Baku Game 5 - British Women set for Serbia clash after final group match.

Great Britain’s women’s water polo team have set their sights on their first knock-out game of the Baku 2015 European Games after bringing their group stage campaign to a close with a defeat against Hungary. After a tight first half, the experienced Hungarians ultimately pulled clear with a second-half shut to record a 16-4 (5-2, 2-2, 5-0, 4-0) victory.

“We were trying to be confident and more positive and I think that really helped because we played our best, especially in the first half,” – Izzy Dean.

But the Brits will approach tomorrow’s first classification match with confidence, having recorded their first win against Israel yesterday then impressing in the early stages today, trailing by just one goal at 5-4 down with less than three minutes to go in the second quarter.

While Hungary ultimately proved their class, their final tally of 16 was their lowest against any of the three Group A teams heading into the 7-12 classification matches, having notched up 21-4 and 23-3 defeats of Germany and Israel respectively.

Grace Rowland and Kathy Rogers converted for Team GB in the opening quarter as the Brits kept themselves in the game, trailing 5-2 after conceding three penalties. After five minutes of the second period, the Brits were just one goal behind and threatening to pull off the biggest shock of the tournament as Otter Rogers scored her second of the game and fifth in two matches before Dani Brazier also found the net, maintaining her record of scoring in every match so far in Baku. Hungary piled on the pressure in the third and fourth quarters to avoid the upset but the Brits emerged with plenty of credit, keeping their opponents’ scoreline below 20.

After finishing fifth in Group A, Team GB will now face Serbia – who finished bottom of Group B after five defeats – in their first knock-out match at 06:30 UK time on Wednesday 16 June.

The winners be guaranteed a top 10 finish as they move to the 7-10 classification semi-finals while the losers will play off for 11th place.

Baku Game 4 - Mhairi & Kathy score hat-tricks in win vs Israel

Izzy Dean admitted a calm approach was key as the women’s water polo team held on to record their first victory of the 2015 European Games. Despite defeats to Greece, Germany and the Netherlands, Team GB went into Monday’s in confident mood of learning from their previous mistakes.

It started off well as Otter Mhairi Nurthen got the first goal of the game inside seven minutes before the girls finished the first quarter 4-2 up. GB continued to lead at the half-way point too with two goals from Otter Katherine Rogers plus a second for Nurthen taking the score out to 7-3. Both Nurthen and Rogers completed their hat-tricks in the third quarter but Israel were not prepared to roll over and suddenly the pressure was on coach Nick Buller’s team with the scores at 11-9 to Team GB with four and a half minutes to play.

Thankfully two Grace Rowland efforts, the latter completing her own hat-trick, gave Team GB some breathing space as they ran out eventual 13-9 winners.

"We're really happy to win but we did make it a little bit harder than it could have been,” said Dean. “We rushed our shots a bit in some moments but obviously to get a win is really exciting for us.

Baku Game 3 - Brazier on target again as GB battle with Netherlands

Chelmsford / Otter's  Dani Brazier continued her fine goal-scoring form at the Baku 2015 European Games with two fantastic finishes in the 19-6 (0-2, 2-6, 3-8, 1-3) defeat to a tough and aggressive Netherlands on Sunday. 

The goals take Brazier’s tournament tally to five and despite the team struggling against a well-established and well-funded Netherlands, there were signs of improvement for head coach Nick Buller ahead of GB’s crunch game against Israel tomorrow.

“We knew this game would be difficult, but for us, it’s all about improvement from one game to the next and I’m pleased with how we performed today,” added coach Buller. “Scoring six goals was a great achievement and we can definitely build and improve on this result for the future.”

Netherlands, who won the bronze medal at the 2013 European Junior Championship, dominated from the start, but they didn’t have it all their own way as GB defended strongly and goalkeepers Sophie Jackson (Leeds) and Hayley Price (Tyldesley) again produced a number of outstanding saves. 

Otter leading London League

After two rounds of play Otter are at the top of the Division 1 London League table. Otter have won all 4 games played, beating: West London Penguins 7-0, Beckenham 8-3, Mid Sussex 6-2 & 6-1. And Chelmsford who forfeited the fixture.

Good luck to Otter who are playing the final round of fixtures on Sunday July 12. The team will take on Beckenham, West London Penguins & Chelmsford, and are hoping for a clean sweap to take out the London League title. 

Baku Game 2 - GB vs Germany

Great Britain’s second game at the Baku 2015 European Games ended in a narrow 10-8 (3-4, 1-3, 2-2, 2-1) defeat on Saturday as they were beaten by a well-organised Germany.

After their opening day 20-2 loss to Greece, GB were determined to respond strongly and for large periods of the game, they were the team on top. Verity McCoy and London Otter’s Izzy Dean proved constant threats in attack as they joint top scored for the Brits with two goals each, while goalkeepers Sophie Jackson and Hayley Price were in inspired form between the sticks.

Germany, who finished seventh at the 2013 European Junior Championship, began the game brightly, but they struggled to find a way past GB’s resilient and spirited defence. “If there had been another two minutes of play, we’re sure the result would have been different,” – Izzy Dean. Both teams hit the post early on before McCoy fired in a stunning bounce shot to open the scoring with 5.06 remaining in the first quarter. McCoy struck again along with Liverpool team-mate Grace Rowland and Crawley’s Lara Partridge, but it was Germany who took a 7-4 half-time lead. In the third quarter, GB captain Dean hammered home twice and Chelmsford’s Dani Brazier took her tournament tally to three with an excellent goal in the final period. Liverpool’s Lucy Shaw found space late in the fourth to set-up a tense final minute, but Germany were able to close the game out as 10-8 winners.

Baku Game 1 - Dani scores twice vs Greece

Danica Brazier scored twice as Great Britain kicked off their European Games campaign with tough defeat against pre-tournament favourites Greece. The Greeks have become the dominant force of European junior women’s water polo in recent years, picking up the 2013 European Junior title and last year’s European U19 title.

And while Chelmsford / Otters’s Brazier scored in both the third and fourth quarter for the Brits, they were always playing catch-up against a talented Greek side who ultimately secured a 20-2 (4-0, 6-0, 2-1, 8-1) win.

“It was tough, but I was proud with how they kept going,” – GB head coach Nick Buller. There were positives to take for the Brits, not least in Brazier’s two goals, the first from the edge of the arc on man-up to take the lead in the third quarter, and the second as she created space before turning and powering home from the pit in the last quarter.

Playing two quarters each, British goalkeepers Hayley Price (Tyldesley) and Sophie Jackson (Leeds) impressed between the sticks to thwart a number of Greek chances as they attacked quickly and directly on the counter.

“This was what we expected from previous tournaments. It was tough, but I was proud with how they kept going,” said British head coach Nick Buller.  The Brits also conceded the fewest goals of any of the losing teams in Group A on the opening day with the Dutch hammering Israel 29-1 and Germany losing out 21-4 to Hungary. Team GB will hope to secure their first points of the competition against Germany on day two in Baku.

Credit: http://www.swimming.org/waterpolo/brazier-double-brits-face-top-seeds-greece-baku/

Otters win gold at Middlesex Masters Championships

Otters Rebecca (Gari) Mulcahy, Tracey Allen,Emma Shkurka, Lex Higlett & Peggy Etiebet, transferred their water polo talents to the racing pool with great success on Sunday 7th June at the Middlsex Masters Championships. 

Peggy picked up a fantastic gold in the 50 breastroke, Emma won the 50 fly, and Lex won the 50 free & 200 free. Both Gari and Tracey picked up a number of medals in their very competitive age groups & all featured heavily in winning 4x25m relay teams. 

The girls swims helped Otter retain its position as top club in the Middlesex county, winning by a healthy margin over Cally Masters Islington and fourteen other clubs. Thanks & congratulations Gari, Tracey, Em, Lex & Peg. 

Otters & GB U/17s touch down in Azerbaijan

Great Britain’s under-17 water polo girls touched down in Azerbaijan today ahead of the inaugural Baku 2015 European Games. Head coach Nick Buller and his squad now have three full days of preparation before their opening Group A clash against reigning champions Greece on Friday.

The water polo tournament is scheduled for 12-21 June. As well as Greece, Great Britain have been drawn alongside Netherlands, Hungary, Germany and Israel, while Group B consists of France, Italy, Serbia, Slovakia, Russia and Spain. The top three teams from each group will progress to the knockout medal stages and the remaining sides will play crossover classification games.

“With no funding, we’ve faced a lot of challenges to be here, but this team has great spirit and the girls deserve their place at the top table of international water polo,” added Buller. “Some of my team are also in the middle of their exams, so we’ve had to schedule training around revision and a few players are even having to sit exams out here at the British Embassy.

“Teams like Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Russia and Greece all have well-funded professional set-ups and they are in a league of their own. Our approach is very much to be the best of the rest, but a finish anywhere in the top 10 would be a great achievement.”

GB's first game is vs Greece on Friday 12th June @9:45am. Good Luck girls. 

Credit – www.swimming.org/waterpolo

Otter wins top men’s and overall trophies at Middlesex County Championships

A big effort by our swimmers in Barnet on Sunday June 7th saw Otter retain its position as top club in the Middlesex county, winning by a healthy margin over Cally Masters Islington and fourteen other clubs. Congratulations to everyone who took part and contributed to this victory. 

The Middlesex Championships is always a good opportunity for swimmers to make their first competitive appearance for Otter, and this year Wade Rimbach (30-34 year age group), Dontony Gill-Nasadi (18-24), Josh Sambrook-Smith (30-34), Paul Fakley (45-49), Sharon Wright (55-59) andDaiga Taurite (30-34) all made their Otter debuts. In fact some of the best swims of the day came from our debutantes, including Wade narrowly touching out Josh to take the 50m backstroke title in exciting fashion, Josh taking gold in the 50 breastroke, Paul Fakley seemingly winning every race he swam, and Dontony, Daiga and Sharon all beating their entry times and picking up a number of medals along the way. 

Special mention also goes to Rebecca Mulcahy (18-24), Tracey Allen (25-29),Peggy Etiebet (35-39), and Emma Shkurka (30-34) who transferred their water polo talents to the racing pool for the day with great success. Peggy picked up a fantastic gold in the 50 breastroke, as did Emma in the 50 fly. Both Rebecca and Tracey picked up a number of medals in their very competitive age groups.