East Region Water Polo’s blue riband event was held on Saturday 27th February at Watford Woodside Leisure Centre. Men’s teams from the Region’s six counties competed for the President’s Trophy which was won by Essex in a thrilling final against last year’s holders Bedfordshire.
The group stage of the tournament saw three teams competing in each half of the draw. Bedfordshire opened their account with a comfortable 8-5 win including a trio of goals from Hilliard against a young Cambridgeshire side. Last year’s runners-up Hertfordshire then took to the water against Essex but found themselves 1-4 down at the interval. Two more second half goals gave Essex a 6-1 victory and a hat-trick for Noyce.
Beds earned themselves a semi-final place at Suffolk’s expense with an unanswered 6-0 score, leaving their opponents to rue several missed shots. Herts faced Norfolk and found the net within a minute, but Norfolk fought back to level the score 2-2 at half time. Herts piled on the pressure after the restart, and with only one substitute available Norfolk began to tire and conceded the only goal of the half to go down 3-2.
Suffolk had high hopes against neighbours Cambs and opened the scoring in their first play. But Cambs soon retaliated with three from Oakman and one from captain Gregory to end the first half 4-1 up, then doubled their total for an easy 8-3 victory. Essex then completed the group stage with an 11-3 scoring spree against an outclassed Norfolk.
The first semi-final between Beds and Herts was evenly matched for most of the first period, then two quick goals in the last minute gave Beds a 3-1 lead. Herts counter-attacked after the break, forcing Beds to concede three exclusion fouls, but were unable to convert their chances in a goal-less second half and Beds were through to the final.
In the second semi-final Cambs defended vigorously to hold Essex to a 1-1 scoreline at the break, but they were unable to withstand the pressure and three goals in the second half saw Essex through to the final with a 4-1 victory.
The finalists had a chance to catch their breath while Suffolk and Norfolk contested the Gallant Losers game. The crowd were entertained with a goalfest including 5 from Suffolk’s Radziunas and 3 from Norfolk’s West, and the final whistle saw Suffolk take an 8-5 victory to avenge last year’s defeat.
Expectations were high among the teams and spectators as Beds and Essex lined up for the final. A tense first half saw Bedford take a 2 goal lead, then Essex retaliated to level the score. But with twenty seconds on the clock they conceded an exclusion foul and Beds duly scored to lead 3-2. After the interval Essex piled on the pressure and put two more on the scoreboard to lead by a single goal. Beds fought back and earned three man-up plays, but the Essex defence stood firm and were rewarded with a fine 4-3 victory.
Andy Morton was delighted to present his cup to this year’s winners and congratulated all the teams on another thrilling Championship.
Thanks go to East Region President Sheila Mackenzie and Herts ASA President Derek Milton for their support, to all the referees and table officials who kept the event running smoothly and efficiently, and most of all to the players and spectators for their passion and commitment!
Chris Stephens
ASA East Region water polo manager
Results
Group stage: Beds 8 Cambs 5
Herts 1 Essex 6
Beds 6 Suffolk 0
Herts 3 Norfolk 2
Cambs 8 Suffolk 3
Essex 11 Norfolk 3
Semi-finals: Beds 3 Herts 1
Cambs 1 Essex 4
Gallant Losers: Suffolk 8 Norfolk 5
Final: Beds 3 Essex 4
Top Scorers
Arti Radziunas (Suffolk) 7
Stuart Noyce (Essex) 6
Justin Irvine (Beds) 6
Nick West (Norfolk) 6
Adam Oakman (Cambs) 4
Ian Comben (Herts) 4
Ross Johnson (Essex) 4
Adam Hilliard (Beds) 4
Ollie Chinnock (Beds) 4
Exclusion Kings
Nick Blaxill (Suffolk) 4
Chris Everitt (Beds) 4
Matt Oughton (Beds) 3
Andy Hothersall (Norfolk) 3
Steve Brassington (Herts) 3
Neil Coles (Essex) 3
