Men's 1st Lady Richmond Brown Tournament 19/05/2012

Last Saturday the annual LRB tournament took place. As is the case every year, the date chosen for the tournament was uncomfortably close to the exam, meaning that we had to defend the trophy with many absences, with only 9 players managing to come.

The first, and most serious, game was against Southampton City. The game was quite balanced at the beginning, with the score in the first quarter (full game was 2 quarters= 14 mins actual game) being 3-2 for us. However, in the second quarter our team managed to score 5 more goals while conceeding only one. Leading to a 8-4 final score for our team.

After this game, which was the most critical, our team had to play against Basingstoke, Portsmouth and Andover, in that order. The corresponding final scores were 5-3 win against Basingstoke, 4-0 win against Portsmouth and 4-1 win against Andover.

With 4 wins our team “conquered” for a second time the LRB trophy!

Scorers for the day:
5 - Will Logothetis
5 - Panos Logothetis
4 - Alex Nedu
3 - Duncan Jenkins
2 - John Pickford
1 - Josh Rowland
1 - Will Divall

Men’s 1st vs Bournemouth 22/04/2012

After a full month’s break and only one official training, our men’s 1st had their first game after Easter, on Sunday. 

Our team managed to bring together a team of only 10 people, due to many injuries and absences. However, the opposition (B’mouth) thankfully had only 7 players, which made things easier for us.

In the first quarter our team was attacking on the shallow end and the pit was guarded fairly well from the Bournemouth players, as their team had some big players. Our defence was really organised and communication was always good. However, some misfortunes in the defence led to one goal being conceded. Without being able to find enough opportunities, our team managed to score only one goal from the arc. The score at the end of the quarter was a 1-1 draw.

In the second quarter as we were attacking on the deep end, which is usually our favourite side, we managed to play much better in attack. Our defence was really compact leaving no chance for B’mouth to score. On the other hand, our team scored two goals late in the quarter as exhaustion was starting to show on the opposition. The score at the end of the first half was 3-1 for our team.

The third quarter against found us attacking on the shallow end. Again the number of chances we had was considerably smaller than in the 2nd quarter, when we were attacking on the deep end. Although the defence was organised and communication was again good many players were sent off, thus presenting the opportunity to the opposition to score. In the attack our team only managed to score one goal and in the defence two goals were conceded. The score then was 4-3, our men’s 1st was still leading.

In the fourth quarter the B’mouth team, with only 7 players, was obviously exhausted. This could be seen by the high number of major fouls they conceded. Our team took advantage of this, and scored 4 goals. Although the pace of the game had accelerated our defending was still compact and returns were quick, the opposition only scored one goal.

The final score was 8-4, a great return for the men’s first team. A big thank you for the support on the poolside and a thank you to the girls and boys working on the table.

­­Scorers:
2 - Will Logothetis
2 - Panos Logothetis
1 - John Pickford
1 - Michael Stephanou
1 - Will Divall
1 - Duncan Jenkins

Men’s 2nd vs Portsmouth 15/03/2012

The last game of this term for the Men’s 2nd team came only a day after their previous match. After a comprehensive win at home to Basingstoke, the chosen team were under no illusions as to the challenge faced in playing a physical Portsmouth team, in their full size pool. Being eight lanes wide and deep at both ends, the tactics were to use the full extremities of the pool, press the Portsmouth players hard, and set up an effective arc formation.

The first quarter was a physical affair, with both teams looking to establish superiority. Good defending by both teams meant that the first quarter was very even, ending with a score of 1-1.

The second quarter saw an increase in the physicality of the Portsmouth team. In an attempt to move the ball away from the opposition, Southampton were effective in using the full width of the pool. Arc formation was good and scoring opportunities were created.

However, by this point Portsmouth were double marking Southampton’s strongest players, meaning whenever opportunities arose, there was virtually no time before the tackle came in. Nevertheless, Southampton scored two to Portsmouth’s three. Second quarter score: 4-3 Portsmouth.

The third quarter of the match has traditionally been the weakest of the four for the Southampton team, and the players got into the pool knowing a big effort was needed. The third quarter saw no let-up in Portsmouth’s physical tactics, unsurprising given how delicately the game was poised. Yet, during this quarter, the Southampton team were penalised particularly harshly. Given the width of the pool, it would have been preferable for there to have been two referees, one on each side. As it was, the one referee (their coach), gave multiple dubious decisions that went against Southampton. Southampton’s players were commendable in their lack of reaction. Given the circumstances, Southampton defended admirably, and even managed to score one goal of their own, bringing the third quarter score to 7-4 in Portsmouth’s favour.

It should be said that after the first quarter, at no point during the match were the Southampton team aware of the score, as the scoreboard was not accurately updated. The team therefore started the fourth and final quarter thinking that the scores must be close. As it was, Southampton continued to be penalised far more than the Portsmouth team, and struggled to establish an effective offense when continually being put onto the back foot. In addition, the width and double-deep nature of the Portsmouth pool began to take its toll on the Southampton players who inevitably began to tire. Portsmouth scored five to Southampton’s two during this quarter. Despite two of Portsmouth’s goals during this final quarter coming from a one-on-one break, the work-rate of the Southampton players was commendable, particularly given the less than amorous attitude some of them felt towards the officials. Final score: 11-6 to Portsmouth.

As with Southampton’s game the previous evening, the score-line belied the difference between the two teams. Unfortunately, tonight the Southampton team were on the receiving end of a physical Portsmouth team who used their strongest players particularly effectively in both attack and defence. Nevertheless, the progress that has been shown by this group of players over this term (the past seven weeks) is remarkable, especially since some of them only played their first ever waterpolo match on 6th February. With such strength in depth, the future of this team looks a fantastic proposition.

Scorers:
2 - Max McCartney
2 - Robbie Collision

Men’s 2nd vs. Basingstoke B 14/03/2012

The penultimate game before the Easter break saw the men’s 2nd team take on Basingstoke at home, for the return leg of their first match of the season. After a draw when we played them away, confidence within the team was strong, given our increased match practise.

The first quarter of the game saw Southampton attack the shallow end of the pool. Good arc formation and intelligent passing saw early Southampton domination, with three goals being scored within the first few minutes. During the second half of the quarter, however, Basingstoke chose to leave one man deep on our offence, and from this two cheap goals were conceded on the break. After scoring one more ourselves, the score at the end of the first quarter was 4-2 in Southampton’s favour.

The second quarter saw the Southampton team ‘press’ the Basingstoke team hard. This tactic appeared to cause them great difficulty, as they struggled to form an arc on their offense. Their frustration also caused them discipline issues, which further enhanced our grip on the match. The second quarter saw Southampton score four unanswered goals, taking the score to 8-2.

The third quarter tactics were more of the same, yet like the previous match, the third quarter performance was by far the worst of the four. Despite continuing to press the Basingstoke team, their offense caused us problems, as several of Southampton players were guilty of not successfully tracking their opponents. This also resulted in us conceding two major fouls. Basingstoke scored four goals to Southampton’s two in this third quarter, bringing the score to 10-6.

After a critical team talk at the beginning of the final quarter, we were once again attacking the deep end of the pool. With it being harder to defend the deep end, coupled with Basingstoke beginning to tire, our offense functioned well. Particularly pleasing was the movement around the arc formation, with sensible passing leading to effective goal-scoring opportunities. As a team we also communicated well, preventing Basingstoke from creating any man-up situations when they tried to break. Despite Southampton scoring another four unanswered goals, this quarter saw reasonable parity, leaving a final score of 14-6 a slightly exaggerated differentiation between the two teams.

Overall, a very good win for the 2nd team; hopefully to be followed up by another when we travel to Portsmouth tonight for our second game in as many evenings!

Scorers:
6 - Max McCartney
4 - Robbie Collison
3 - Andrew Deans
1 - Alex Horlock

Men’s 1st vs Weymouth/Portland 07/03/2012

On Wednesday our big boys had the return match against the Weymouth/Portland team. Due to many last minute casualties and injured players, the Southampton team had to play with only 11 players. However, the Weymouth team had brought only 10 people so the problem wasn’t that significant.

In the first quarter, our team played very good, tight defending, with very good "doubling" and Call Of Duty dropping (some tactics have to remain secret!). With a quick counter-attack and a good use of a man up, the guys managed to score two goals; leading to a 2-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter that followed was equally good, with three goals being scored from our side and one being scored from Weymouth during a man up attack. Our attacks on the deep end showed consistency, and the team managed to effectively use the advantages given by majors. The score at half time was 5-1.

With the safety of a 4 goal lead, and us attacking on the unfavourable shallow end, it was decided that the team would try to keep possession of the ball for as long as possible, as there was no running clock. This tactic worked, and only one goal was scored by the opposition which was responded to with a penalty for Southampton. The score at the end of the quarter was 6-2.

In the last quarter the game became a bit more open, with more majors and goals taking place. The wet-dream team lost this quarter as it only managed to score two goals and conceded 3. The final score was therefore 8-5.

Support from the crowded poolside was very encouraging and was definitely an incentive for the lads to give their 100%. A great thank you to the girls and boys for taking the time to do the table for the game.

Scorers:
3 - Panos Logothetis
2 - Will Divall
2 - Will Logothetis
1 - John Pickford

Men's 1st vs Basingstoke 04/03/2012

Our return away game against Basingstoke took place last Sunday. Having easily won 13-2 at home, this game was more difficult, since we had only 10 players able to travel and no goalie; Will L. (La Bamba) stepped up and assisted the team by playing in his old position for the game.

The first quarter was fairly easy for our team, with no majors given or taken and an easy 1-3 win. However, many goal scoring opportunities were missed during this quarter and a goal was conceded early in the game, but our defence managed to accustom quickly to Basingstoke’s game.

The second quarter was worse for our team, as players lost their calm; hence giving away some majors and generally playing a bad attacking quarter. The score at the end of the first half was 4-5 for our team.

In the third quarter, our team showed great improvement and played sensible water polo. The ball went in the pit at the correct time and place, leading to 4 majors being won. Our return to defend was decently quick; averting the scoring of goals in counter attacks. Our team scored three goals and only conceded one; the score after this quarter was 5-8.

The last quarter was filled with mistakes and lack of rationality for both teams, especially Basingstoke’s. The mistakes came one after the other, with wrong decisions in the attack and sometimes in the defence. However, our boys managed to score 3 goals and let the opposition score only one. The final score was therefore a 7-11 win for Southampton.

APOTHEOSIS OF STUPIDITY went off when a Basingstoke player directly punched Duncan right in the face, giving him a sexy cut on the eyebrow. The Basingstoke player was sent off for brutality and a notice to Hampshire league will be/has been sent.

Scorers:
4 - Duncan Jenkins
3 - Will Divall
3 - Panos Logothetis
1 - Nick Tankov

Ladies' 1st BUCS Semi-Finals 26/02/2012

The first game of the tournament literally threw us straight in at the deep end against Exeter - who beat us in the quarter-finals. In the first quarter, Exeter knocked in 6 goals, with their top goal scorer smashing in 4 from pit plays. Southampton countered hard, scoring 3. Trailing 3:6, we marked Exeter’s one talented shooter out of the match, giving us the security in defence to push forward. In the second quarter Southampton turned it around, managing to put away 4 more goals, pulling into the lead at 7:6. Keeping up a high tempo, Southampton steamed into the lead, ending the match with a clean sheet quarter, and a convincing win of 12:8.

Diving straight into the next match, Southampton faced up to the tournament host, University College London. By half time, Southampton were leading 5:1. UCL’s best asset was their fitness; however, with Southampton bursting with talent and teamwork, the final score ended at a fantastic 11:5.

Southampton vs Warwick was the last game of the Tournament and the toughest of the day. Warwick used their size advantage and brute force throughout the match to batter through Southampton. Southampton played as a close unit, shutting Warwick down quickly before they were able to set up their plays and countered effectively, setting up an attacking framework. Teamwork vs brute force brought the score to 7:7, at the start of the final quarter. With both teams fighting desperately to win, the score unfortunately ended 8:9 to Warwick.