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Season Starts Well for Dolphin

Event: Pre Season Friendly

Teams: Swindon Dolphin v University of West of England

Location: Milton Road Swindon

Date: Sunday 20th January 2008



Swindon Dolphin started their build up to the 2008season where they left off in 2007 with a comfortable win against the University of West of England . Fielded a side with a number of players making their debuts for the club, this fixture allowed them to gain some valuable experience.


The match started well for Dolphin as they took an early lead through Chris Selby. This was soon followed up with strikes from Coach David Quinlivan and Michal Trzeciak. With the team coasting, a number of changes were made to allow the new players to get into the action early in the game. The students replied and managed to level the match. Three more strikes followed for the home side from Quinlivan, Andrew Prowse and Ian Brewer. The opposition then snuck two late goals to leave dolphin leading the encounter by six goals to five.


Dolphin did not have the second quarter all their own way. The students were on the war path and some poor defending allowed them to score two goals to level the match. The rest of the quarter was very even, goals from Matt James and Mark Lawlor both being cancelled out by strikes from the students despite goalkeeper Andrew Watts best efforts.


Going in to the third period of the match the students were one goal up. Dolphin however managed to tighten their defence and did not concede a goal despite a number of good opportunities that fell to the opposition. Coach Quinlivan continued his unusual free scoring with two more strikes and Pete Everett, on his debut, contributed one.


The final period was an all attack affair with both teams scoring on five occasions. The students tried their best but only managed to get within one goal throughout the final period. Strikes from Quinlivan (2), Selby, Brewer and James ensured a victory by two goals for the Swindon side.


Coach Quinlivan said after the encounter ‘This match was vital for the development of our new players. We had two lads making their debut, one aged only 15. Along with our usual bench players, they managed to play long periods of the match which will put them in good stead for the start of the season.’


Result: Swindon Dolphin 16 – 14 University of West of England


Team: Andy Watts, David Quinlivan (6 goals), Chris Selby (2 goals), Rob Green, Andy Prowse (1 goal), Chris McConnell (2 majors), Ian Brewer (2 goals), Matt James (2 goals), Pete Everett (1 goal), Mark Lawlor (1 goal), Michal Trzeciak (1 goal, 3 majors), Tim Newcombe