Stretford vs. Warrington 16 & U
1st Quarter
The Sunday night encounter at Stretford starts well for the visitors, attacking the shallow end. Warrington defend as a team as the hosts set up well, and are soon on the attack. Attack and defence are well-matched as a tussle involving Dan ends in a drop-ball decision. Stretford on the attack and the visitors are defending again. Matt defends well and Stretford gain a man-up. Dan and Conor exchange passes as they move up the pool to attack, but Stretford gain possession and get a man-up, resulting in a goal. The visiting team try to keep their disappointment at bay, but the ref is firm and Stretford start the play with a man-up. The hosts look to capitalise on their advantage and mark tightly as the Warrington attack runs out of time. Back to a full team and Warrington win the ball again - Emily passes to Conor, Ben goes on to score a great goal, following a rebound from Conor. With the scores level, Warrington’s confidence returns and Dan scores following good play from the whole team. Stretford gain a man-up, but nothing comes of it. Warrington gain a man-up and Conor hits the cross-bar, Katie defends well. Stretford level the score again. Warrington get a man-up, Matt shoots but it’s saved. Warrington defend and Luke makes a save. It’s been a tense quarter, ending with the score at 2-2.
2nd Quarter
Matt wins the swim-off and the visitors set up, Matt shoots but it’s saved. Katie passes to Conor in the pit, he puts it in the net. Conor takes a long-shot and puts the ball wide; Dan shoots, but this time is goes high and hits a chair! Warrington now defend before Conor scores from the counter-attack - the ref doesn’t see it no goal given! The visitors need to keep focussed, as play continues. Stretford get a man-up. Matt shoots and the ball goes over - Dom is tightly marked in the pit. Next play, Conor passes into Dan who scores. Dom defends well, and Warrington get a man-up. Katie shoots, but it’s saved. Emily defends well and Conor takes the ball in, passes to Dom, who scores. Warrington gain a man-up and the team set-up well - Katie is on the score-sheet. Dom scores from a long-throw from Matt. Stretford score as the quarter ends. Score is 3-7.
3rd Quarter
The home side are slow to get into position so the ref gives the ball to Warrington, and the team swim up for their attack. Stretford gain possession again, and Ben defends the pit. Now on the attack, Ben shoots, but hits the post. Stretford shoot but the ball goes over. Warrington get a man-up and Matt shoots, but it’s saved. Emily shoots - her trade-mark lob-shot - and scores. Emma defends well and Luke makes a save. Brett scores with a cracking goal. Brett passes to Conor, who puts it away increasing the lead. Warrington attack again Brett passes to Conor, then he passes to Ben who shoots and scores. Luke makes another save. Emily makes a terrific swim-up. The Stretford keeper comes right out of the net and the visitors have a penalty. Matt takes it, and scores. Brett intercepts and interrupts a Stretford attack. They gain possession again and the visitors have to defend. Brett takes the ball up the pool, he shoots and it hits the post. Matt defends the wing, the hosts set-up - they try a bounce-shot, but it doesn’t go in. Emily is under pressure as the hosts defend and the attack runs out of time. Stretford attack now and Brett intercepts a pass. Luke passes to Conor, he passes to Ben who scores his hat-trick. The quarter ends 3-13.
4th Quarter
Warrington win the swim-off again and Emma is under pressure and can’t get the ball to Ben in the pit. The hosts are on the attack and score. The visitors next attack results in Brett taking a shot, but he hits the post. Luke makes a terrific save. Brett swims up and passes to Dom, who takes a shot and scores, he’s on a hat-trick. Dan defends the pit as Luke scoops up the ball. Dan passes to Brett, but he is tightly marked and squeezed off the ball. The team all defend as one. Stretford score. Good passing from Warrington, the ball is with Dom, in the pit - he doesn’t get a shot and the ball is sent out to Brett, who swims in to score. Great play from the visitors. Luke passes to Dom, he passes to Emily and she then passes to Brett. He shoots, but no goal. The Warrington attack continues and Katie is fouled, the visitors have a man-up. Katie shoots and is fouled again - she shoots but no goal. And no hat. Dan passes to Emily, she shoots and the keeper stops it, but doesn’t collect the ball. Emily scoops up the ball, she passes to Katie who gets her goal. Ref checks her number as she puts the hat back on. Stretford are on the attack and Emily defends. Into the last minute, and Dom scores. Good swim-up from Dom who passes to Conor - he shoots and scores a terrific lob-shot into the bottom right corner. Conor gets his hat-trick. Dom intercepts a Stretford pass, sends the ball to Ben who takes the last shot of the match, but no goal. The match ends 5-18.
Warrington came across strong opposition in this epic match. Tension showed, so the coaches had to keep the team focussed, and as a result they gave a strong performance.
Coaches
Tom Costello & Sue Bowater
Team
Luke Atkinson, Conor Lynch (3), Katie Bowater (2), Dan Farini (2), Brett Takemoto (2), Emma Horne, Ben Daley (3), Emily Bowater (1), Dominic Richard (4), Matt Williams (1)