Comments from Alasdair Campbell & a parent supporter – John Vincent

Calgary, Canada 28 December 2006 to 31 December 2006

Competing Countries (1989 +) –

G.B., Canada, New Zealand, U.S.A. & Australia.

Tuesday 26 December 2006 :-

Left home at 8.30am to travel to Edinburgh Airport to catch the 11am BA flight to Terminal 1 at Heathrow where I transferred to Terminal 4 and met the rest of the travelling party. Thankfully my bag was booked through from Edinburgh to Calgary.

The BA flight to Canada was delayed by nearly 2 hours because of first the late loading off 55No bags and then due to a faulty air conditioning switch having to be repaired.

An 8 ½ hour flight therefore turned into a 10 ½ hour one and we landed at 6.15pm local time (1.15am UK time which is 7 hours behind) after a journey of almost seventeen hours.

After a quick check in at Hotel Arts (www.hotelarts.ca) we went to the pool for a stretch & a light training session before walking back to the hotel for dinner & bed.

Ali – setting-off

Wednesday 27 December 2006 :-

After a good sleep we had a light training session, we had  no match as this was our scheduled day off. It also started to snow although temperature is not too low yet.

We had a training session at the pool at noon before the opening ceremony at 2pm.

The Talisman Centre (www.talismancentre.com) is most impressive. It has 2 x 50 m pools, a big diving tank and a learners pool which takes up about ½ the building – then a very big sports hall subdivided as required for basket ball, netball, badminton, table tennis etc., a weights room & gyms etc around the sides and a running track on a mezzanine floor above and around the sports hall area.

Evening games in our group saw Australia beat Canada 21-9 could have been more but Canada dragged Australia down to their level and the match was a little scrappy.

This was followed by USA v New Zealand which was a much better & faster game. NZ took a 3-2 lead after the first quarter before running out fairly comfortable 11-7 winners.

After an earlier dinner the team watched the first half of this USA v NZ match then had a light training session.

Thursday 28 December 2006 :-

1.30pm : Match 1 vs New Zealand

Started slowly and nervously going 2-0 down (the players in general need to take responsibility to shoot - too many opportunities were not resulting in a shot) but came back well to draw level 2-2 at the end of the first quarter

The nervous start continued into the second quarter with a lack of shooting & the players not as composed as usual, half time ended with GB 3 - 7 down although playing better than the score showed. Things started to come together in the third quarter when the team started to settle down and gain in confidence - Ali cheekily lobbed the NZ keeper twice (once during man-up!) to finish only 6-8 down.

GB scored early on to get it back to 7-8 then 8-8 and NZ nerves were starting to show after having lost a 4 goal lead . Time outs were called & GB went 8-9 down, more time outs called & and GB drew level to 9-9 with 2 or 3 mins to go. There were half chances for both sides however the match finished tied at 9 – 9 which was probably a fair result in the end although GB finished the stronger of the two teams.

7.30pm : Match 2 vs Australia

Australia in the second match were well drilled and experienced with an excellent goalkeeper. They kept GB under a heavy full man press pushing their attack arc out to 10-12m & making scoring very difficult. GB moved the ball too slow for comfort and didn’t drive enough gaining only 5 men-out throughout the match. Slight tiredness from the earlier match was also evident; this was Australia’s only match of the day

 The quarter scores show Australia’s dominance as GB lost each quarter 4-0; 3-1; 5-3 & 3-1 to lose the match 15-5.

To have a good draw in the play-offs we therefore have to beat U.S.A. & Canada to gain a play-off against probably New Zealand and avoid Australia.

Friday 29 December 2006 :-

GB started the day knowing that avoiding defeat against both Canada & USA would see them through to a semi-final against New Zealand and avoid Australia.

12 noon : Match 3 vs U.S.A.

2-0 to USA at the end of the first quarter. The American team started like rockets and although GB defended well the ball was given away too often before a shot could be taken.

The GB players settled down in this quarter, made less errors and won the second quarter 4-2 to go in at half-time tied at 4-4

GB went into a 5-4 lead early in the third quarter but USA levelled then scored three quick goals to go into the final quarter ahead 8-6 however the GB team once more pulled back to tie the match 8-8 through winning the final quarter 2-0 and doing vert well not to lose a goal in the final quarter.

The last goal came with about a minute to go followed by America attacking twice more! John reports it was nerve racking for the crowd - but the noisy American supporters were more silent at the end when GB scored - then defended so well amid all the US yells & hollers – it certainly put pressure on our boys and they responded magnificently.

This result set-up the final group match with Canada where the winner of the match vs Canada will finish in third place and will play New Zealand in the semi final, a draw will be enough for GB on goal difference.

The team returned to their Hotel for lunch and a rest before the final match with Canada – although not reported the supporters probably retired to the bar to calm their nerves !

7.30pm : Match 1 vs Canada

Excellent start by GB winning first quarter 5-3 – best start of the tournament so far.

Canada came back in the second quarter in what was becoming a very tense match winning it only 1-0 to leave GB ahead at half time by 5-4.

Canada’s resurgence continued and they won the third quarter 3-2 to go into the final quarter tied at 7-7 knowing that a draw would be enough for GB.

The score seesawed in the last quarter with the time-outs only adding to the tension, it was 9 – 9 with one minute to go when Canada scored to go 10 – 9 up. GB attacked again,  good build up and Yes a shot …and Yes it goes in….

There was time for one last Canadian attack – great defending and they shoot wide or was it deflected? GB call a final time out with 1 second to go – very quick pass and hard shot just wide from long range.

GB are in 3^rd place after the first round robin although they have done this the hard way with three draws and a defeat. The semi-final is against New Zealand for a place in the final against probably Australia.

That sound like a simple summary  – but after, what John puts down to nerves, inexperience; GB made some basic errors & lacked confidence in taking their shots.

.

The effort from the team cannot be faulted which was fantastic - even more than should have been necessary.

Saturday 30 December 2006 :-

12 Noon – Training session - A tactical training session was held followed by lunch & a rest before the evening match

7.30pm : Semi-Final 1 vs New Zealand

Before the start the New Zealand lads performed their tradition Hakka - It is quite different live and close up & the GB team were brilliant - arm in arm looking straight at them as they advanced down the pool side towards them; and then applauded when finished.

GB made a brilliant start to the game going 3-0 inside the first 1 ½ minutes, however New Zealand came back into the game through three men-up goals.

The team were playing much better The tactical training in morning session and experience gained was defiantly showing as several moves were executed with confidence.

GB lose the second quarter 4-2 in what was a fast & furious match which looks like it could go down to the wire again.

GB showed character to came back in the 3^rd quarter wining it 3-2 to go into the final quarter 10-9 behind. Good pressure from both teams throughout the quarter with good shooting and goalkeeping. Unfortunately the GB assistant Coach, Nick Hume, picked-up a red card in the final minute of the quarter.

Once again an excellent final quarter defensively to win it 2-1, Sean King scoring the equaliser (& his 7^th), with just 1 ½ mins to go, New Zealand attacks were well defended as GB once again tie the match 11-11 to take the match into extra-time (2 x 3min periods).

Despite much action - shots / deflections / saves, no goals were scored in the first period of extra time, New Zealand edged ahead in the second period & GB left it late to equalise, with only 11 seconds left Glen Robinson scored with an 11m shot into the top corner with a defender all over him to send the game into a penalty shoot-out. New Zealand have one more attack - quick hands and shot goes in top left with 2 seconds remaining GB pass to a shooter - shot saved. The score after extra-time in a superb match was 12 – 12 therefore taking the match into a penalty shoot-out. Five shooters were nominated from each side

Penalty Shoot-out -

New Zealand

Shot touched onto LH post by Matt Holland

0 - 0

GB

Sean King scores into top corner

0 - 1

New Zealand

Saved by Matt Holland inside his LH post

0 - 1

GB

Jack Waller scores inside post

0 - 2

New Zealand

Matt high out of water – ball straight at his stomach & saved

0 - 2

GB

Glen Robinson seals victory with a top corner shot

0 - 3

Sunday 31 December 2006 :-

1.30pm : Final vs Australia

The full national anthems were played for both sides in the final after the players and officials had been introduced to the crowd. As the players all shook hands as normal on leaving the rostra, the Australians each presented their opposite number with a miniature Kangaroo. What a memento for all the players.

This match proved to be a very tough battle for the GB team. Right from the start the Australian passing was quick and slick, indeed on several moves the ball never touched the water. The GB players found themselves under heavy physical pressure for all their players every time they attacked and Australia built-up a 5-0 lead after the first quarter.

In the second quarter GB improved although again losing it 3-2 to go in at half-time 8-2 down. This was an improved display by GB both in defence & in attack

In the third quarter Australia stretched their lead to 13-4 winning it 5-2 as the GB team pushed to try & recover they were caught at times on the break & had little luck in front of the Australian goals.

The story of the third quarter continued in the last which Australia won 5-1 giving a final score of 18 – 5.

At the medal ceremony the GB team all stood rightly proud of what they had achieved and received a glass trophy for 2^nd Place out of 5. Pretty jolly good on a first International tournament.

The effort from the team was terrific and demonstrates to them where they can get to with lots or hard work. However it was also quite eye opening where the rest of water polo world are, the top Europeans are likely to be ahead of Australia as they finished 2nd in a European tournament a little earlier beating Russia into 3^rd place.

We learned afterwards that many of the Australian boys had been in Europe for a month with their older squad recently and that this team had been down at Stanford University in the US for 10 days for a competition before Christmas.

This gave the GB team their first real taste of International competition and will stand them in good stead for 2007, where there main aim is qualification for the Europeans and then hopefully the Europeans themselves.

A past Lady Canadian Water Polo Captain and double Olympian selected and presented medals to an all star Team in each age group, selected over the weeks games which included both Sean King and Jack Waller from the GB side along with 4 Australians and a Canadian.

On behalf of the parents of the Players, John Vincent offered the following thanks –

‘It would not be right not to recognise and thank The National Water Polo League for allowing this squad to entry as GBJ team in the recent 2^nd half of the 2006 season of the lower half of National League Division 1. The experience gained by all these players over those 5 weekends was fantastic and without it could not have produced this result or made 10 % of the progress these boys since last summer; and remember they are all only 16 or 17 years old still.

We all owe a VERY BIG THANK YOU to their coaches Tim Dunsbee and Nick Hume, and team manager Helena Stocker and Chris Freebury who came with the team as referee for all their hard work and fantastic dedication in giving up their New Year with their families

On behalf of All Parents we wish Helena, Tim, Nick & Chris and all the players a VERY HAPPY & PROPEROUS NEW YEAR and LOTS OF SUCCESSFUL WATERPOLO’

Monday 1 January 2007 :-

After celebrating the New Year with some of the other teams the squad planned to visit Banff and see the sights of the Canadian Rockies.

Tuesday 2 January 2007 :-

Training resumes with sessions planned with both the Canadian & New Zealand teams.

Wednesday 3 January 2007 :-

Training sessions also planned for the morning & afternoon before catching the 8.40pm (local time) flight to Heathrow.

Thursday 4 January 2007 :-

Arrival is due at Terminal 4, Heathrow at 12.15pm with an onward flight to Edinburgh due to arrive at around 3pm before the final journey home.

GB Team line-up (Ali No 11)

Player Statistics (after 6 matches)

Cap

Name

Exclusions

Goals

Cap

Name

Exclusions

Goals

1

Mathew Holland

GK

8

Thomas Kelly

5

3

2

Alan Chambers

3

9

Stephen Bayles

1

2

3

Brett Perkins

3

4

10

Jake Vincent

2

1

4

Sean King

3

14

11

Alasdair Campbell

3

3

5

James Wannop

6

2

12

William Middleton

2

3

6

Jack Waller

10

13

Joshua Smith

7

Glen Robinson

3

7

14

Richard Lawlor

1

3

Results :-

28 December 2006

Match 1

Canada

9

Australia

21

Match 2

U.S.A.

7

New Zealand

11

29 December 2006

Match 3

Canada

10

U.S.A.

8

Match 4

G.B.

9

New Zealand

9

Match 5

Canada

5

New Zealand

12

Match 6

G.B.

5

Australia

15

30 December 2006

Match 7

U.S.A.

8

G.B.

8

Match 8

New Zealand

5

Australia

15

Match 9

Canada

10

G.B.

10

Mach 10

U.S.A.

6

Australia

22

Group Standings :-

Position

Team

Played

Points

GD

1

Australia

4

8

+ 48

2

New Zealand

4

5

+ 1

3

G.B.

4

3

- 10

4

Canada

4

3

- 17

5

U.S.A.

4

1

- 22

Playoffs :-

30 December 2006

4^th / 5th

Canada

8

U.S.A.

7

Semi 1

New Zealand

12

G.B.

15

Semi 2

Australia

22

Canada

8

31 December 2006

3^rd / 4^th

Canada

12

New Zealand

8

Final

Australia

18

GB

5

Tournament Final Placings :

1st

Australia

2nd

G.B.

3rd

Canada

4th

New Zealand

5th

U.S.A.