Dolphin Humbled by Rampent Students

Swindon Dolphin Water Polo Match Report

Event: Bristol & West Division II League Fixture

Teams: Cardiff Uni v Swindon Dolphin

Location: Welsh Institute for Sport, Sofia Gardens, Cardiff

Date: Sunday 23rd February 2007

Swindon Dolphin were comfortably beaten by Cardiff Uni in their second Bristol and West fixture of the season.

Dolphin started the fixture reasonably well, and despite falling behind they soon levelled the match with a goal by Andy Hicks following a man-up situation. Unfortunately for Dolphin this was the high point of the first period, Cardiff scored three more times to lead by four goals to one.

The second period of this fixture turned into the Dan Laxton show, the GB international scored all seven of Cardiff’s goals in the quarter. Dolphin managing a single reply through Darryl Pye. This did not reflect the play in the second period, Dolphin created a number of opportunities as well as winning a number of man-up situations. Opportunities were not taken which resulted in the students winning the period comfortably.

The pattern of play continued in the third period. The students shared the goals around this quarter, Dolphin managed one solitary reply from Hicks. The match situation after three periods was a 17-3 lead for the students.

Dolphin managed to win back a little bit of pride in the final period. The quarter was tied at two each, Michal Trzeciak and Matt James hitting the target for Dolphin. The effort was all too late as the students ended up with a resounding 19 goals to five victory.

Captain Andy Hicks said following the heavy defeat “Although the score line suggests we played poor, this isn’t the whole picture. Had we taken a lot more of our chances we would have been involved in a much closer match. The most disappointing fact was we new Laxton was their danger man and said we needed to mark him closely. We didn’t do this and we were punished, he grabbed twelve of their goals which is a huge personal tally in one fixture”.

Result: Cardiff Uni 19 – 5 Swindon Dolphin

Team: Andy Watts, Mark Lawlor, Andy Hicks (2 goals), Andy Prowse, Darryl Pye (1 goal), Chris McConnell, Ian Brewer, Matt James (1 goal), Michal Trzeciak (1 goal), James Godden