Event: National Water Polo League, Weekend 2
Venue: Ponds Forge, Sheffield
Date: 26th & 27th September 2009
Dolphin built on their solid start to their National League season last weekend at Sheffield, winning two matches and losing one despite lack of numbers due to the unavailability of a number of players.
With only seven players, and up against early pace setters Bristol University, the first game of the weekend was always going to be tough. Swindon started the fixture poorly and found themselves trailing by six goals to one at the end of the first period and by nine goals to three at the end of the second.
A tactical move at half time saw captain Andy Hicks come out of goal and replaced by Ian Brewer. Hicks was soon on target and with an overall improvement in the team performance, the lead was soon cut to three goals. However, Dolphin could not maintain the momentum and as tiredness set in, the match finished at 19 – 11 in favour of Bristol.
Swindon’s second fixture of the weekend was on Sunday morning against Warley and the team knew from previous encounters that this would be a close match. Squad numbers were boosted from 7 to 9 with the arrival of Rhys Tamlyn and Matt Elliot, and the team got off to a good start with a two goal lead at the end of the first quarter, extended to three goals by the end of the second.
Disaster struck in the third period, as slack defence and poor concentration cost the side a number of goals. Swindon lost the quarter by three goals leaving the game all square going in to the final period. Upping their game, Swindon managed to claimed victory by three goals with Rob Toolen claiming three of the sides six goals as they eventually cruised home.
The final fixture of the weekend was against Solihull who had been struggling all season. Solihull battled hard but were no match for a well organised Swindon side who demolished the opposition by 27 goals to 7; a fine victory that included 12 goals from Toolen.
Matt Elliott commented after the Solihull game “There were a lot of things to be pleased about after our two victories today. Performances like the one against Solihull are going to springboard us into the play-off’s.”
Swindon moved up a place to 4th in the table after this weekend’s action. The team now has a few weeks off before their next fixtures in Basingstoke that will see the welcome return of Jappe Deckar, Angelo Polymeris and Chris Selby
Weekend Result: Swindon Dolphin 11-19 Bristol University
Swindon Dolphin 17-14 Warley
Swindon Dolphin 27-7 Solihull
Weekend Stats: Andy Hicks (3 Appearances, 5 Goals, 2 Majors), David Quinlivan (3 App, 3 G, 3 M), Matt Elliott (2 Apps, 1 G, 1 M), Rob Toolen (3 App 21 G, 1 M), Darryl Pye (3 Apps, 5 G, 2 M), Rhys Tamlyn (3 Apps, 11 G, 1 M), Ian Brewer (3 App, 2 G, 1 M) Matt James (3 Apps, 4 G, 2 M), Michal Trzeciak (3 Apps, 3 G, 4 M)
