Essex Water Polo Team (click for full size image)

Bedfordshire and Essex opened the tournament with a thrilling match which saw exclusions and goals aplenty. Essex led 4-2 at the interval, then Beds pulled one back before a controversial timeout call and converted penalty restored the Essex lead. More goals followed on each side, and with a minute left Beds needed a single score to tie the match, but Essex found the net in the dying seconds to win 7-5 including three from Robert Eastman.

Norfolk faced Hertfordshire in a contest of experience against youth, but Herts led the way and reached 5-2 at half time. The young Herts defence stayed solid and Walshe completed his hat-trick to give them an 8-2 victory. Suffolk then lined up against Beds and a tense first period finished 1-2. Suffolk seemed to have lost their way as Beds raced to a 1-5 lead, but two goals from Pryke in the final minute made amends and the game finished a more respectable 3-5.

Essex took to the water against Norfolk and took them apart. The scoreboard showed 6-1 at the interval and 11-1 at the final whistle including another hat-trick from Eastman. Herts threatened to hand Suffolk the same treatment. The half-time score stood at 6-2 including another triple from Walshe, but Suffolk regrouped and the second period saw a more even contest that ended 9-4.
Norfolk gamely faced up to Beds but again found themselves quickly falling behind as the Beds tally increased. Two goals from Norfolk left-hander Artt livened the second half and in the end they were pleased to hold Beds to a single-digit score as they went down 3-9. It was a similar story as Suffolk struggled against title hopefuls Essex, and the first half finished 1-7 including a Neil Coles hat-trick. Suffolk were tiring and Essex swept past to win 3-12.

The Herts-Beds match was a lively affair which kept the referees busy, including 15 exclusions and a penalty. Attwood’s hat-trick and two from Walshe put Herts on a strong footing and their defence denied the Beds attack until they claimed a 7-3 victory. Neighbours and old rivals Suffolk and Norfolk then took to the field, each scenting a win, and both keepers were kept busy as the score reached 4-3 at the break. Suffolk then extended their lead and maintained the gap to win 7-5 despite Norfolk’s Carnerous clocking his third.

The stage was set for a title showdown between the unbeaten Essex and Herts teams. A draw would give Essex the trophy thanks to better goal difference so Herts had to win, but it was Essex who opened the scoring. Herts levelled but were soon behind again and chasing a 4-3 deficit at the interval. The second half saw a titanic struggle with many exclusions but no goals till the last minute bell sounded. Then Herts conceded a penalty which Essex gratefully converted. Herts countered and found the net, but they had no more time and Essex won the match 5-4 to regain the trophy they had relinquished two years before.

East Region President Paul Hayes declared himself proud to be an Essex boy as he presented the President’s Cup to his county team. He thoroughly enjoyed his first water polo championship and was full of praise for the teams and coaches, the officials and everyone who made this a memorable East Region event.

Special congratulations are due to Cameron Baker, at 14 years old the region’s youngest qualified referee, who officiated at his first regional event with confidence and authority that impressed the watchful senior referees. He will go far!

Results
1st Essex 12 points
2nd Hertfordshire 9
3rd Bedfordshire 6
4th Suffolk 3
5th Norfolk 0

Top Scorers
Neil Coles (Essex) 9
Ciaran Walshe (Herts) 9
Robert Eastman (Essex) 8
Robert Pryke (Suffolk) 7
Jared Baker (Herts) 6
Zoltan Vanyi (Beds) 6
Jasdon Attwood (Herts) 5
Tom Ealham (Suffolk) 5
Stefano Carnerous (Norfolk) 5
David Lambert (Beds) 4
Mick Artt (Norfolk) 4
Adrian Westlake (Essex) 4

Exclusion Kings
Ciaran Walshe (Herts) 5
Zoltan Vanyi (Beds) 5
Kevin Hall (Norfolk) 4
Tom Ealham (Suffolk) 4
Nick Blaxill (Suffolk) 4
Jack Pickford (Herts) 4
Jared Baker (Herts) 3
Owen Stephens (Suffolk) 3
Charles Costin (Beds) 3
Matt Oughton (Beds) 3

Chris Stephens
ASA East Region water polo manager

Congratulations to the team and coaches Tim Whitwham & Mike Chadwick, and many thanks to all the parents who supported them through training and at the Championship.  Many thanks also to the players and parents from across the Region who supported the squad coaching sessions and whose clubs will reap the benefit.

ASA East Region Academy Boys Inter-Regional Championship – Liverpool Jan 26/27th 2013 – Full Report

Training for this year’s competition, for players born in 1998 and later, started way back in July in an attempt to build on last year’s successes. Overall over 40 boys came to sessions from across the Region. As in life, only the strong survive with the final 13 being selected in Luton in December. As a barometer the training proved that there are plenty of young men playing the game and, with an average of 30 players per session, fantastic parental interest and support.

Our competition was made up of Wales, Scotland, North West Ravens and London. We opened against Scotland and were clearly the better side though our nerves created handling errors and poor shot selection which always allowed the scots to stay close. Having reached a 9-5 lead in the middle of the 3rd quarter we allowed Scotland to get within two by the start of the last period which turned out to be a tense goalless stalemate: East 9 Scotland 7.

Against North West Ravens we were two goals down before we started to play. From then on there was never more than one it with East gaining the lead only once at the start of the 4th quarter which the North West answered with two of their own: East 6 North West 7

Wales proved to be the turning point with the boys finally settling down and we played some excellent counter attacking polo although our finishing did not match up. At half time we led comfortably 6-0. Wales got their act together in the second half but not enough to affect the final result: East 10 Wales 5

Our last game of the first day was against the mighty London side who had been destroying their opposition. We continued our good play and matched them in the first quarter before superior swimming speed and size coupled with relentless pressure resulted in our worst defeat, though not necessarily our worst performance: East 3 London 20

Placed 3rd in the League meant that on Sunday East had two games to look forward to against our Celtic neighbours. Wales played much better from the off and we found it hard to get flowing. However, the boys showed resilience and better shooting to win comfortably: East 9 Wales 3

Scotland then beat Wales which made our last game the 3rd/4th play-off. Understandably everyone wanted to finish on a high. However, this was the 6th games in 24 hours and bodies quickly tired on both teams. East took a 4 goal lead at half time 6-2 which ought to have been enough but the Scots were not going to lie down so easily and as they crawled back we buckled a little though we were still winning by a goal as the bell went for the last 60 seconds. Exclusion! We were man down which we defended well though the shot from 6 metres skipped in by the post: East 6 Scotland 6

It should have been enough on goal difference but FINA demands a shoot-out so penalties it was. Fortunately we had no “Pyschos” in the team. The players, some clearly nervous, we asked to volunteer and 5 good men stepped forward.

Shot 1: East 1 Scotland (missed) 0
Shot 2: East 2 Scotland (shot saved) 0
Shot 3: East 3 Scotland (missed) 0

Game over and a very deserved and creditable 3rd making the East 98 boys the 8th best team in the country. James Warman was voted MVP for the East and was our top scorer. Cameron Baker deserves mention for his calm and determined captaincy of the side. Well done boys!

Team: Cameron Baker (Capt), Jake Gilbey, Michael Miller (GK) Alex Norcliffe, Jarryd Myburgh – Watford; James Warman, Peter Underwood Alec Humphries – Basildon; Sam Mackinder, Luca Del-Guidice – Colchester; Joseph Clark – Chelmsford; James Poole – Ipswich; Jake Rees-Bidder – Bedford Modern School.

Many thanks to Mike Chadwick (Basildon) for assisting with the training and being lead coach at the tournament.

Last, and perhaps at this age group most importantly, a huge thanks to all the parents who having travelled the Region to make training were there in Liverpool to support the team.

Tim Whitwham Jan 2013.

This year’s Boys Championship (for players born in 1996 or later) was held at the Region’s newest water polo venue, Inspire Luton Sports Village. A full report of the event can be downloaded here.

The County send their to the players, coaches & management for their achievement.

Other teams taking part in the league format tournament were Deben, who finished third, Ipswich, fourth, and Chelmsford.

Basildon had the tournament top scorer in James Warman who scored nine goals, while Croft weighed in with another six for them. Colchester’s strong showing was led by seven goals from Sam Mackinder, while Chelmsford’s Dani Brazier was the top scoring girl with four goals.

Final table
Basildon, 8 points
Colchester, 6
Deben, 4
Ipswich, 2
Chelmsford, 0

Match results
Deben 3 Ipswich 1
Colchester 4 Chelmsford 2
Basildon 8 Ipswich 0
Deben 1 Colchester 4
Chelmsford 2 Basildon 4
Ipswich 1 Colchester 5
Basildon 6 Deben 0
Ipswich 3 Chelmsford 1
Colchester 1 Basildon 5
Chelmsford 1 Deben 2

Top scorers
James Warman (Basildon) 9
Sam Mackinder (Colchester) 7
Nathan Croft (Basildon) 6
Dani Brazier (Chelmsford) 4
Cameron Cowan (Colchester) 4
Rufus Church (Deben) 3
Kieran Harris (Deben) 3
Alex Humphries (Basildon) 3
Bradley Watts (Ipswich) 3

The session will be coached by the very experienced Canadian coach Monika Blazon and the session is open to experienced players and newcomers. Hopefully this will be the first step to getting a proper ladies team in the area.

If you have any queries or questions please contact Dave Warriner on 07761 277 581 or email dave@fullpointpr.co.uk

Players:

Coaches:

Tim Whitwham
Mike Chadwick
Jason Attwood

A full report can be found on the ASA East Region Site

Essex were coached by Basildon’s Mike Chadwick and Colchester’s Simon Lecomber. The squad was as follows:

Matt Dawe

Josh Inwood

Rob Humphries

Alec Humphries

Alfie Briden

David Williams

Aaron Doyle

Aiden Robinson  (all Basildon)

Dan Paddon (Chelmsford)

Ryan Bygrave

Josh Mackinder (both Colchester)

Runnymede Swimming Club is starting a Water Polo group for young people with learning disabilities. Come along and learn to play a new sport.
Keep fit and have fun!
Starts: Wednesday 11th January for 8 weeks.
Price: £15.00 (for the 8 weeks)

email: runnymedeswimmingclub@gmail.com
Download Disability Water Polo Course Flyer

The camp is open to all School and Club Water Polo players but players who attend the Regional Training Centre (RTC) at Habs or Gurnell will be given first preference if the camp is over subscribed.

Dates: Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri 24/25/27/28th Oct 2011

Times: 10.00am-4pm (Registration 9.30am)

Venue: Queen Elizabeth Boys School -Barnet (qebarnet.co.uk) Queens Road, Barnet, Hertfordshire, EN5 4DQ

QE Barnet is a fantastic facility and we will have the use of a 25m x 8 lane all deep pool, a sports hall and a classroom for the duration of the camp.

Food: Players must bring their own lunch, healthy snacks and water bottles. Please do not bring nuts or products containing nuts.

Equipment: Players need swimming kit (including 2 towels and goggles) and land training clothes.

Travel:

By Underground: The nearest stations are High Barnet (Northern Line) then bus routes 107 or 307 or a short walk (approx.15 mins) or Oakwood (Piccadilly Line) then bus routes 107 or 307.

By Rail: The nearest station is New Barnet (from King’s Cross) then bus routes 107, 307 or 384.

Cost: £25 / day per player or £80 per player for the 4 days.

To book, please complete the Booking Form and send together with payment to secure your place. For further information contact: Nikki Baker: nikki@fusionint.demon.co.uk