Otter Ladies take on the best in Europe

This December Otter took on some of Europe’s best teams in Group D of the LEN Euro League in Padova, Italy. The team contained a mix of young strong players as well several more experienced players to take on previous Italian, French and Spanish champions.

Otter kicked off their campaign by scoring 3 goals in a 23-3 defeat to host team Padova with goals coming from Kathy Rogers (2) and Emma Hamilton-Foster (1). Otter had a strong game against Lille securing the first goal of the game in the first minute and Otter were down by 1 goal at the end of the first quarter. Lille hit back hard in the second quarter which prompted a strong second half form Otter but left the final score as 16-8 to Lille; With goals From Izzy Dean (1), Brooke Tafazolli (1), Mhairi Nurthen (1), Rogers (3) And Hamilton-Foster (2). Otter finished off their group stage matches against Spanish club Mataró who are the reigning LEN Trophy winners. Again, Otter had a great start to the game with Mataró leading 3-2 after the first quarter with Otter scoring the first goal; however, the game resulted in Otter’s 18-6 defeat to Mataró, with goals from Peggy Etiebet (1), Dean (1), Hamilton-Foster (2) and Rogers (2).

To play against the best teams in Europe as well as practicing new and developing tactics is an experience that will be used back in the British Water Polo League which continues with the start of the Super 5’s and Championship 1 in January. 

Once again a huge shout out to the wonderful team at Physio in the City whose support makes playing in Europe possible.

Lutra top Division 2

Congrats to dream team Otter Lutra who have finished Phase 1 of the BWPL at the top of the Division 1 Table. Lutra were undefeated in the competition with 7 wins in as many games. Tyldesley (12-7 Win), Liverpool Liver Birds (10-7 Win), Manchester Comets (11-8 Win), Welsh Wanderers (13-8 Win), Penguin Emperors (8-7 Win), Devonport (28-6 Win) & Mid Sussex Marlins (14 - 11 Win).

The team will look to continue their good form in Phase 2 - Championship 1 the new year. 

Otter qualify for Super 5s

Otter's 12-9 defeat of Sheffield this morning in Watford sees Otter move up to second on the table behind Liverpool and guarantees the teams place in the Super 5s. Coventry, Liverpool, Manchester and Otter have now all qualified for the top division of the next phase. The fifth spot could be between Leeds Sharks and Sheffield Sharks, who meet during the final weekend of the programme at Liverpool next month. Otter's 12-9 defeat of Sheffield included four goals by Katherine Rogers and three from Emma Hamilton-Foster.  

Otter bounce back with scoring spree in Watford

Otter dropped a point in the first of their two women's Division 1 games vs Coventry at Watford today.  The Midlanders led 3-2 after two periods, but there was no more scoring until the game really came to life in the last period. Goals by 17-year-old Otter Danica Brazier (2) and Claudia Ferrone put Otter 5-3 up before Coventry levelled it at 5-5 with goals a couple of minutes from the end by Sally Rangecroft and Fran Clayton.

Not to be deterred Otter bounced back recording a 23-2 win over Hucknall in their second game of the day. The team held Hucknall scoreless for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th period. Nine different Otters scored in the encounter. Lily & Mhairi were the teams top scorers with 4 goals apiece. Kathy & Fernanda recorded hatricks and Gari, Brooke, Peggy & Emma all scored twice. Claudia rounded out the scoring, adding to another goal to her tally.  

The team were back in action Sunday morning 10:15am knocking off 6th ranked Sheffield Sharks 12-9.

Impressive Otter retain girls’ U15 title in Manchester

Otter completed the defence of their girls’ U15 ASA National Age Group Water Polo Championship title with an impressive display in Manchester.

Otter conceded just four goals across their five games, storming through their group with comprehensive victories over Cheltenham (9-0) and Rotherham (16-0), then defeated 2010 champions Tyldesley (9-2). A repeat of last year’s final saw Otter see off City of Liverpool in the semis (12-2).

A dominant display saw Otter storm to a 6-0 lead at half-time in the final vs Newton Abbot before adding another five goals in the second half. They also secured their third shutout of the day as they finished 11-0 winners, with Otter captain Erin Andrew finishing tournament top scorer with 14 goals.

“We have worked so hard for this and done loads of training so it feels really good,” said Andrew. “We worked really well as a team and I think we’ve bonded as the tournament has gone on. Before the final, we just talked about having fun and think about what we’d done in training.”

Manchester outfit Tyldesley secured the bronze medal with a 9-4 victory over local rivals City of Liverpool.

Otter's younger development team Otter Futura was also in action. The team gained valuable match experience in the group stage against some of the best teams in the country. Taking on finalists Newton Abbot (9-0), Semi finalists City of Liverpool (6-2) & beating City of Machester (5-0). The girls went down in the classification match vs Rotherham (8-1) before ending on a high with a (5-0) win vs Manchester City to finish 7th. 

Otter kick off the BWPL season

The Otter ladies 1st team kicked off their BWPL season over the weekend in Gloucester with a 16-7 win against Caledonia.

Otter jumped out to a 5-1 lead and never looked back, taking the 2nd quarter 9-3. A quieter 3rd quarter had the score at 10-5 before a strong 4th saw out the game. 8 Different Otters scored in the game with three goals apiece for Danica Brazier and Isabelle Dean. 

Otters second match of the weekend was perhaps the most exciting game of the women's Division 1 weekend with a goal just 19 seconds from the end by Otters Claudia Ferrone clinching a 10-9 victory for Otter over Leeds Sharks.

Otter started strongly, leading 3-0, then 6-2, before a run of four goals by Leeds and two more from (Otter on loan to Leeds) Hannah Pritchett gave Leeds a 7-6 advantage. t didn't last long. Otter hit back to go 9-7 up in the last period, only for spirited Leeds to respond with goal and then another two and a half minutes from the end. In a frantic finale, both sides had a player excluded and both called time-outs - before Ferrone settled the issue at the death. 

Manchester were the only other team to hold a 100% record over the opening weekend. For full results & tables see the BWPL website. 

Lutras perfect start

Otter Lutra are top of the Div 2 table after the first weekend of BWPL action. Otter Lutra made it three wins from three women's Division 2 matches at Ponds Forge today, beating  Tyldesley 12-7, Liverpool Liverbirds 10-7 & Manchester Comets 11-8. 

Keep up the good work Lutra!

For full results & tables see the BWPL website
 

4 Otters named in the GB U/19 team

The GB U19 women's team to play in the European Junior Championships just been announced with a few familiar Otter faces making the grade. Otters Izzy Dean, Hannah Patchett, Lily Turner & Kathy Rogers have all been selected in the 13 player team with Kathy Rogers named as Vice Captain. 

The 17 team Championships will take place in the Netherlands from September 10-18 with GB facing Italy, Bulgaria & Slovakia in the group phase. The Other teams taking part in the competition are Russia, Hungary, France, Ukraine, Croatia, Spain, The Netherlands, Sebia, Romanina, Greece, Germany, Israel & Turkey.  

The full Great Britian team is: Kathy Rodgers (VC), Lily Turner, Isabelle Dean, Hannah Patchett,
Sophie Jackson (GK), Kate Read (GK), Robyn Greenslade, Katy Cutler, Beth Bolton, Rosie Huck (C), Annie Clapperton, Isobel Howe & Hannah Edwards Congratulations to all those selected, and good luck!

Otters killing it on summer international duty

Otters Hannah, Izzy, Kathy, Mhairi & Lily have been in action for GB U19s this week playing in the Pliva Cup in Zagreb, Croatia. The GB squad won their opening games against other European qualified teams Serbia 11-10 Croatia11-9 & Germany 8-6, before going down 12-8 to Serbia in the final with all the damage being done in Q2 (2-2, 5-1, 2-2, 3-3).

The girls & GB U19 squad will now return to their training base in Szentes in Hungary, and continue their preparations for the LEN U19 European Champsionships in September.

The GB squad: Beth Bolton, Annie Clapperton, Katy Cutler, Izzy Dean (Otter), Hannah EdwardsMegan Gaunt, Robyn Greenslade, Izzy Howe, Rosie Huck, Becky Lee, Sophie Jackson, Mhairi Nurthen (Otter), Lara Partridge, Hannah Patchett (Otter), Kate Read, Kathy Rogers (Otter) & Lily Turner (Otter).