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Seagulls scoop silver

In a stunning weekend of water polo, Christchurch Seagulls simultaneously took silver medals in two of the most prestigious tournaments in the country.

Seagulls U19 squad arrived at the ASASWR Championships in Exeter looking to improve on their fourth place from 2010.  The draw saw Seagulls go head-to-head with tournament favourites Cheltenham in the first match of the day and in a pulsating game both sides swapped scores with neither team getting ahead by more than one goal until with less than two minutes to go Cheltenham pushed ahead, scoring twice in the last 30 seconds to take a thrilling match 8-5. Seagulls bounced back with close wins over both Barnstaple and old rivals Exeter to fix a final round match against local counterparts Bridport.  Seagulls, needing a win to secure the silver medal, struggled to find their rhythm in the first half but bouncing back after half time, played their usual brand of fast, free flowing water polo to score at ease throughout the second half winning 11-1.

At the end of the tournament coach Tony Kingsley said, “This is a fantastic result for us.  The first medal in this age group by a Dorset side.  Three of our usual first team players were away with the SW academy side so bring this team here and take silver is special.”

At the same time on the other side of the country three Seagulls players were part of the South West U16 squad contesting the Inter-regional championships in Basildon. Jackson Mullins, Charlie Roberts and Cianan Mann helped ease the South West side through the preliminary rounds to secure a place in the semi-final and in a tough semi-final overcame the North East to set up the final against pre-tournament favourites North West.  The final, however, was just one step too far as the South West lost 6-5 in a tight match – a repeat of the 2010 result. 

Seagulls U19 Squad: Charles Elderfield, David Gallagher, Joe Foale-Groves, Mikey Kingsley, Josh Lay, James Rogers, Anand Vaithilingham, Sam Webber, Elliot Wilks,

 

Silver for Dorset Water Polo 16/U Girls

Not to be beaten by the boys and the two mixed squads, the Dorset Girls 16/u team brought home silver medals from the ASA South West Water Polo Championship held at Millfield on 5 June 2011 to complete a full set of silver medals in the past year.

In 2010 Dorset just managed to get together a team of nine but this year there was a full squad with one of last year's team, Hannah Jack, acting as team coach. Following an early goal against Gloucester confidence flowed into their paly and the team soon dominated and with a 4-1 result were worthy winners. In the second game against Somerset Dorset was able to score at will and the result of 12-2 tells it all. In the final game Dorset were unable to close an early 3-0 lead achieved by favourites Devon, finishing 6-1 runners-up to collect their silver medals.

Dorset Girls 16/u Team: In goal Kathy Rogers (Seagulls), Emily Jack and Megan Brown (Blandford), Sarah Ewels and Jamie-lee White (Bournemouth), Clare Scarborough, Zoe Robertson and Holly Anderson (Bridport), Georgina Crossley, Megan Fletcher, Beth Kinsley and Chloe Roxburgh (Seagulls), and Heather Baker (Salisbury/Seagulls).

South West team demolishes opposition

The South West Youth team returned from the ASA Inter-Regional Water Polo Youth Championships as national champions after demolishing the opposition at the Cardiff International Pool on 15/16 January.

The initial draw saw the South West in the tougher of the two preliminary round groups but the first match against East Midlands saw the team steadily pull away to a 16-2 win. The second match against North West (B) was an all together tougher affair with the two sides struggling for supremacy, but astute rotation of the squad by the South West coach ensured the team outran the opposition to a 8-6 win. And with a final 9-6 win against the East region squad, the South West team finished the day unbeaten and seeded at the top end of the semi-final draw.

Day two was no less impressive. The South West took an early lead in the semi-final against Wales finishing with a comfortable 24-10 win, setting the team up for a final against pre-tournament co-favourites North West (B). And after a turbulent first quarter which saw its' keeper excluded from the game, the South West team continued to grow in confidence to take control of the match, dismissing their northern rivals with an impressive 22-10 win.

Dorset was the second strongest represented county in the regional squad with three players – George Sparks (Bridport Barracudas), Elliot Wilks and Sam Webber (both Seagulls) - all of whom returned home with one of the most prized awards in UK water polo - a national gold medal!

Photo: Courtesy of M Wilks

 

Dorset trio selected for England Talent Squad

Following outstanding performances at trials in Cardiff, three Dorset water polo players have been selected for the England Talent Squad. Cianan Mann, Jackson Mullins and Charlie Roberts, all from Christchurch Seagulls, are among only 20 players nationwide who made it through the first round pick of players.

The trio survived an exhaustive set of tests and drills to earn selection for a squad that is open to boys born in 1996 and 1997. Over the coming term they will now join other established players from that age group in a series of training camps at which they will have to continue to compete for their places on the squad.

Meanwhile, Seagulls’ Megan Fletcher has been invited to take part in trials for the equivalent girls’ squad at Crystal Palace. These selections come less than a year after another Seagulls' player, Sam Webber, made it into Britain’s international development squads and won a bronze medal in an international tournament in Hungary.

Photo: Courtesy of Steve Gallagher Tel 01202 421743 www.photoh.co.uk

 

Regional silvers for Dorset

The 2010 ASASWR Water Polo Championships held in December has resulted in a silver medal for Dorset's Junior Men's team. Competing against Somerset, Gloucester and Devon, all county sides with a long history of water polo competition, this was only Dorset's fourth intercounty tournament.

The first game against Somerset was a relatively low scoring match ending with a 4-5 loss but the match against Gloucestershire, normally a stronger side than Somerset, resulted in a 7-4 win which was a considerable achievement. Dorset were then straight back into the pool against Devon - by far the strongest side that had easily overcome Gloucestershire, demolished Somerset and had been resting - which resulted in a 12-9 defeat, and Dorset's best performance ever. With Somerset and Gloucestershire both finishing with the same number of points, Dorset took silver on goal difference - the first medal by a Dorset team in the Championships!

Dorset also entered the ASASWR Mixed Academy 14&U Championships against the two established counties of Devon and Gloucestershire with a record of not having beaten either county in any of the last three championships. The match against Gloucestershire proved frustrating and five early goals before Dorset started scoring proved too much of a deficit to overcome resulting in a 20-12 loss. However the match with Devon proved an entirely different prospect. Dorset got off to a good start and notched up ten goals before Devon could respond, resulting in a magnificent 6-23 win for Dorset - and another silver regional medal for a Dorset side.

Dorset Junior Men's Team: Oliver Bowen-Ashwin, Matt Cracknell, Joe Foale-Groves, Dustin Mackay, Jack Murray-Tyson, Joe Rammage,  James Rogers, George Sparks, Anand Vaithilingham, Sam Webber and Elliot Wilks who was voted Best Overall Player.

Dorset Mixed Academy Team: Christian Flavell, Emily Jack, Ciannan Mann, Charlie Roberts, Mikey Kingsley, Jackson Mullins, Megan Fletcher, Josh Marshall, Billy Uppard, Rhys Kirkpatrick, Jonathan Bowerman