Polo Press Reports 2002

05.04.02

England's bronze age

ENGLAND have won an historic bronze medal at the inaugural Commonwealth Water Polo Championships in Manchester, with Watford's Graham Martin-Dye, highly instrumental in the team's success. Although water polo was the first Olympic team sport, the Commonwealth Games has never included team sports on its agenda before, although it is hoped that in future, the team events will take place at the same time as the actual games.
England began the competition with a difficult game against New Zealand, and, despite trailing for most of the match, vital penalties from Martin-Dye put his side 9-7 ahead in the final period on their way to a vital 12-9 win. A comprehensive 15-4 win against Ireland was followed up by a narrow 8-4 loss to eventual winners Canada, although England spurned several chances to take victory. The defeat meant a semi-final tie against the Olympic quarter-finalists Australia, and the Antipodean's extra class showed as they cruised to a 11-4 win. However, in something of a shock, the Canadians edged out the Australians in what was something of a shock.
England's bronze medal showdown with Malta - one of the top sides in Europe - was one of the most exciting games in the competition, played out in front of a packed Manchester swimming arena. The match was pretty much level throughout but Malta edged 7-6 ahead with only two minutes left on the clock.  However, Colin Burgess tied to take the match into extra-time and, with the scores level at 8-8, Martin-Dye popped up to fire England into the lead with late strikes from Craig Figes wrapping up the victory and the bronze medal. "The atmosphere at the arena was absolutely amazing," said Martin-Dye.  "We played really well and hopefully people will begin to take notice of us.  It's given us a real boost ahead of the European 'B@ qualifying campaign." The first world medal won by a British Water Polo team since the 1920 Olympics, the Bronze should go some way to boosting water polo - the  second most popular team sport in the world - in Britain but the real test for Martin-Dye and his team mates lies in qualifying for the European 'B' championships. Only in qualifying for these championships, could the British ten be given the chance to qualify for the 'A' championships and then the Olympic games. The omens are good though.  In the North Sea Cup, a Commonwealth warm-up event held in Sheffield, England beat the likes of Belgium, Denmark and Sweden on their way to the title. When you consider two seasons ago Denmark were in the European 'A' qualifying groups, the national side can take heart from the fact that real progress has undoubtedly been made.
England head to Holland for a training camp on April 18 where final preparations for the European qualifying tournament in Bulgaria later in the year will be put in place. However, for now, the team can bask in the glory of Commonwealth success, and look to a future at last looking bright for British water polo.

01.03.02

In at the deep end

Come August, the nation is likely to be gripped by Commonwealth fever as the Games come to Manchester. Derived from a time when Britain ruled the globe with a colonial fist, the Games have continually gone from strength to strength despite the weakening of the Commonwealth in the modern age. Part of the secret to the games' success is that it allows countries like Britain - where lets face it, funding and commitment to sport from the Government is fairly pathetic - to achieve success in all sports, without being overwhelmed by superpowers like the USA and Germany.
A perfect example is the sport of water polo and for one of England's top players, North Watford's Graham Martin-Dye, the Games could become a crucial turning point in his career, as well as the sport in England. "The problem with water polo in England is that we have to establish ourselves," said Graham. "Europe has the top teams in the world like Spain, Italy and Hungary, and it is impossible for us to qualify for major events because we have to compete with the top sides in the world in the qualifying stages." "We're not too far behind countries elsewhere in the world, and the Games will give us top level practise in a tournament we can do well in, which can only be good for the sport."
However, the Commonwealth Games are to be seen as more of a stepping stone both in Graham's blossoming career and future of Team England. Graham has already had a superb season with his club Hammersmith Penguins.  After winning the national league, he was top scorer as the Penguins took the UK title for the first time since 1988 resulting in Penguins' qualification for the European Championship's.  The European preliminary rounds are due to take place in October. The 24-year-old's form has also caught the eye of top Italian Club Roma and, as Graham explained, the sport is taken a little differently in the Italian capital. "Water polo in Italy is 100 per cent professional.  There is a lot of money to be made in the sport and the lifestyle is more similar to that of a footballer. "Italy are one of the top clubs in the world as well as being former Olympic and World Champions."
Graham jets off to Italy tomorrow (Saturday) with the English team for a training camp and a number of friendlies, and his performances could see him being snapped up by the Italian Club, who will be there to assess his performances. "The training camp will only mimic all the conditions of the Commonwealth Games.  We will train for two hours every morning as well as having a game every evening, just like it will e in Manchester." "Everything will be regulated like our sleeping patterns and diet, so we will be totally prepared for the games.  A squad of 17 will travel to Italy but only 13 of us will be picked for the final team.  I'm confident of making the cut but, of course, you can never be certain about these things."
Due to the fact that team sports have never formed part of the Commonwealth games, even though water polo has a long Olympic tradition, the tournament actually takes place in March in Manchester, although the prize still a Commonwealth medal, and England have a great chance of glory. "Teams like Australia, who will be our main rivals, have a much easier passage than us into events like the Olympics because the European qualifying groups are so tough.  So this is our chance to show that we can compete. More importantly for England will be the European qualifiers which are due to begin in May.  England are aiming for qualification to the B group, the second tier of European teams, and progress is vital if the team are to ultimately achieve their dream of reaching the pinnacle of sport, the Olympic Games.  Only then will the sport receive much-needed funding from the British Olympic Association. "The team has come on a lot in recent times.  We've got a new Yugoslavian coach and we are now more professional. "It would be great to do well in the Commonwealth Games, but the important thing is to prove ourselves in Europe. "If we do qualify, the finals are in Stockholm in August, with the huge prize of a place in the 'A' Championship qualifying rounds on offer."
The omens are good for Graham.  His father, John, picked up two Commonwealth bronzes in swimming as well as representing Britain in the 1960 and 1964 Olympic games in Rome and Tokyo respectively. Any glory that the 24-year-old achieves will be well deserved.  With practically no sponsorship, aside from the backing of Watford's Sportz Academy in High Street, as well as having to juggle a job with his training, it's undoubtedly been a struggle. However, for one, success seems to be in Graham's and England's own hands.  Commonwealth Gold would be nice, but, in the bigger picture, Team England may need to keep their best for what could become a make-or-break year.

22.02.02

Watford making a splash

Watford Men's' Water Polo team are celebrating after picking up the Hertfordshire League title in what is the Swimming Club's centenary year.
 The team have lost the last three titles to rivals Bedford but the two met in the opening fixture of the season with Watford worthy winners 15-9. The side wrapped up the championship on the last day of the season with victory against runners-up Hatfield although they had made life difficult for themselves with an uncharacteristic loss against Cambridge in mid-season.  However, consistent performances from the likes of Graham Martin-Dye, Lee Bell and Drago Dundjerovic saw Watford through.
Meanwhile, Watford were able to field a junior side for the first time in four years and the under-16's made marked progress in their first season back in the London Winter League. Young Watford went down 24-0 to Beckenham in their opening fixture but showed how much improvement they made by narrowly going down 8-3 to the same opposition in the last fixture of the campaign, finishing in a creditable third-place overall.
Under-16's squad:  Ben Dollard, Caroline Rogers, Louise Collins, Matthew Ginty, Marc Gooding, Tiffany Rogers, Adam Collins, Robert Duncan, Mark Cuthbert, Nick Ginty, Luke Rogers, Paul Gooding..