7:00am Thursday 4th June 2009
By Roger Guttridge
HONOURS ended even when Dorset took on neighbours Devon in a water polo triple-header at Poole’s Dolphin Pool.
The home county’s ladies’ team recorded a historic first-ever victory over Devon by 11 goals to 8.
Dorset’s junior men secured a 7-7 draw in their match but the Dorset men had a tougher time, going down 23-8.
Bob Holman, the retiring head of Dorset water polo, said the results were a testament to the recent revival of the sport in the county.
“This was a tremendous evening for Dorset,” he said. “Just one year ago we were soundly beaten in all matches.
“With a win, a draw and a defeat, we’ve shared the honours and have shown that we can compete with a county with a very long water polo pedigree.”
Leah Wistrand top-scored for Dorset in a ladies’ match which saw the home team take the lead early in the second quarter and lose it only briefly at 2-2.
It was 3-2 at half-time and 9-6 after the third quarter before Dorset finished the job in a physical final session for the 11-8 scoreline.
The men’s match was contrastingly one-sided as the experienced Devon team exerted massive pressure on the home defence.
The cause was not helped by the indiscipline which led to five exclusions and saw Dorset with only five men in the pool for two minutes of the second quarter.
Connor Sleightholme and Ed Glanville shared the scoring honours in the junior match.
Dorset teams – Junior: J Murray-Tyson, C Aitken, O Bowen-Ashwin, T Cain, C Chamberlain, D Croft, N Hamp, D MacKay, N Petchy, C Sleightholme, G Sparks, A Vaithilingham, S Webber.
Ladies: L Wilstrand, G Cherrett, K Head, M Lamb, J Kolarikova, S Racster, M Regan, A Dannan, G Day, V Robinson, L Spence, K Ireland, E Kinsey.
Men: M Rutland, D Kinsey, M Flaherty, N Ireland, G Laming, A Marsango, S Randall, A Rhodes, G Rogers, K Shephard, E Stevens, K Reeson, T Cain.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk