Somerset beat Gloucestershire during inaugural Regional Water Polo
Championships
3rd place overall for Ladies whilst Weston Super Mare Men reach Semi-Finals
Sunday 5 June 2011 saw two of the annual ASA SW Championships being contested
at Millfield School. The first was the inaugural Inter-County 16&U Female
Championships in which Gloucestershire, Dorset, Devon and Somerset competed.
Inter-County 16&U Female Championship for the Stella Margetts Trophy
The opening match saw Dorset overcome Gloucestershire in what was the
County's first female Inter-County victory for decades and a testament to the
hard work put in by the Dorset League over recent years. Devon overcame Somerset
with relative ease - Mel Passmore (Paignton, Devon) being the lead markswomen in
that match.
Somerset Ladies Team: Lucy Greenstreet (Frome), Katie Davies, Charlotte Bradley,
Esme Gullick, Emma Simpson, Emily Watkins, Katie Watkins, Jess Dabbs, Millie
Dabbs, Maddy Reynolds and Charlotte Bowden (all from Weston-super-Mare SC).
Coaches were Mike Coles, Paul Watkins and Nick Purslow.
The Somerset ASA Ladies 16&U Water Polo Team
The second round of matches saw Devon cruise to victory over Gloucestershire,
and Dorset continue their winning streak with a comprehensive victory over
Somerset. The final round of matches saw Somerset narrowly clinch victory over
Gloucestershire to take overall third place, whilst Devon outplayed Dorset to
win the final match 6-3. Of particular note in the Final was a goal scored by
Leah Clarke (Exeter, Devon) who played as Devon's goal-keeper - Leah scored from
her own goal-line in a perfectly aimed shot that tucked in nicely under the top
right corner of the Dorset goal - a spectacular feat for any goal-keeper but one
rarely seen in the female side of the sport, and Leah was awarded with a
standing ovation from the spectators of that match.
Overall Result:
1. Devon
2. Dorset
3. Somerset
4. Gloucestershire
Highest Goal-Scorer: Mel Passmore (Paignton, Devon)
Best Player: Paris James (Newton Abbot, Devon)
Best Goal Keeper: Leah Clarke (Exeter, Devon)
Inter-Club Senior Championships for the Edgar Jordan Rose Bowl
This was the first time the ASA SW had hosted a Senior Championship since
1994, and a total of 8 Clubs completed from across 5 counties of the Region. In
Group A Cheltenham, Exeter City, Bournemouth and Newquay had a tough draw - each
very strong a capable teams. In Group B seasoned experienced teams of Weston
Super Mare and Barnstaple met newcomers Bridport and Exeter University.
Newquay defeated Bournemouth with surprising ease 7-1 in the opening match,
though the score line did not do Bournemouth justice. Weston Super Mare made
easy work of first Bridport and then Exeter University both of which were
dispatched with goal differences in excess of 10. Cheltenham narrowly defeated
Exeter City and were favourites to take the title with many ex-GB and current GB
youth players in the teams ranks.
Bournemouth gave Cheltenham quite a scare leading 3-1 with three minutes to go -
all spectators thought the Cheltenham goal machine had left it too late, but 4
goals in the remaining minutes snatched victory from Bournemouth's grasp.
The Semi-Finals saw Cheltenham take on Barnstaple ... more on that match in a
moment, whilst the other Semi-Final saw a hard fought match between Weston Super
Mare and Exeter City. Liam Coles (Weston Super Mare) was the lead marksman and
inspiration behind the Weston team as they took an early two goal lead which
continued into the second half of the match. Exeter City's Simon Heagarty and
Ryan Napper both found the back of the net in quick succession toward the end of
the match to unusually require two periods of extra time. Two goals from
Exeter's Jack Skerritt secured Exeter's place in the final.
Returning to the Cheltenham v Barnstaple Semi Final, Cheltenham were always
clear favourites - Barnstaple's Senior Team it is fair to say have not seen much
silver ware over the past decade or so ... however, Barnstaple were determined
not to give up without a fight. Barnstaple's Captain James Gardner performed
superbly in the pit and made several goals to keep Barnstaple in contention. Ian
Greig (Cheltenham) and Adam Hayter (Cheltenham) were equally prolific in being
Cheltenham's lead marksmen. At the final whistle the score was an even 6-6
requiring extra time to be played. 7-7 after extra time resulted in a first
round of penalties, with both teams finding the back of the net on all five
attempts, and this repeated itself over a second round of penalties into 'sudden
death' until an unfortunate Cheltenham player put the ball into the post to set
up an 'all-Devon' final.
The final was not so much of a dramatic affair as either of the Semi-Finals,
both Barnstaple and Exeter City were prepared to concede that they had been
lucky in pulling off victories over Weston Super Mare and Cheltenham. Simon
Heagarty (Exeter) opened the scoring and by half time the Exeter team led 4-2.
Will Bottrell (Exeter) scored the opening goal of the second half, and despite a
late rally from Barnstaple Exeter took the title 5-4.
Overall Result
1. Exeter City
2. Barnstaple
Overall Group Results
| 1. Cheltenham |
1. Weston Super Mare |
| 2. Exeter City |
2. Barnstaple |
| 3. Newquay |
3. Exeter University |
| 4. Bounemouth |
4. Bridport |
Highest Goal Scorer (Group Stages Only) Sean Coles (Weston Super Mare)
Best Player (All Stages) Adam Hayter (Cheltenham)
Best Goalkeeper (All Stages) P Alinwood (Newquay)
Weston Senior Team: Martin Maloney (goalkeeper), Nick Purslow, Sean Coles, Liam
Coles, Kyle Maloney (captain), Matt Vincent, Nick Edwards, George Forbes, Alec
Gahame, Tom Simpson, Harvey Reynolds, Guilliame Gouves, Dean Bird. Coach was
Mike Coles.
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