Match Report: DWPC Ladies v Scotland U18’s – SNL - Friendly

Published: 05 November 2025

Tuesday 4th November 2025 – Carnegie Centre - Dunfermline.

DWPC Senior Women welcomed Scotland’s U18 girls to Dunfermline for their first game since their narrow Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Warrender in May. There were 6 changes from that team with Erin, Millie and Ava playing for the U18’s and Susan J, Lucy M and Ksenia unavailable. The U/18’s also featured DWPC club members Eve Fielding and Ruby Reid. Making their debuts for the DWPC senior team were Hali, Isla and Ruby Oswald. Across both teams there were 16 DWPC/Menzieshill players playing with eight under 18. Good effort girls.

Dunfermline Ladies started very positively and led 7:1 early in the 2^nd period which included an excellent penalty save from Bea. The U/18’s then changed their defensive system to an M-Drop with counter-attack to gain ascendancy in the game and reduce arrears to 9:6. DWPC then rallied again as they began to be successful with accurate perimeter shots after quick passing and switches of play scoring 7 goals without reply to lead 16:6 midway through the 3rd period. This included Isla’s first goal for the senior team. As we continued to circulate our team, the U18’s gained momentum again to win the last period and a half 6:2 which included 3 goals from Ava T.

Reflections:

Considering the youth in our team and the fact that we lost Zara early in the game through 3 major fouls, this was a positive and hardworking performance and result. The U18’s fielded several fast player’s and we did well for the most part to be strong in possession and minimise turnovers leading to their counter-attack. Our experienced players, Julia, Kayleigh and Molly were constant attacking threats at CF and on the perimeter and scored 14 goals between them with Molly top scoring with 7. Amelia added two with accurate lobs from the right wing and Caitlin and Isla chipped in with one each from the left side.

Areas to work on in future training sessions:

• Our technical passing and shooting under pressure including changes of body position to create shooting space.
• 6 v 5 – “Man-up” – We scored only 1 from 3.
• Attacking an ‘M Drop’ Defence
• Our next game is Saturday 22^nd November at 1.00pm at Carnegie against Western. Hopefully we can see as many of the 16 as possible at training over the next couple of Tuesday’s so that we can prepare well and give me selection choices.

Match summary:

1. Team: Goals(): Bea Meldrum GK, Kayleigh Roy (2), Julia Mackay (5), Molly Meldrum (7), Amelia Paton (2), Lucy Hughes, Isla Edwards, Catlin O’Malley, Ruby Oswald, Zara Christie.
2. Exclusions/Penalties (): : Molly Meldrum (1 exc), Zara Christie (3 pens).
3. Man-up: 1 scored from 3 attempts (33%) – Penalties: 2/2 – 100%
4. Man-down: 0/1 saved (100%) – Penalties conceded: 2/3 (67%)

Match Report – U/19 Boys Scottish League – DWPC/MHW v Portobello - 30 Oct

Published: 31 October 2025

The U19 boys from Dunfermline and Menzieshill had a tough game against Portobello last night 30 Oct in the Scottish League at Carnegie with no more than 2 goals to separate the teams until the home team managed to stretch their lead in the 4^th period.

Q1 started with Portobello scoring first before George responded with 2 goals.  A quick response from Portobello with 2 goals to retake the lead before Caleb equalised.  Both sides traded goals with Frank bringing the team level again only for Portobello to take the lead 4-5 at the end of the period.

Q2 started in the same frantic way with both teams working hard as the game went end to end.  Good, effective defending and quick counters led to goals from John (2), Daniel and Brady gave the home team the end winning the period 4-3 and score 8-8 at half time. 

Q3 continued in the same way with both goalkeepers in action to keep the goal count low.  Portobello scored first before Frank equalised from a penalty.  Good defending led to George scoring on the counter, 10-10 with 1.30 on the clock.  Attacks and counters with saved or missed chances along with good defending made it a tense final spell.  However, an attack in the final seconds of the period and an outside shot from John just as the hooter went gave the home team a 11-10 lead going into the final period.

It was all to play for in Q4 and it was the home team which struck first with a goal from Frank shortly after the restart.  Goals and exclusions followed as goals from an outside shot from James and, following a fast counter, a rocket from Harry on the right wing helped stretch the lead before Portobello got one in reply 14-11 from a man up with 3.51 remaining.  Another goal for George with a cross pass 3min left.  Great save from Ali but Porty scored from rebound 15-12.  Coach Ali called the first of his 2 timeouts with 1.50 on the clock then 2^nd one with 1min remaining.  The home team then gained a man up from which George scored the final goal of an entertaining game, final score 16-12.

Qtr scores 4-5, 4-3, 3-2, 5-2 FT 16-12

A great performance from all the boys who stuck to the game plan and maintained a high tempo leading to 8 scorers on the team sheet as well as creating many more chances which weren’t converted.  

Team (goals): A Grant, F Bacik (3), E Ferrier, J Wilson (3), D Fielding (1), G Bickerton (5), C Wilson (1), B Shaw (1), H Hoblyn (1), J Lees (1), B Macarthur, R Illes-Brooksbank, A Bayne, L Currie.

Well done both teams for a close, high tempo and entertaining game.  In addition to team staff, a big thank you to refs Fraser and Tristan along with Jeanette, Sam and Danny on the table.

U19 Male & Open DWPC/MHW v Warrender Platinum 25 Oct

Published: 26 October 2025

Well done to the U19 boys team with a good win in a close and competitive league match against Warrender Platinum. 8 Different scorers on the match sheet with some good defensive work.

The first quarter saw a frantic and physical encounter with 6 exclusions and penalties between the two teams but saw the DWP/MHW leading 4-3.

Q2 saw both team settle into their game and goals were traded at both ends with DWP/MHW winning 9-7 at half time.

The third quarter was back to being a scrappy affair with both teams not executing their chances in front of goal. A few more exclusions and penalties saw the score 12-9 going into the final quarter.

The start of Q4 saw goals traded by both teams before a strategic time out from Dunfermline coach Ruairidh Henderson resulted in another home goal. Warrender Platinum returned the time out strategy with 44 seconds left and again managed to score however this wasn’t enough to gain victory as the Dunfermline and Menzieshill Whitehall boys managed to hold on for a 15-12 hard fought win.

Qtr. scores: 4-3, 5-4, 3-2, 3-3 Final score 15-12
Thanks to Jeanette, Gillian and Steven for the table and to Ali and Alan for refereeing!  Thanks to MHW for the report.

Match Report - Scottish National League U19 Girls – Sat 4 Oct

Published: 05 October 2025

RCP - Edinburgh:

Dunfermline WPC’s U19 girls opened their 2025/26 season with an excellent 17-12 win against close rivals Warrender. This coming a week on from last week’s reverse at U17 level.

We lined up with 10 players, 8 of whom were U/17 and stepping up an age group. Warrender too fielded a young side. DWPC welcomed Lucy MacNair at this age group as did Warrender with Rosa Green (RL), both experienced and powerful goal scoring threats.

Despite the scoreline, it was a close and fluctuating end to end game, with both teams enjoying periods of ascendancy and showing positive attacking and defensive play. We were though always in the lead, did not lose a period and an excellent 2^nd period in particular, where we won 6-2, established a lead that Warrender could not bridge.

Per 1: We made a fast start, racing into a 3 goal lead with goals from Lucy at the perimeter, Ava at CF and Hali on the counter-attack. Warrender fought back however, gaining and scoring an exclusion through LG followed by a goal from Emily Lake (EL) and a 2^nd from RG to tie the scores 3-3 at the end of the period.

Per 2: This was a decisive period for us. We lost an early goal through RG after conceding an exclusion but then scored 4 in a row through Ava and 3 from Lucy who had moved to CF. EL pulled one back for Warrender on the drive before Ava increased our lead to 3 again. We defended strongly, continued to drive forward gaining 2 exclusions and scoring 1 through Lucy to win the period 6-2 and lead 9-5 at half time.

Per 3: The second half of the game was very tight with end to end fluctuations but it was very positive that all our players enjoyed water time and played determinedly to maintain and ultimately, increase our lead by one. We maintained the momentum of period 2 with 2 quick goals from Lucy and Hali but Warrender fought back, gained two exclusions on the drive and scored 3 through Charlotte Smith and 2 from RG on the perimeter. Two powerful outside perimeter shots from Lucy in the last minute of the period extended our lead to 5 and a 13-8 scoreline at the three quarter stage.

Per 4: The end to end nature of the game continued into the final period with 8 goals shared. Warrender scored first gaining a penalty on the drive which RG converted. Ava re-established our lead before Warrender scored twice through EL and Zoey Nimmo. We responded positively with strong collective defence and goalkeeping to score 3 goals in a row through a 9^th from Lucy and 2 from Hali on the counter. Warrender finished the scoring M Mellanby with a nice shot under Eve’s arms for a final a 17-12 winning scoreline. Well done girls.

Game Reflections:

This was an exciting game of water polo between two very hard working and ever developing young teams. At times within the game both teams were dominant in an attacking sense whilst also showing increased understanding of team defence. Experienced players Lucy MacNair and Rosa Green were significant and powerful goal scoring contributors to their respective teams but were ably supported by their team-mates.

Going forward we should continue our excellent work rate whilst focusing on:

• Passing the ball or getting a foul quickly when being pressed closely, especially in the wide areas.
• Picking the ball up early, moving the ball forward vertically, moving the goalkeeper and shooting on target or passing accurately at the end of Counter-Attacks.
• Defensive body positions to force opposition drives away from inside water.
• Avoid fouling when caught behind opposition players driving towards the goal.

Match Statistics:

1. Team & Goal scorers ( ): Eve Fielding, Ruby Oswald, Ava Thornton (4), Hali Farah (4), Ruby Reid, Isla Edwards, Poppy Reid, Lucy MacNair (9), EllieThornton, Rosie Hookham.
2. Exclusions/Pens conceded: Ava (1 exc), Isla (1 exc, 1 pen), Poppy (2 exc).
3. Man-up –2 gained. 1 scored (50%) Man-down: 4 conceded – 1 saved. (25%)
4. Penalties: 0 gained, 1 conceded, 1 scored – (0%) –