Background
The current situation in British Water Polo in the North West of England is that once a girl reaches the age of 17yrs she has to stop playing junior water polo or play for a Ladies team that is part of the British Water Polo League.
The situation in the North West of England is that there is no stepping stone to the British Water Polo League
.
The Ladies Development League is supported by the Central Lancashire Swimming and Water Polo associations and Swim North West.
All clubs are affiliated to the Association and are governed by the association’s constitution.
The aim of the league is to provide competition on a regional basis to develop players and support clubs who may wish to join the league in the future. Clubs will be encouraged to have a mixture of Senior, University and Junior players.
Carlisle Aquatics has joined the above league and has played 3 games to date. Details of the matches are listed below and the reports are taken from the Ladies Development League website.
The first game was at home to Tyldesley Pelicans on Friday 19th July.
Tyldesley beat a young Carlisle team who were playing their first game in the league. It was the first competitive Ladies Match for the Carlisle team. In the first quarter Tyldesley went into a 4 goals to 2 lead, goals by Grace Morley (2),Toni Farley and Sam Grundy. Carlisle goals were by Rebecca Lightowler and Emma Little. In the second quarter Tyldesley played a strong defence and scored 3 goals without a response from Carlisle. Goals by Jo Costello (2) and Natasha Grundy. 7 : 2 to Tyldesley at Half time. In the third quarter Tyldesley again pressed hard and scored 3 goals by Toni Farley, Sam Grundy and Grace Morley. Tyldesley went into the last quarter leading 10 goals to 2. Chloe Arthur scored for Carlisle but Tyldesley responded with goals from Grace Morley (2), Natasha Grundy and a goal from 13year old Stephanie Whittaker The final score was Carlisle Aquatic 3 Tyldesley Pelican 14.
On Sunday 21st July the Carlisle team travelled to Liverpool Aquatics Centre to play the Liver Birds. In the first quarter Liverpool went into a close 3 :2 lead Liverpool scorers, Lucy Shaw, Beth Bolton, and Alice Byrne, Carlisle scored through Jess Arthur and Emma Little. At Half time Liverpool had scored 4 more goals without a response from Carlisle, goals for Liverpool by Lucy Shaw 2 and Beth Bolton 2. At the start of the third quarter Liverpool were leading 7 goals to 2. Liverpool further advanced their lead by scoring 5 goals to Carlisle’s 1 Liverpool goals Beth Bolton 2,Scarlet Head, Abbey Septon and Verity McCoy. A Carlisle goal was scored by Emma Little. At the end of the quarter Liverpool lead 12 :3. Carlisle won the last quarter 3 goals to 2 . Carlisle scorers Izzy Howe, 2 and Emma Little, Liverpool scorers were Lucy Shaw and Abbey Septon . Final score - Liverpool Liver Birds 14 Carlisle Aquatics 6.
Carlisle then travelled to Tyldesley Pelicans for the away match. This was a much closer fought match with the young Carlisle players bonding as a team and learning from the previous 2 matches. In the first quarter Tyldesley were losing by 4 goals to 3 but in the second quarter Tyldesley rallied and scored 5 goals without a response from Carlisle to lead at Half time 8 :4. In th third quarter Carlisle came strongly back and won the quarter 5:3 . Tyldesley were still leading entering the final quarter by 11 goals to 9. In the final quarter Tyldesley scored 5 goals to Carlisle’s 2.
The final result was Tyldesley 16, Carlisle 11. Tyldesley goal scorers were Jo Costello 6, Toni Farley 4, Grace Morley 2, Nicola Veitch, Sam Grundy, Steph Whittaker and Amy Spence. Carlisle Goal scorers were Izzy Howe 4, Natasha Hall 2, Jess Arthur 2, Emma Little 2 and Lucy Wilson 1.
