On a fine Sunday afternoon, the Southampton teams gathered to play our last BUCS game of the year against Surrey. After witnessing our girls’ successful gold medal match the eight of Southampton’s most available lads hopped in the pool and began to warm up. The match was soon underway when we lost the swim off, which lead to a quick goal from Surrey. Captain Finn kept his positive attitude and encouraged us to keep to the basics a keep pushing our attack. Swimming laps back and forth our poor lads were getting countered a few fouls weren’t quite bought which led to counter attacks (acting lessons to come in the new term!). We conceded two more goals before the end of the quarter leaving the score at 0-3 to Surrey.  

Magill (still on a high after winning the league) inspired the lads to find their spark in the pool and press on with the game. We unleashed Alex who won the swim off however, for breaking the speed limit, the ref called a turnover for surrey allowing them to score yet another. A physical quarter ensued and, deciding that Noah had drowned enough, the referee excluded a surrey lad giving us the advantage we were looking for, but a dodgy pass was all it took to break our offense (somebody did not catch it like an egg). After a few crossbars challenges Dalton finally scored a lovely goal from a counterattack, ending the first half at 1-5.  

Crippled Coach Dan stepped up and gave a motivational speech about the inconsistent reffing and how being able to rise above was the only way to capture the true spirit of the game. With those inspired, though not massively tactical, words of wisdom we went back out. The lack of subs began to show, and this quarter ended 1-7 

Quarter 4 began, and the boys remembered that they could actually play good polo. Finn entered pit attack finally delivering his signature backshot scoring a doughnut over the keeper’s head. Minutes after, Ed got on the scoresheet with a good exclusion that Luke was able to save. Sam, having had enough, turned his defender, and scored a goal from the wing with one minute to spare. With 10 seconds on the clock, Alex passed the ball to Sam who scored one final goal to win the final quarter 3-1 (they only starting counting in the final 8 minutes right?) 

MOM: Fresher George for putting in a huge effort playing the whole game. 

DOD: A somewhat distracted referee deep in conversation with one of the lifeguards in Q3. 

Written by Dan Ammon