Dolphin Go Down Fighting

Event: Bristol & West Division II League Fixture

Teams: Cheltenham II v Swindon Dolphin

Venue: Dean Close School – Cheltenham

Date: Wednesday 17th October 2007

Swindon Dolphin Water Polo team were beaten by a young, but very talented Cheltenham II outfit in their penultimate 2007 Bristol & West division II fixture.

The contest had started well for the visitors as they matched the home side goal for goal in a frenzied first period. David Quinlivan, Mark Lawlor and Michal Trzeciak scoring some well worked goals.

The second period was where the small Dolphin squad of only 8 players started to struggle. Trzeciak, Lawlor and Matt James added to the scoring, but the side were unable to keep up with the youngsters who scored five in reply.

Dolphin trailing by two goals, knew they would have to pull off a heroic performance to get anything from the match. Veteran keeper, Andy Watts made some fine save in a welcome return to form and Dolphin managed to get within one goal of the opposition following a hat trick strike from Trzeciak. However, Cheltenham showed their control of the game by scoring a further two and extending their lead to three.

In the final stages, Cheltenham demonstrated superior fitness and won the period comfortably by four strikes to two with Lawlor notching two more for Dolphin to take his personal tally to four.

Returning player, Chris Selby commented afterwards: “We were in the match for long periods but fitness won through for them in the end. There were some good points which we need to build on for our final fixture of the season next week”.

Result: Cheltenham II -14 : Swindon Dolphin – 9

Team: Andy Watts, David Quinlivan (1 goal), Chris Selby (1 major), Andy Hicks, Andy Prowse, Matt James (1 goal), Mark Lawlor (4 goals, 2 majors), Michal Trzeciak (3 goals, 1 major)

Source: Swindon Dolphin Press Team