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%) –

Press Articles - 2 Oct 25

Published: 02 October 2025

Great articles in this weeks Dunfermline Press featuring the Caledonia Water Polo - Mens team coaching masterclass held at Carnegie Leisure Centre and Scottish Swimming award for Dunfermline Water Polo Club and Caledonia 1st team player Rory Nesbitt.

Link to article about Rory Nesbitt-named-Scottish-water-polo-player-year

Many thanks to sports reporter Ross Hart. 👏

Match Report - Scottish National League U17 Girls – Sunday 28th Sep

Published: 30 September 2025

 NSA Stirling:

Dunfermline WPC’s U17 girls opened their 2025/26 season with a loss to great rivals Warrender. We lined up with 10 players and welcomed young Niamh Wilson to our team for her first game at this age group. This defeat was a reverse from our excellent Scottish Cup final win. Warrender welcomed back Charlotte Smith from their Cup final team and this in the end proved significant. We started the game positively and were leading at half time but an excellent 3^rd period from our opponents and a late 4^th period rally which quelled our spirited fightback granted Warrender an 18-13 victory. Well done to them.

Per 1: We made a slow start, conceding an early penalty which Warrender converted through Emily Lake (EL)- her first of 13 goals!) We gradually came into the game, converting a man-up through Ava (her 1^st of 12 goals) and created many chances but unfortunately, we were unable to convert them under the pressure of chasing defenders and a strong showing by Zoey Nimmo in goal. We saved a man down situation, gained but missed a 6v5 before Isla put us into the lead. We then did well to defend another man-down for a 2-1, first period lead.

Per 2: We gained and scored an early 6v5 through Ava and then saved another 5v6 situation before Warrender reduced arrears through Charlotte Smith (CS) We gained but missed a 6v5 before Ava and Emily traded 2 goals each before Ava scored her 4^th of the period for a 6-4 half time lead.

Per 3: Unfortunately we lost momentum in this period. Zoey Nimmo came out of the goal and her, Jasmine Cornish, Charlotte Smith and Emily Lake integrated very well to co-ordinate their drives at goal and pass the ball accurately and at the right time to Emily Lake in space on the drive. We struggled to call and make the necessary defensive switches which allowed her to gain front water and move in to score (6). Eve made some good close in saves but we were always on the back foot, slow to secure rebounds and conceded exclusion and a penalty when caught behind. Two goals from Ava kept us in touch but Warrender scored 8 for a 12-8 lead at the three-quarter stage.

Per 4: The last period was an end to end affair and credit to our girls for continuing to work hard and staging a mini comeback. We reduced arrears to 13-15, gaining and scoring two 6v5’s  and 3 accurate shots from the perimeter, all scored by Ava. This was in reply to 3 goals from Warrender. Unfortunately we ran out of steam a little and after losing the ball in attack under tiredness, Warrender were able to counter-attack in behind us to score the last 3 goals of the contest for an 18-13 win.

Game Reflections: It is always disappointing to lose but there were a lot of positives in this performance. First half we blunted for the most part Warrender’s attacking threat and created many opportunities of our own. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to capitalise on the chances created, often delaying too long on our final shot and not moving forward towards the goal, too often shooting directly at the GK and sometimes making the wrong decision to shoot rather than pass. A great goal scoring performance by Ava but as she will inevitably draw more defensive cover, we need now to work on taking advantage of any space then created. Keep working on your swimming to help us keep ahead of chasing defenders and also work on finishing our chances when driving in on the GK with someone chasing.

Second half was not our best defensive performance as too often we let the driving player find front water instead of calling a switch to stop the drive. As a team we need to be alert when to do this. Never allow a driver to swim past you when you are marking another opponent. Always mark the player closest to our goal. We also did not put enough pressure on the player making the forward pass. Try to mark without fouling. This also led to several goals from outside perimeter shots. We will work on this.

Match Statistics:

1. Team & Goal scorers ( ): Eve Fielding, Ruby Oswald, Ava Thornton (12), Hali Farah, Niamh Wilson, Poppy Reid, Isla Edwards (1), Molly Oswald, Rosie Hookham, EllieThornton.
2. Exclusions/Pens conceded: Ruby O (2 pens), Ava (2 exc), Niamh (1 exc), Isla (1 exc, 1 pen)
3. Man-up –5 gained. 3 scored (60%) Man-down: 4 conceded – 1 saved. (25%)
4. Penalties: 0 gained, 3 conceded, 3 scored – (0%) –

East District Development Tournament

Published: 13 September 2025

Great to see so many of our players at today's East District tournament. We had 18 very excited kids participating in games not only for DWPC but also with the two Nomads teams, some playing their first ever competitive games!

The mini game with 20 young and inexperienced players in the pool was a real highlight, fantastic to see so much determination and smiles on players faces. Perhaps my top highlight, if I had to choose one, was young Danny getting one past his older brother Billy and scoring an excellent goal - a great example of what the ED tournaments are all about, game experience, challenges and lots of fun.

Probably the best (and slightly chaotic!) East District tournament I've coached in three years!

Thanks to all who helped make this happen - our table officials, young (and older) coaches and team managers and Richie for all the hard work you do to make these events happen. 🙂🤽🤽‍♂🎉