The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
On-song Spalding Orcas ran out 14-7 winners in their latest league match against Northampton at the Castle Sports Complex pool.
The Orcas – who are part of Spalding Water Polo – were dominant in the first quarter, with Steve Rogers scoring their first goal within 20 seconds. John James quickly added two more, before Rogers netted his second.
George Rogers then added another goal with a shot into the top left corner after Northampton saw a player excluded for a foul, then James scored his third in the final seconds to make it 6-0 to the Orcas.
Northampton started the second quarter on the attack, forcing Jon Davis to make a string of saves before they scored two quick goals.
After a slow start, the Orcas picked up the pace and found space in front of goal, but were denied several times by the Northampton keeper. Ben Marsters then scored two goals, his second on a brilliant counter-attack.
Tom Marsters followed that by scored his first of the game – and Spalding’s ninth – with a shot straight through the keeper’s hands.
There was still time for Northampton to score in the last minute of the quarter to make the half time score 9-3 to Spalding.
After just 15 seconds of the re-start Tom Marsters bagged his second of the match, a strike that was quickly followed by a brilliant back-hand goal by Calvin Wilson. That man Tom Marsters soon added his third after a mistake by the Northampton keeper.
The away side did bounce back with three goals in the last two minutes of the quarter to make it 12-6.
The final quarter was end-to-end stuff. Harry Bumfrey scored first for the Orcas, before Spalding’s Nick Rickett gave away a penalty, which was converted.
The last word went to James, who scored his fourth of the match to wrap up a deserved 14-7 win.
