Bolton School 22 Warrington 3 (14&U)

Very proud of our players who played Bolton School last Sunday.  Our established players coming on really well: Tom Costello, Tom Pye, Jacob Wass, Megan Dorman.  I say established players I remember this game last year was just about Jacob Wass first game, all the previously mention have been playing 12-18 months. The new players Max Harrison (12) and Luke Atkinson (11) made some good saves in goal. Jack Yates (12) played superbly as did Dom Crowley, both have only just started playing water polo but really got stuck into Bolton School. Emily Bowater worked really hard chasing down some 14 year old Bolton School players without fear. Finally Stanley Mainwaring always trying to be involved in every attack. I really enjoyed the match although we were beaten 22-3. At our current rate of progress I believe will develop into a strong team over the next few years. 

Well done everybody.

Chris Byrne

Tyldesley 21 Warrington 5 B&D (14&u)

Warrington’s 14 & under team visited Tyldesley on Friday 9^th November 2012. With three players committed at RTC it was always going to be a tough match for the remaining players. On a positive note it was chance to have a look at some more new players. Dom Crawley made his debut for Warrington and made quite an impression. The first quarter saw the older and faster Tyldesley hit Warrington on the break continuously giving Adam Farini in goal little chance to do anything about it. Tyldesley scored seven goals with Jacob Wass and Sam Cooper snatching a consolation goal each.

In the second quarter we changed things around Ben Daley went into goal releasing Adam Farini bolstering Warrington in attack and defence. Warrington conceded five goals and again Jacob Wass scored. The quarter ended 5-1 to Tyldesley.

Our core of older players worked really hard but with only four players with any experience of competitive games it was a steep learning curve for some of Warrington’s younger players. To her credit Emily Bowater on several occasions got free from her marker. In the third quarter more of the same with Tyldesley on the break at every opportunity. Stanley Mainwaring got some reward for all his hard work and Sam Cooper added a second.  As in the first quarter the score was 7-2 in the third.

In the final quarter although our eight players looked exhausted they battled to the end. Although we didn’t score we restricted Tyldesley to two goals. Our players showed real character throughout and although the final score was 21-5 the team finished on a high.

Jacob Wass was player of the match with some excellent covering back and scoring two excellent goals.

My thanks also to Jacob Wass for missing his RTC session to play this match for Warrington.

Warrington Team included Adam Farini (13), Ben Daley (12), Jacob Wass (14), Stanley Mainwaring (13), Dom Crawley (14), Emily Bowater (12), Abigail Collins (12), Sam Cooper (14).

Warrington 16 Manchester Icebergs 7 (14&u)

Warrington’s 14 & under recorded their first win of the season in the Manchester & District League when they faced Manchester Icebergs. Warrington had a full squad which consisted of five players aged 14, two 13 year olds and the rest 12 & under.  The first three minutes of the game saw goal after goal for Warrington with Adam Farini leading the way with an excellent goal. Sam Cooper scored two more goals as Warrington attacked the shallow end with his favourite lob shot from 5 metres out. Next against the run of play Tom Pye relaxed in goal a little too much with his foot in the trough and Icebergs were awarded a penalty which they converted.  Within two minutes Icebergs had pinched another goal to make it 3-2, but with less than a minute to go Connie Gregson hit back with a goal from the centre forward position. The quarter ended 4-2 but Warrington could look forwards to attacking the deep.

In the second quarter Tom Pye came out of goal and played as an outfield player with Adam Farini dropping into goal. In this quarter Warrington dominated with Sam Cooper on fire! Sam opened the scoring but then Warrington had an exclusion as did Icebergs but neither team took advantage of the power play. After three minutes Tom Costello got Warrington back on track with a goal. Sam Cooper continued to show great skill in attack with two further goals to make it three for the quarter and five in the match. Icebergs could not contain him! Connie Gregson again dominating at centre forward scoring another goal before the end of the quarter.  By then end of the second quarter Warrington led 10-3 and we had already started rotating the younger players with Amelia and Elena FORDE playing their first competitive match.

The third quarter saw Tom Pye back in goal and making some excellent saves. However from the restart Warrington won the ball and Jacob Wass always putting the work in for the team got a goal after 21 seconds. Unfortunately after 26 seconds Icebergs scored but no need to panic it was 11-4. We continued to rotate the players giving the younger players some experience of a competitive match. It didn’t make any difference to Sam Cooper with two further goals making a total of seven by the end of the third quarter with Warrington leading 13-5.

The fourth and final quarter into the deep end was much the same excellent play by all Warrington players with you know who finishing off some excellent moves. Yes Sam Cooper added two more to his tally before I took him out for a rest. That’s a rest for the opposition! Connie Gregson scored her fourth of the match and Warrington conceded two against an Iceberg team who worked hard until the end.  The final score was 16-7.

Sam Copper was player of the match for a glorious NINE goals! The referee was later to call DR Boyle to let him know what excellent junior players Warrington have coming through.

In summary an excellent team performance well done to the whole team.

My thanks go to Peter Fisher and his young assistant who came from Chester at short notice to referee and refused to except any expenses.

Warrington Squad included Tom Pye, Megan Dorman, Tom Costello, Adam Farini, Jacob Wass, Matt Williams, Connie Gregson, Sam Cooper, Ben Daily, Abigail Collins, Amelia Forde, Elenor Forde, Emily Bowater and Max Harrison.

Warrington 5 Tyldesley 13 (14&u) M&D

On Saturday 27^th October, Warrington 14 & under played Tyldesley at Great Sankey. It was a first competitive game for many younger players coming through including Jack Yates (12), Emily Bowater (12) and Abigail Collins (11).  With no recognised goal keeper available Connie Gregson volunteered to do two quarters in the deep end. Tyldesley scored three quick goals before Sam Cooper again showing he has an eye for goal scoring an excellent lob shot into the shallow end goal. Towards the end of the quarter a Tyldesley player was excluded but jumped back in before being flagged back in and a penalty was awarded on 6.59. All players were removed from the pool apart from Tom Costello who volunteered to take the penalty and the opposition goal keeper. Tom promptly scored from the penalty spot and the quarter finished 2-3.

In the second quarter we attacked the shallow end with Connie Gregson being released from goalkeeping duties she went into the centre forward position. Adam Farini covered in goal. Within a minute Tom Costello had his second goal as Warrington equalised to make it 3-3. Each team suffered exclusion fouls but neither team could convert the power play. Then two quick counter attacks by Tyldesley saw them take a two goal lead. Warrington had several chances and shots but the majority of the shots went straight to the goal keeper or harmlessly over the cross bar. The quarter finished 3-5 to Tyldesley.

The third quarter Warrington again needed to defend the deep end. It was clear the opposition would take us on the counter attack. Tyldesley soon had a player sent out but Warington failed to convert this advantage into a goal. Instead Tyldesley repeated their first quarter tactic breaking hard into the Warrington half and scoring three consecutive goals. Sam Cooper pulled one back but also conceded a penalty and an exclusion foul making it his third major foul and was wrapped up for the rest of the game, a big blow for Warrington. Tyldesley put three more goals in before the end of the quarter making the score 4-11.

The fourth quarter saw Connie Gregson play at centre forward and Adam Farini play an excellent game in the shallow end goal, with some excellent long passes to Warrington players on the break. Connie Gregson eventually got a goal a reward for her work at centre forward. Warrington were much improved in the last quarter conceding only two goals. The final score 5-13 to Tyldesley.

Weak areas that Warrington need to work on include swimming speed and endurance, man ups (power play). Warrington had five power plays and converted one in the fourth quarter.

All the younger players made a positive contribution to the team effort and will have learnt a great deal from this match. Player of the match was Tom Costello.

Warrington Team included Connie Gregson (1), Megan Dorman, Adam Farini, Stanley Mainwaring, Tom Costello (2), Sam Cooper (2), Jacob Wass, Emily Bowater, Jack Yates and Abigail Collins.

Warrington 8 Royton 16 (14 & u)

Our 14 & unders took on Royton in the Manchester and District League with ten players four of whom had no previous experience of a water polo match. Luke Atkinson 11 years made his debut in the shallow end goal and played two fantastic quarters, Ben Daley(12), Jack Yates(12) and Max Tyson (12) were all playing in their first competitive game.

The first quarter was a wakeup call attacking the shallow, never easy and Warrington caught on the break by Royton. The quarter finished 8-1 to Royton it looked like it could be a long evening. The second half saw Luke Atkinson (11) play in goal releasing Tom Pye into the outfield. Warrington was transformed in the second quarter with two goals from Connie Gregson and a goal each for Tom Pye and Adam Farini and conceded only one goal. At 5-9 the game was finely balanced. The third quarter Warrington had learnt their lessons from the first quarter although still difficult to score into the shallow end but only three goals conceded. The third quarter ended 5-12. The final quarter saw us using our substitutes who were having their first taste of water polo in a live match environment. Our established players were starting to look tired against a Royton who took six players out to replace with six fresh players. The quarter was evenly matched with Warrington scoring three goals, two from Connie Gregson who dominated in the centre forward position and Adam Farini with a powerful shot from 5 metres into the corner of the net. Royton scored four goals in the final quarter and won the match 16-8.

The team included Luke Atkinson, Stanley Mainwaring, Sam Cooper, Tom Costello, Constance Gregson, Tom Pye, Ben Daley, Jack Yates, Adam Farini and Max Tyson

Manchester Icebergs 10 Warrington 6 (14&u)

Our 14 & under side played their first competitive game of the season at the Wright Robinson College Pool in Gorton, East Manchester. With several players missing we managed to get 6 players to the pool and borrowed three players from Icebergs. Warrington played really well and I would estimate the best seven players in the pool included 6 from Warrington. Icebergs had an excellent centre forward who scored three quick goals in the first quarter with a player from Icebergs in our goal. Jacob Wass was given the job of marking this player who barely had a chance for the rest of the game. Sam Cooper received the ball just inside the oppositions half and swim fast towards goal taking on and beating the defender and opting for his favourite lob shot which he executes so well. Tom Pye and Stanley Mainwaring linked up well with some clever passing moves resulting in some excellent goals.

Although we lost the game two things became clear:-

1. We need more matches because everbody including the players, parents and the coach really enjoyed the game and so much can be learnt by the players just by playing games.

2. We have some really good players developing all of whom have played water polo for 12months or less the future looks bright for junior water polo at Warrington. The RTC coach was present and wants to visit our sessions to look for more up and coming talent.

The team include Tom Costello, Sam Cooper, Adam Farini, Stanley Mainwaring, Tom Pye, and Jacob Wass.