Southwell Water Polo

It’s the end of the Notts Water Polo league season, which yet again presented us with a bag full of surprises.

Hucknall entered a new team in the league this season, comprising of over 35 year olds who promised a lot. Bingham had some new faces from higher leagues and we were looking for a goal keeper with the departure of Kieran Poland and with Adam Walker being more involved with his swimming and coaching duties.

This season also saw the appearance of George Beckett, he is probably the first player who has represented Southwell Water Polo at mini, junior and now senior level.

So on to the season, the handicap cup got off to the same sort of start as last year with us beating Hucknall over 35s by a solitary goal but their handicap of four meant yet again we exited that cup early. The knockout cup was slightly better in that we beat Leicester in the first round then succumbed to Bingham at
their local pool which is horribly shallow at one end.

Excuses to one side the league season was a strange one with several teams vying for contention, when we lost to South Derby, Hucknall overs and then a surprising defeat at Leander it looked like our chance of the championship was slipping away.

With two games to go the title was still achievable by any one of three clubs, Bingham and Hucknall had completed all but one of their matches, so our home game against the latter could be the season decider. Our hopes were not high as we had now moved to Djanogly pool and had not become accustomed to its peculiarities, but we played well and ran out victors in a closely fought battle. With one game to spare we had clinched our fifth consecutive title albeit on goal difference so when we beat Hucknall under 35s it was a good way to finish the season and the league two points clear.

The last word must go to Chris Akers who came out of retirement to play in goal in several key games although some of the phenomenal saves he made might just have been because he couldn’t get out of the way quick enough! Thanks Chris and congratulations to all.

Steve Poland