Edinburgh University Swimming and Water Polo Club kicked off their new season last Wednesday September 24 with exciting matches for both the men’s and women’s 2nd water polo teams. Results were impressive, with the women drawing 8-8 against Aberdeen and the men with a runaway score of 18-6 in their match against Stirling, and the club is looking promising for the year ahead.
The women’s game got off to an exciting start, with a goal scored for each team within the first twenty seconds. After a scrappy first quarter, both teams conceded another goal leaving the score locked at 2-2. Aberdeen looked strong in the second and third quarters, playing on Edinburgh’s inexperience and gained a three-goal lead with just the final section of the game to go. But despite this being the Edinburgh girls’ first match as a team, they rallied in the face of defeat to make up their goal deficit. If Stirling scored, Edinburgh scored. A stunning performance from Nicole Duffy, who achieved three goals in the last 90 seconds, brought the match to a close on a commendable 8-8.
Edinburgh men faced a slightly less intimidating team from Stirling, who fielded only nine players out of a possible thirteen. Dominating from the outset, Edinburgh were leading 10-4 by half time thanks to some impressively accurate shooting and rapid counter-attacks. New captain, Adam Meek, seemed an encouraging presence in the pool, and first-time goalie, Andrew Jessiman, showed promise with consistently good saves. The team seemed unaffected by their inexperience playing together, and demonstrated greater cohesion than in many of last year’s matches, giving them an astounding result of 18-6.
Both teams have speed, and with further training and growing confidence, Edinburgh’s second teams look to be a threat to the BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) Trophy title.