ESSA U16 Regional Water Polo Champions


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Sunday May 14th proved to be a landmark day in the history of Charterhouse water polo when the Under 16 team, representing the South in the final of the Regional Championships, defeated Warwick School who, by some strange interpretation of English geography were representing the North. 

This was the first time that a Charterhouse team had ever won through to this stage and the first time that any Charterhouse team could claim to be national champions since the shooting team won the Ashburton Shield in 1989.

They did it the hard way, too, eschewing the knock-out version of the competition and winning through the regional leagues to earn their place in the final at the Gala Baths in Walsall. That their place in the final was merited was evident from the fact that they had already beaten two of the finalists in the parallel competition in the group stages.

A winter of fierce competition culminated in a nail-biting final series of matches played out in the Charterhouse pool. Determined play and some brilliant goalkeeping from Mark Webb saw Charterhouse defeat previously unbeaten Haberdashes' Aske's as well as Alleyn's and the Manor School to finish as champions of the South. And so they headed up the M40 to meet their "northern" counterparts who, curiously, had also had to travel north to get to the midlands venue.


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The match began poorly for Charterhouse. Perhaps they were overawed by the occasion or perhaps Warwick School, whose Under 19 team had aslo reached the final, were going to be too good for them. Warwick took the lead mid-way through the first quarter and doubled their advantage when both Charterhouse defenders were sent from the pool within seconds of each other.

When quarter time arrived, the Charterhouse followers were beginning to wonder whether this was a bridge too far and were talking in terms of hoping to avoid embarrassment. The Charterhouse coaches were viewing things rather differently.

What Mike Clark and Peter Allison said to the team at the break has yet to be revealed but it certainly had the desired effect. The team came out fired up for the second quarter, there was a passion and belief which had been previously missing and there were tactical changes too. Suddenly the dangerous Warwick forwards could not get into the game and, in contrast, the Charterhouse players began to find time and space and to exploit it.


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Jack Marriott scored the first, Christian Hacking the second and suddenly the flood gates opened. Further goals followed including one from the sweetest move of the game - a pass from Webb in goal to Alex Reeve-Tucker on the right flank. The ball was moved swiftly on to Marriott who scored with an unstoppable effort. Warwick heads began to drop and Charterhouse supporters began to look at each other in disbelief. Was this the same team which had been so tentative in the first five minutes? More importantly, could they keep it up?

At half-time Charterhouse led 5-2 but now they would be defending the more difficult, deeper end. The third quarter yielded one goal apiece with both sides having chances to add to their total. They were either spurned or thwarted by excellent goalkeeping. Mark Webb in the Charterhouse goal was proving his usual unpassable self.

6-3 and five minutes left. Still we held our breath, not daring to believe that the dream might come true. No chickens had hatched yet but in the quieter moments, if you listened carefully, you could make out a faint tapping on the inside of various shells.

Marriott scored again. Surely now...Warwick pulled one back. When you are three goals ahead it seems like the slenderest of leads. When you are three goals behind the mountain ahead appears impossible to climb. Warwick, to their credit, gave it their all but as they tired Charterhouse, now rampant, took a terrible toll.

The bare figures of the final score, 11-6, do scant justice to the closeness of the battle. Charterhouse held sway - just - through the speed and power of Marriott, Reeve-Tucker and Hacking and through the splendid goalkeeping skills of Webb. In addition, their pool of reserves, so vital in such a strenuous contest, proved stronger than that of the opposition.

Goals were scored by Marriott (6), Reeve-Tucker (2), Hacking, Jeremy Ellis and, gloriously, Max Lawson, the captain, but all played their part in an historic win. The water polo world shudders at the thought that this squad will be together for another two years.

Squad: Max Lawson (S) (capt), Mark Webb (g), Oliver Bristowe (S), William Maxted (H), Alex Reeve-Tucker (g), Doy Thomson (P), Rupert Hamer (L), Jack Marriott (H), Freddie Burness (W), Christian Hacking (H), Jeremy Ellis (H), Hugo Millington-Drake (S), Duncan Street (P)