Commonwealth Games Bronze for Graham Martin-Dye

  

Graham Martin-Dye, Watford S.C. played for England in the Commonwealth Games Water polo Championship which took place at the Manchester Aquatic Centre on 25-31 March.
In the men’s tournament there were 9 countries which were split into two Qualifying groups.
Group A and B (England's Group B Results)
Australia New Zealand Won 12-9
South Africa Canada Lost 8-4
Singapore N.Ireland Won 15-4
Wales England Malta Group Qualifying
Canada, with known form, were clear favourites in Group B so N.Zealand, especially being England’s first opponents was an important scalp to claim. Graham had an excellent game scoring 2 crucial penalties, the 2nd one giving England a 9-8 lead.
In the Canadian Match we missed a vital penalty plus a very harsh referee decision against us from which Canada then scored so the result could well have been closer. However because of our two wins we qualified for the semi-finals and were drawn against the favourites Australia. They beat us 11-4 more or less as expected. Canada beat Malta in the other semi’ so it was Aussi v Canada in the Final for gold and silver with England playing for the Bronze against Malta.
1st & 2nd Place
In Final Canada upset the ‘ bookies’, big-time, by beating Aussi 6-5 in a gripping match scoring the winning goal just before the final whistle blew.
Bronze Play Off
This was England's ‘game of the century’ against their old rivals Malta. At the end of a tense 1st quarter the score was 1-1. Graham came in for the 2nd Quarter and shortly after winning the ball from the ‘swim-up’ there was a foul and England were awarded a penalty. Graham rose to the task and promptly scored in magnificent fashion with thunderous bouncing shot to make it 2-1. From here on we were neck and neck with the full time match ending a nail biting 7-7. 
Two periods of 3mins . now had to be played but to our horror in the first period Graham is left out! At half time the score is still level at 8-8 but England are a man down due to exclusion foul. The tension was now unbearable (3mins to go before penalty shoot-out!). It was crucial England win the ball from the swim-off and to our joy, and nerve racking, Graham was put back in. He swam the fastest 15m of his life, won the ball for England and a minute later launched a magnificent shot from 6m to score the winning goal making the score 9-8 which seemed to distroy Malta which allowed England to score two more goals in the last minute of the game and so win them the well earned BRONZE Commonwealth Championship. Watford S.C. congratulate all of the England team and especially Graham, Watford's Water Polo Team Captain, on a magnificent effort.
P.S. why wasn’t it on the tele?