Water Polo: Edinburgh see off late Glasgow comeback to seal narrow win

The day before Edinburgh University’s Swimming and Water Polo Club was named Most Outstanding Club of the Year at the Edinburgh University Sports Union Ball, alongside the Orienteering Club, the women’s water polo second team triumphed 7-6 over Glasgow.

The girls travelled to Glasgow University on Wednesday 25th January to play their second BUCS fixture of the season. After a gutting 18-3 defeat against St. Andrews – rivals of the women’s first team – the meeting with Glasgow was a test of will and fighting spirit. With captain and goalkeeper Siobhan Walshe out with an injury, the girls faced an added challenge.

Coach Derek Docherty explained how the girls prepared for such a difficult match: “In our team talk prior to the game we talked more about how to play in the shallow end than the tactics for the game. I knew our girls had improved and had been training well. We got Aileen Stirling and Zoe McQueen to take turns in goals.”

Edinburgh started the game shooting into the deep end of the pool, giving them the upper hand going into the first quarter. Nevertheless with Stirling and McQueen new to goalkeeping and defending the goals in the shallow end, the team needed to defend tightly in order to prevent putting too much pressure on the keeper. Edinburgh got off to a superb start, with Emily Docherty scoring the first goal, followed two minutes later with a goal from Jenn Davis.

Moving into the second period the girls had to adjust to shooting in the shallow end of the pool. Adjust they did, scoring three goals without reply and reducing Glasgow to only a couple of shots with an effective defensive strategy. The period ended 5-2 to Edinburgh, with goals from Lizzie Breaks, Iona Campbell and Jenn Davis.

The third period proved much closer, with a goal apiece for both teams, bringing the score to 6-3 going into the final quarter. Glasgow, desperate to turn the game round, changed tactics to full press. The Edinburgh girls had not played this way before and found it difficult to move into space in order to receive a pass. This allowed Glasgow to score three goals in quick succession, levelling the score at 6-6.

Under relentless pressure and with tiredness setting in, Edinburgh were in a dangerous position as the game approached its conclusion. Docherty called a timeout, regrouping the team: “we can still win this game,” he told them confidently. With poolside leadership from Walshe and Docherty, as well as support from the subs, the girls managed to hold their own and dig deep to give Glasgow a hard time in the pool. A shot from Lisa Rendall hit the post and went wide; whilst the players thought the ball was going out and stopped, Campbell swam and regained possession of the ball. Rendall, sure not to miss this time, received a pass from Campbell and scored a blazing cross cage shot on goal.

With thirty seconds remaining in the game, the girls had to use the buzz from the last goal to keep Glasgow at bay. Despite a couple of shots from Glasgow, Edinburgh finished 7-6 winners, keeping their BUCS campaign alive. Said coach Docherty: “What a great team effort and good defensive performance. Especially thanks to our stand in goalies and to Lisa, Jenn and Iona who played all the game.” With a team made predominantly of newcomers to water polo, the result is all the more impressive.