marster scored two well-taken goals and a quick counter attacking finish from Chris Barham equalling ir at 9-9.
In the final few minutes Barham was fouled out and it looked like Cambridge would hold on once they brought themselves back in front to 10-9, only needing to hold out play for the final few seconds.
But with a careless back pass to the goalkeeper from Cambridge, conceding a foul in the process, a wonderful Hail Mary shot from Papworth in the dying seconds of the game cannoned off the post just before the buzzer sounded to share the points at 10-10 and keeping Spalding in contention for the top spot.