The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
The all-Spalding Water Polo derby served up 22 goals last Tuesday night as the Orcas beat the Sharks 12-10 to gain revenge for their defeat in the December reverse.
The first quarter was evenly matched at the Castle Sports Complex pool and finished 4-4, with a superb hat-trick from John James and a goal from Harry Bumfrey for the Orcas.
Jimmy Hook (2), Gareth Lord and Jack Carpenter replied for the Sharks.
The Orcas had the better of the second quarter, despite the Sharks taking the lead after 30 seconds thanks to another Carpenter goal. They went into half time 7-5 ahead, with goals from Ben Marsters (2) and Tom Marsters.
However, the Sharks rallied in the third quarter and hauled themselves level at 9-9.
That was largely thanks to a brilliant hat-trick from Carpenter and a super back-handed goal from Josh Rowland.
SPLASH LANDING: Ben Masters (yellow) and Jack Carpenter. Photo by MARK LE SAGE
Phil James and Nick Rickett replied for the Orcas.
The Orcas seized control again in the final quarter, though.
They soon had a three-goal advantage, courtesy of further goals from John James (2) and Tom Marsters.
The Sharks pulled one back through Tim Shields and piled on the pressure, but it was not enough to deny the Orcas their morale-boosting win.
Both John James and Carpenter ended up with five goals apiece in what was a game to remember.
- Scorers: Orcas – J James (5), B Marsters (2), T Marsters (2), Bumfrey, P James, Rickett. Sharks – Carpenter (5), Hook (2), Lord, Rowland and Shields.
