The Cwm Draig Senior Women Squad played their second Bristol and West Water Polo League match of the season on Thursday, when they faced Welsh Wanderers at home. Their previous encounter against Welsh Wanderers, which was also their first match of the 2017 BWWPL season, was back in March. On the day, the Dragons were beaten 14-8, away in Cardiff. However, due to the opposition playing an unregistered player in that fixture, the match and points were awarded to Cwm Draig at a 0-0 score, as well as points reduction for the Cardiff-based team.
First Quarter
The early phases of the match were evenly contested; both teams playing with high intensity, vigour and testing their opposition’s defence at every opportunity. Cwm Draig and Welsh Wanderers had instant opportunities to convert through an extra player advantage apiece, but to no avail. The first proper talking point of the match came in the fourth minute as Welsh Wanderers saw one of their players sent out for a brutality foul. The two sides looked defensively sound as the match produced a goalless opening six minutes, as attempts to score from both teams were thwarted. Following a major foul committed by Cwm Draig, Welsh Wanderers eventually broke the deadlock as they scored with just under a minute remaining of the first quarter. The away team then capitalised on another extra player advantage by doubling their lead just before the end of the opening period. The visitors snatched a 2-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Second Quarter
Like in the first period, both teams commenced the quarter solidly and kept their opponents’ offence at bay. Cwm Draig had another chance to punish the visitors, who picked up their third major foul, however, the home side could not make it count. The Dragons were getting the majority of the shots throughout this quarter and struggled to find a way past ex-Cwm Draig goalkeeper Rhiannon Griffiths. The Dragons were made to rue missed opportunities as the away team grabbed their third goal. Shortly afterwards, the home side finally broke their duck as they scored their first goal of the match and immediately pegging Welsh Wanderers back, courtesy of Chrissie Eveleigh. With just over two minutes of the second quarter to go, Cwm Draig eventually took advantage of an extra player advantage by notching up their second goal through Faye Warren and to reduce the deficit to a single goal. The Welsh Wanderers’ attack asked questions of the Cwm Draig defence, as the Dragons committed two major fouls a minute before half-time. The away side made the most of one of those opportunities by scoring and restored their two-goal cushion. Welsh Wanderers led 4-2 at the interval.
Third Quarter
Cwm Draig went up a gear from the off, as they earned an extra player advantage instantly and reduced Welsh Wanderers’ lead to a one-goal gap thanks to a finish from Erin Jones. That sparked reinvigorated efforts from the Dragons as they looked to finally take the bit between their teeth and get a foothold onto the match. The team attacked with aplomb and potency, which paid dividends as Erin Jones and Chrissie Eveleigh grabbed their second goal to put the Dragons in the lead for the first time in the game. Welsh Wanderers responded, and despite a barrage of chances for the visitors, Cwm Draig held firm to prevent conceding. Both teams had another chance to increase their tally with an extra player advantage, but the defences snuffed out the danger once again. After another flurry of attempts for Welsh Wanderers to score, they equalised in the third minute of the third quarter. A string of fines saves by Dragons' shot-stopper Meg Jones denied the opposition from taking the lead in the closing minutes of the third quarter. Both teams had set up a thrilling finale in the fourth quarter, as the score remained 5-5 at the end of the penultimate period.
Fourth Quarter
The home side began the final period strongly, applying impetus to their play and forcing the Welsh Wanderers’ goalkeeper into numerous, consecutive saves. The away side hit back and scored shortly afterwards to put their noses in front. Once more, both teams committed major fouls and provided their opponents an opportunity to convert, however, neither team could take advantage. The remaining minutes of the match was intense and quite nervy, as the home and away side saw several chances to score go amiss. As the match entered the final minute, Welsh Wanderers capped off a fine move with a goal which put the match beyond doubt. Cwm Draig had the last say as Leah Durham completed the scoring. Welsh Wanderers secured a narrow 7-6 victory.
Match summary
A thoroughly compelling match. Both teams produced an enthralling spectacle; infusing ardour, robustness and dynamism. The match entailed several sumptuous goals scored by the two sides. The complexion of the match altercated frequently throughout the full 28 minutes, with the pendulum swinging in favour for both teams at different points of the game. The result was settled within fine margins, Welsh Wanderers being slightly more clinical than the Dragons. The match was rapid and fluid, both teams had several opportunities to win the match and even put it beyond their opponents’ grasp. However, both sides’ imperfections made the encounter ever so entertaining. Overall, Cwm Draig put it a fine display. Better potency would have clinched a win for the Dragons, but that would not have been a possibility if the team had not produced an exceptional and defiant defensive performance. Welsh Wanderers were very much the same, just marginally superior than the Dragons. Not the result the team would have hoped for, but a fantastic team effort - Cwm Draig 6-7 Welsh Wanderers.
Team: Meg Jones (1/GK), Zoe Kennerly (2), Bree-Anna Taylor (3), Seren Vaughan (4), Erin Jones (5), Darrah Jones-Reddy (6), Leah Durham (7), Chrissie Eveleigh (8), KJ Williams (9), Faye Warren (10), Emily Smith (11), Shannon Lewis-Griffiths (12/C), Jo-Jo Chesworth-Rickards (13)
Goal scorers: Erin Jones (2), Leah Durham (1), Chrissie Eveleigh (2), Faye Warren (1)
Major foul receivers: Zoe Kennerly (1), Darrah Jones-Reddy (1), Leah Durham (1), Chrissie Eveleigh (1), Faye Warren (1), Shannon Lewis-Griffiths (2)