The men’s water polo squad took apart their Lancaster opponents to win their third Roses fixture in a row. In what was often a tense and scrappy affair, York didn’t play their best, but it was more than enough to run our 8-4 winners of what is rapidly becoming a flagship Roses event.
The match began with York in a feisty mood, Joe Ramage immediately had a powerful shot saved by the ‘keeper. Lancaster were also threatening, having a number of promising attacks. It immediately became obvious that this would be a relatively evenly matched, defensive and scrappy encounter with the Lancaster team, much like the women being set up defensively.
Mike Perkins had another great chance to score, but his shot was deflected by the keeper. Indeed although the teams were relatively evenly matched in terms of possession, it seemed that York were far more potent in attack than their Lancaster counterparts who seemed to lack something of a cutting edge.
Eventually York’s pressure told and Ramage struck like a lightning bolt with a hugely powerful shot nestling in the bottom corner to put York into the lead at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter began with York striking a huge blow. Patient build up play between Ramage and Matyas was rewarded when the latter smashed the ball home for York’s second. York were beginning to hit top gear, cheered on by an increasingly raucous crowd, and the second goal was immediately followed up by a third which was coolly taken by Perkins to leave York in a dominant position.
During this period everything seemed to be clicking into place for York. Keeper Chris Snowden seemed secure, an imposing and confidence inspiring presence in goal, and the York Defence seemed capable of dealing with anything Lancaster could throw at them. In attack York were extremely potent, with unerringly accurate long throws from Snowden often finding a York player clean through on goal.
The York onslaught continued with Filippo Cocozza having two shots parried away by the Lancaster keeper. However, Lancaster immediately countered and scored from pretty much out of nowhere to give them some hope to cling too. York were not affected by this, redoubling their efforts to go on the offensive again as the second quarter drew to a close. Out of nowhere the ever dangerous Perkins took a screamer that sailed into the net, apparently snuffing out any hope that Lancaster may have had.
However, Lancaster hadn’t read the script and immediately after the start of the third quarter they scored an absolute screamer out of nowhere which confounded keeper Snowden to bring the score back to 4-2. With the crowd now reaching fever pitch the match appeared to be degenerating into something of a free for all with both teams taking turns to stage mass attacks. A long ball from the keeper fell to Gabriel Cramer who shot right at the keeper while Perkins had another great chance to increase the score.
York did eventually break through with a stunning goal from Schinaia extending York’s lead. However almost immediately Lancaster went down the other end and scored what can only be described as a soft goal for the keeper to concede, to bring the score back to 5-3.
The crazy end to end nature of the match continued, fuelled by the energy created by the now delirious crowd, with Captain Joe Marshall scoring a quality goal to increase the score to 6-3 However Lancaster weren’t done yet and quickly struck back to make it 6-4.
As the Fourth quarter began, the match was still in a finely balanced state. However instead of conservatively playing out to the finish, York were still on the offensive. Ali Holmes had a great chance to kill the match but he shot at the keeper. Lancaster had a great chance to set up a grandstand finish but their shot was deflected off the post.
York seemed to be gaining strength, pushed on by the crowd who at times appeared to be acting as an extra man, while Lancaster appeared to be becoming increasingly jaded, noticeably more sluggish than their opponents, however York needed another goal to guarantee the win. This came through a moment of absolute brilliance with two minutes to go from Perkins who’s shot, from long range was hit with the accuracy and speed of a guided missile, sending the York faithful into hysterics.
York were shortly afterwards awarded a penalty which Gabriel Cramer who coolly slotted home to seal the deal. Jubilant scenes ensued after the final whistle with the obligatory pool jump being performed by members of the Water Polo and Swimming team.
Captain Joe Marshall was delighted, but not surprised by the result “it absolutely doesn’t get better than this” he told Vision. “There’s been a lot of talk from Lancaster recently, but we delivered when it mattered. It was a good game, very scrappy, it wasn’t a reflection on our usual performances, but we got the result and that’s all that matters.”