Naval warfare: Oxford water polo

seconds remaining in this quarter. 1-2. Oxford’s tip-off leads to mixed play until Cambridge’s Kai shoots from afar.

on in the dying seconds. Time intervenes and the score remains 5-6 to Oxford.

It was Oxford “B” Vs Cambridge “B” in men’s water polo. The Oxford squad huddle as Hertford spectators converge on the poolside. Cambridge? Absent… but soon the mint shorts emerge. Loss will put Oxford bottom of the league. A win: third. Unsurprisingly, coach Tom deals tctics with his fingers nervously retracted up his sleeves. This Varsity match counts and there is extra attention when fingernails are measured – contact is expected 20:00. The teams charge on the whistle. Oxford win possession and elicit a save from Alex H, the Cambridge keeper, controlling for 2-and-ahalf minutes. That’s until Warren Handley can score from distance for Oxford. 1-0. The poolside tension is broken by grins and cheers. Cambridge surge to draw 1-1 within 20 seconds, and spectators’ faces refocus. Cambridge dribble, pass and press to trouble Oxford’s keeper, Joey Weinbren. Play is close until a penalty lets Will H score for Cambridge with 75

1-3, worried faces grow. 45 seconds of purposeful Cantabrigian play break with Oxford’s counter-attack. 2-3. Yet, Oxford overstretch leaving Ryan K unmarked.

2-4. Cambridge’s next two efforts require intervention from the post and then Joey himself, who is applauded. A few tense seconds then halftime.

Oxford have the numberical advantage once Kai is sin-binned and Matt Courtis scores.

3-4. Then Cambridge’s rapid attack lets Henry S-T put one beyond Joey’s reach. 3-5. In retort, Alex W, threads a wondrous ball beyond the Cambridge keeper’s right hand and into the net. 4-5. Clapping erupts. James, Oxford’s wing, makes an ambitious effort and smiles return to the poolside as shouts and whoops reverberate. 5-5.

13 seconds later, a Cambridge penalty is converted, but faces don’t fall this time.

5-6. Play is unremarkable, except a few speculative attempts, until Oxford romp

8 minutes remain in the game and the first two pass with increasingly dangerous attacks from both sides. Decisive play offers Oxford a chance, and the crowd erupts. 6-6.Jakob Timmerman bowls it cleanly into the Cambridge goal and the supporters spring up, cheering. 7-6. Advantage Oxford, in style.

Jakob, with a casual lob, places Alex C in prime position. 8-6. The win’s within reach..

Kai, cap hanging loose, cannons a shot at the top corner but Joey rises, literally, to the occasion, maintaining Oxford’s lead impressively. A time-out with the shout ‘1,2,3 Cambridge’ has little effect. Joey finds Matt, the furthermost Oxonian, who lifts it over Alex H easily. 9-6. Surely it’s over.

Cambridge stretch Oxford, centre it and score, ending their 6-minute dry spell. 9-7. 162 seconds left, with Oxford dominating 24 before Ben Wharton shoots. 10-7. A clinical Oxford attack scores quickly. 11-7. Cambridge, snatch a shot, earning nothing, but soon break, probe forward and score. 11-8. With eight seconds remaining, Jakob is in place. The shot is saved and play fizzles out. Final score. 11-8.

Oxford rise to third. Cambridge, fourth. The mint mermen have a long, late, journey home.

Sport in Oxford and beyond!

Results:

Football Cuppers:

Womens Semi- fnals:

Worcester 1 - 3 Hilda’s/Peters

Mens Semi fnals: Jesus mens 3 - 4 Brasenose mens

Fixtures:

Football Cuppers Finals

25th Febuary, Iffey Road stadium

Women’s fnals: Osler Women vs Hilda’s/Peters 11am KO

Men’s fnals: St Hugh’s mens vs Brasenose 2pm KO

Beyond Oxford:

Zoe’s Intresting Fact.

In the space of one month, Arsenal and Manchester City men’s and women’s team will have faced each other four times. While the reccent 2-1 defeat of Arsenal Women by City have dashed thier WSL title hopes, time remains to see whether this fate will be shared by the men. I’m praying, no begging it isn’t.