Polo Press Reports 2003
19.12.03
Watford Water Polo-Club Under-16's kicked off their
Winter League campaign in fine style on Sunday after collecting three wins from
their opening five games.
Watford opened the afternoon against Maccabi and Mark Cuthbert opened the scorin
for Watford after only two minutes. Rob Souter went on to grab a brace as
Cuthbert completed his hat-trick and Matt Toothill chipped in with a strike in a
6-1 victory.
In their next game, Watford drew with Croydon Amphibians with Cuthbert and
Toothill on target, although goalkeeper Luke Rogers had to be at his best to
keep Croydon out. Rogers did concede five against a strong Sutton side though,
as Watford slipped to their only defeat, but goals from Cuthbert, Toothill(2),
Souter (2), Ginty and Bowen La Grange did see Watford to a 7-2 win over
Brentwood in the final game.
12.12.03
Watford took a significant step towards securing the
Winter League Division Two title with a hard-fought victory away at
second-placed Eastern Otter on Monday night.
The win moves Watford three points clear of their nearest rivals with six games
left, four of which are at home. Watford did not have things all their own way
and were forced to come from three goals down before securing the points.
Trailing by two goals at the end of the first quarter and one at the end of the
second. Watford moved ahead in the third quarter and then confirmed their
superiority in the fourth.
Watford's scorers in the 8-5 victory were hat-trick hitting Richard Hime and
Meiers, while Adam Collins and Mico Pavlovic weighted in with one apiece.
28.11.03
Rickmansworth's Louise Collins has been called up to represent Hertfordshire in the Southern Counties Water Polo Championships despite having taken up the sport only two-and-a-half years ago. Sixteen-year-old Collins, who plays with Hammersmith Penguins second team in the National League, and recently took to the water for South of England in the ASA Women's Junior Inter-District Water Polo Championships. Currently, Collins is looking to set up a Ladies division at Watford Water Polo Club.
21.11.03
Watford progressed into the Semi-Finals of the Winter
League Knock-out cup after a nerve-jangling 6-5 victory over local rivals
Hatfield on Wednesday night.
Watford entered the game with a three-goal advantage under the handicap system,
but required a three-goal burst in the final quarter to eventually book their
place in the last four by the narrowest of margins.
The game began in blistering fashion. Watford opened the scoring via Paul
Skerm, but within 12 seconds Hatfield wee level. Watford had chances to extend
their lead, but had to wait until 18 seconds from the end of the quarter when
Mico Pavlovic edged his team in front.
Hatfield conceded two major fouls at the beginning of the second quarter, but
Watford were unable to take advantage of the man-up situation in fact, it was
Hatfield who stole the honours, scoring twice to level the scores at 3-3.
The third quarter also belonged to the visitors, who grabbed the lead with the
only goal after 37 seconds.
Watford regrouped for one final push in the last quarter and two early goals
from Skerm and Pavlovic calmed the nerves. From this position the home team
never looked back and an excellent effort from Adam Collins with 40 seconds
remaining sealed the win, although Hatfield did score again.
14.11.03
Watford opened their Winter League campaign in style on
Tuesday night with a thumping 17-8 win over Chelmsford, as captain Richard Hime
led by example, finding the net nine times.
Surprisingly though, it was Chelmsford who took the lead after only 37 seconds,
but Watford soon drew level through Mark Pavlovic who fired home from seven
metres. Marco Milos, Hime and Adam Collins gave Watford a two-goal cushion
at the end of the first quarter.
Ben Dollard released Hime early in the second quarter to make it 5-2, before
Hime added another two before half-time.
From the restart, hosts Chelmsford reduced the gap to two goals with a period of
pressure, before Watford steadied their nerves as two goals from Hime and one
from Ian Meiers opened up a five-goal gap.
Watford dominated the final quarter with Hime (3), Meiers, Collins, Dollard and
Milos sealing the win, ahead of the club's Winter League Knockout Cup
Quarter-Final at home to Hatfield on Tuesday.
Watford: S Chambers, D Dundjerovic, M Pavlovic, R Hime, I Meiers, A Collins, B
Dollard, J Martin-Dye, M Milos.
Watford Under-14's kicked off their Winter League programme as well, winning all three of their opening games. Watford edged Sevenoaks 3-2 in the opening fixture but followed this with a 7-1 trouncing of Amersham and 13-1 rout of Bedford B. Matt Toothill - who certainly looks one for the future - stole the show with nine goals in total.
Watford Under-14's: N Murkin, M Dixie, G Rogers, G Schey, M Toothill, N Hardman, T Hosker, D White, Y Dollard, A Coulson, R Williams.
07.11.03
WATFORD Water Polo club returned to winning ways on
Monday with a comfortable 10-1 win over Biggleswade in the Herts League.
Without leading player, Graham Martin-Dye – who has left to join a team in
Australia – Watford could have struggled but immediately stamped their authority
as goals from James Katten, Neil Haftel, Richard Hime and Adam Collins put
Watford firmly in command.
Watford continued to dominate in the second quarter and Katten, Hime and Meirs
effectively ended the game as a contest.
The home side eased off, before stepping up a gear in the final quarter with
Haftel and Meirs again finding the net and junior Ben Dollard rounded off the
victory in style with his first ever game. Watford now visit Chelmsford in the
Winter League on Tuesday.
05.09.03
Title on hold after narrow loss
Watford saw their lead
at the top of the London League cut to just one point after tumbling to a
surprise defeat at home to Beckenham on Wednesday night. The title, something of
a holy grail for the club, still remains in their grasp, but victory at home to
Reading in a fortnight is now a must.
The home side, who look to have lost some of the momentum they had gathered
prior to the summer break, paid the price for a slow start and a limp finish on
Wednesday which enabled Beckenham to clinch a match that they ebbed and flowed
throughout by just two points. Beckenham came roaring out of the traps, catching
Watford cold, as they raced into a two-goal lead in as many minutes, and
eventually took the first quarter 3-1 with James Kattan on target for the home
side.
However, within 90 seconds of the second quarter, Watford had drawn level thanks
to a double from their home-grown England international Graham Martin-Dye. Once
again slack marking from the home defence allowed Beckenham to restore their
two-goal advantage, but James Kattan halved the deficit on the stroke of
half-time after a pass from Richard Hime.
Martin-Dye drew Watford level with his third goal at the start of the third
period, but a major foul by Watford's Drago Dundjerovic gave the visitors a
man-up situation and they took full advantage to take a 6-5. Back came Watford
once more through the inspirational Martin-Dye who struck twice inside the space
of 20 seconds to put his side 7-6 up. But the captain's hard-work was
undone in the dying seconds of the quarter when a major foul by Marco Milos
allowed Beckenham to level the game at 7-7.
The final quarter began well for Watford when the edged in front after only 16
seconds through Paul Skerm, but the home side were unable to press home their
advantage as a mixture of poor defending and poor shooting in front of goal
allowed Beckenham to take the match with two penalties and a breakaway goal.
Watford: Chambers, Dundjerevic, Haftel, Kattan, Milos, Bell, Meiers, Martin-Dye (Capt), Hime Skerm, Collins, Green, Verdon.
27.06.03
WATFORD Water Polo Club returned to the top of the
Premier Division of the London League with victory over Sutton and Cheam on
Wednesday (June 25) evening.
A stroll looked in the offing as the hosts established a 5-0 lead in the first
quarter, James Kattan leading the way with a hat-trick, and goals also from
Richard Hime and Graham Martin-Dye.
However, the second period was a different story. Sutton hit back with four
goals to test Watford's nerve, but Martin-Dye struck to ease them into the third
period, when he extended their lead to 7-4 with his hat-trick goal.
But Sutton found a chink in Watford's defence just before the end of the period
to strike again and reduce the deficit.
Martin-Dye then took matters into his own hands in the final quarter, extending
Watford's lead to 8-5 and, after the visitors had replied within a minute, hit
the net again to make it 9-6. While the game looked won, Sutton showed
remarkable spirit towards the end, refusing to admit defeat as they hit back
twice in the final minutes to make it 9-8.
20.06.03
Watford sunk as Otter edge thriller to end winning streak
Watford's winning streak
in the London league finally came to an end on Wednesday night after a narrow
10-9 home defeat to Otter.
It was the visitors who
raced into an early 4-1 lead, but, Watford reduced the deficit to a single goal
by the end of the first quarter through James Kattan and Paul Skerm after
captain Drago Dundjerevic had scored early on for the home side when Otter
committed a major foul.
Ian Meirs soon levelled
early on in the second quarter after collecting a long pass from Steve Chambers
but Watford struggled there-after to find a way past an inspired Otter
goalkeeper as the visitors went into half-time with a 6-4 lead.
Prolific Watford
goal-scorer Graham Martin-Dye finally opened his account on the night after on
25 seconds of the third quarter, and, although Otter struck back with two goals
of their own, Martin-Dye completed his hat-trick to reduce the visitor's lead to
only a single goal going into the final quarter.
Otter extended their
lead again before Martin-Dye netted his fourth of the night to set up a tense
finale. Watford were then dealt a massive blow when Skerm committed a
major foul allowing Otter to take a 10-8 lead and, although Martin-Dye pulled
another one back and Martin Bell passed up an opportunity to level, the visitors
held on. Watford will hope to get
their league campaign back on track on Wednesday when they visit Sutton.
Watford: Steve
Chambers; Graham Martin-Dye; Lee Bell; Drago Dundjerevic; James Kattan; Paul
Skerm; Ian Meirs; John Barnes; Adam Collins; Phil Green.
13.06.03
MORE than 22 youngsters attended a coaching session run
by Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Graham Martin-Dye at Watford Central
Baths as part of a scheme to encourage youngsters to take up the sport in
Watford.
Martin-Dye has been enjoying another startlingly successful season for the
Watford Water Polo Club, and his experience in the sport and recognition in the
area can only benefit the sport as it strives to expand its profile in
Hertfordshire.
Watford Water Polo Club currently run two junior teams at Under-18 and Under-15
level in the London & Herts Junior League, competing against the likes of
Hammersmith penguins, Croydon Amphibians, Sutton, Hailsham and Croydon, although
there is generally a dearth of players at youth level in the game. The current
Watford squad is only 12-strong and the team are constantly on the lookout for
new players, with the recent coaching session and demonstration one way in which
newcomers have been encouraged to try the sport.
Watford's Junior Programme has seen a number of players move up into the senior
ranks, with the likes of Adam Collins and John Beardsworth already making their
mark at senior level.
Junior training is held on Sunday afternoons at Watford Central Baths, with
additional training taking place on Wednesday evenings. For more information
telephone John Martin-Dye on 01923 678758.
Meanwhile, the Watford senior team are back in London League Premier Division
action on Wednesday, when they will be looking to extend their winning sequence
when Otter visit.
06.06.03
Cambridge given an education as Skerm grabs six in rout
Watford took a break from the London League Premier
Division but maintained their excellent recent form with an emphatic 18-6 win
over Cambridge in the Herts League on Wednesday. The current Herts League
champions were always in control, with England international Graham Martin-Dye
and Paul Skerm leading the way with six goals apiece.
The game began at a frantic pace with Watford finding themselves three goals
ahead after only three minutes. Martin-Dye opened the scoring with a brace
with James Kattan adding the third. Cambridge reduced the deficit, although,
when they had a man sin-binned, Martin-Dye quickly completed his hat-trick
before a lat double from Ian Meiers gave the hosts a commanding 6-1 lead.
John Martin-Dye increased the lead early in the second half from another man-up
situation although Watford captain Drago Dunjerovic conceded a penalty soon
after to give the visitors a life-line. Watford stepped up a gear though and
three minutes later had stretched their lead to 11-2 with a double from Skerm
and goals from Katten and Graham Martin-Dye. Again Cambridge hit back with a
brace of their own but goals from Skerm and Meiers put Watford on easy street.
The third period was a very tame affair with both teams catching their breath
however Skerm did bag a brace and Cambridge replied to close the quarter 15-5 in
Watford's favour.
The final period again opened with the hosts finding the score sheet first after
only 40 seconds play through Graham Martin-Dye and, 30 seconds later, he grabbed
his sixth goal of the evening. Cambridge hit back, and, with nothing to lose,
pushed forward causing the home defence to concede two major fouls.
However, the defence stood firm and quickly regained control of the ball which
was fed out to Skerm on the wing to complete the scoring.
Watford will look to strengthen their grip on the Herts League on Wednesday when
they take on Old Stortfordians.
Watford: Steve Chambers, Graham Martin-Dye, Lee Bell, Marco Milos, Drago
Dundjerevic (Capt), John Martin-Dye, James Kattan, Paul Skerm Ian Meiers.
30.05.03
Avondale call answered by Martin-Dye
Watford recorded their second win inside a week in the
London League with a comfortable 15-7 triumph at home to Avondale. The result
propelled Watford to the top of the Premier Division and maintained their fine
early season form. Commonwealth Games gold medallist Graham Martin-Dye
again led the home attack and weighed in with another impressive eight goals,
taking his tally to a staggering 20 in two matches.
The first quarter began with the visitor's breaching the home defence inside the
first 40 seconds to take the lead, Undeterred, Watford found their rhythm
and, following some heavy pressure on the visitors defence, James Katten pulled
his side level with a neat shot inside the near post. From the restart, Avondale
forced the hosts into conceding two major fouls and with two players out of the
water for the 20-second penalty Watford crucially held on thanks to some
last-ditch defending to repel the Avondale attack. Back up to full-strength,
Watford returned to the attack and Martin-Dye found the back of the net shortly
after to give his team the lead at 2-1. Two minutes later, the hosts had
stretched their lead to 4-1 with another goal from Martin-Dye and a first from
junior player Adam Collins. The quarter closed with Avondale pulling a
goal back to make the score 4-2.
The second period was a tame affair with the hosts in total control, forcing the
visitors on to the back foot with goals from Katten and another two goals from
Martin-Dye extending Watford's lead to 7-2 at the half-way point.
Watford were virtually home and hosed after a blistering start to the third
quarter which saw a hat-trick from the imperious Martin-Dye and another from
Katten give the home side an unassailable 11-2 lead. Avondale hit back with a
penalty conceded by Marco Milos and with ten seconds of the quarter remaining
the visitors found the net again to end the quarter 11-4 down. The visitors came
out all guns blazing in the final quarter and reduced the deficit to just five
with two goals in quick succession. Watford, however, refused to press the panic
button and from the restart they forced a man-up situation of their own and this
gave Martin-Dye the chance to bag his eighth of the evening. A demoralised
Avondale side then surrendered in the closing stages and allowed Watford to
plunder three more goals in as many minutes from Katten (2) and John Verdon's
first for the club to wrap up their second successive victory.
Watford are next in action on Wednesday when they host Cambridge in the Herts
League.
Watford: Chambers (GK), Graham Martin-Dye, Bell, Milos, Collins, Dundjerevic
(Capt), John Martin-Dye, Kattan, Verdon.
23.05.03
Marvellous Martin-Dye inspires first triumph
Watford recorded their
first London League Premier Division win of the season at the fourth attempt
last Wednesday with a hard-fought victory away at London-based side Otter.
The 16-11 triumph was under-pinned by Watford’s England international Graham
Martin-Dye, who bagged 12 goals, and a string of superb saves from goalkeeper
Steve Chambers.
The game got under way at a frenetic pace with the hosts drawing first blood.
But Watford hit back with
Martin-Dye’s first goal of the evening from three metres. Otter regained the
lead a minute later, but the quarter finished all-square at two apiece with a
simple tap-in-from Paul Skerm getting Watford back on level terms.
Otter began the second period in determined fashion, and with just 58 seconds on
the clock they had opened up a two-goal lead. However, Watford stormed back and goals from Martin-Dye (4) and another from Skerm
allowed the visitors to take a 7-6 lead at the half-way stage.
The home side came out all guns blazing
the third period but Watford withstood the pressure
and picked off the home side on the counter –attack, racing into a 9-6 lead
thanks largely to the partnership of captain Drago Dundjerovic and Martin-Dye, a
Commonwealth Games bronze medallist. However, the hosts refused to lie down, and
following some good play from their forwards they managed to reduce the score to
9-8 in the space of a minute. Watford, to their credit, did not buckle under pressure and hit back from two
man-up situations, with goals from Lee Bell and Martin-Dye extending their
advantage. Otter, however, managed to close the gap slightly with a goal right
at the end of the quarter to leave the match in the balance at 11-9. Two further goals from the imperious Martin-Dye
in the opening 50 seconds of the final quarter looked to have put the visitors
out of sight, but Otter hit back with one of their own, and then forced Chambers
into making a number of telling saves to preserve his side’s lead.
Watford held firm and wrapped the game up with three goals in a two-minute burst
from Martin-Dye (2) and another from Skerm, which extended their lead to 16-10.
Otter struck a late consolation but it proved too little, too late.
Watford were due to host Avondale on Wednesday before entertaining Cambridge in
the Herts League where they will be looking to retain the championship for the
third year running.
Watford:
Steve Chambers, Graham Martin-Dye, Ian Miers, Lee
Bell, Marco Milos, Adam Collins, Drago Dundjerovic (Capt.), Paul Skerm, John
Martin-Dye.