Canoe Polo with the Orkney B Team - ORKNEY VOLES

This weekend saw the Orkney Voles once again travel south to Glenrothes for their final four Scottish League Division 3 fixtures.  After the first tournament, the Voles were sitting 3rd in the league and were hopeful of a good performance this time round. 

The first game was against Forth Canoe Club who rather unsportingly took advantage of the rule allowing players with the ball to be pushed in, meaning that the Voles were left with only 4 players for much of the game.  The Voles have been working hard on their defence after feedback received during the first tournament and perhaps played too defensively in this match.  The final result was a 3 - 2 win for Forth CC, with the Voles' goals coming from Captain Christina Bristow and David Bruce.

The next game was against Aberdeen University, a strong side who were the league winners last season.  The Voles fought hard but were unfortunately beaten by the better side, loosing a disappointing 5 - 1, with David Bruce again scoring for the Voles.

Next up were Glasgow University B against whom the Voles played really well.  The communication between the team was excellent and the team played more offensively.  The Voles were very pleased to take this match 3 goals to 2, with David Bruce scoring 2 goals and Mary Saunders scoring one.  A fourth goal for Christina Bristow was disallowed in the dying seconds of the match.

The final match was against a physically strong and tactically good Aberdeen Kayak Club side.  The Voles again played as well as they could with lots of communication and attack but were extremely disappointed to loose 5 goals to nil.

Having played all of their 8 matches in the league, the Voles have won 4 and lost 4, giving a total of 16 points which for the moment places them 2nd in the league.  The final tournament will be played in May or June and the results of these fixtures will decide the final league standings.  Orkney Voles should finish at least 5th in the league, which, for a new team of inexperienced players in their first season of competitive matches is something to be proud of.

The next outing for the Orkney Voles will be to the Scottish Open Championships at the Falkirk Wheel in June, while the Orkney A side will play their last sets of Scottish Division 1 games on the 13th March and 3rd April.

The Canoe Polo league matches are all played in Glenrothes making attendence very expensive for all involved.  If anyone would like to sponsor the teams in any way to help keep them competing, please get in touch with Kristian Cooper at Kirkwall Kayak Club.  If you'd like to come and see what canoe polo is all about, training takes place in Kirkwall Swimming Pool on Friday nights between 9 and 10pm. 

MKS