Sheffield Hallam ran out 23-11 winners in the varsity water polo at Ponds Forge on Friday despite a very competitive first half.
The first two quarters were back and forth with either side exchanging blows and the score reading 11-9 Hallam at half time.
Highlights of the half included a great solo goal from Connie Swainson for Hallam, and a remarkable penalty save by Jess Cummings for Uni of.
Swainson was afforded the freedom of the right-hand side of the pool to swim the entire length before burying her shot into the corner, a wonderful solo effort to make the score 4-3 Hallam.
With the score at 5-4 to Hallam, stand-in keeper for Uni of, Jess Cummings completed a great penalty save gliding through the air to deny opposition captain Holly Toone.
This allowed Uni of to go down the other end and equalise through Caitlin Silk.
Uni of were underdogs going into this game, having been defeated last year, but were making a very creditable effort for the first half of the game.
The game swung decisively though when star player for Uni of, Silk, who had already scored six goals, was wrapped for committing three major fouls and had to leave the pool for the rest of the game.
This was followed by Imogen Perkins being wrapped, meaning Uni of could only use 11 players for the rest of the game and began to tire.
Hallam seized on this advantage ruthlessly, piling in the goals to make it 20-9. Uni of did manage to claw back a couple of goals and never gave up, but the game ended in a convincing 23-11 win for Hallam as they retained their women’s varsity water polo title.
Speaking to Forge TV, Holly Rooney, scorer of 9 goals, said: “It feels great, this is our last varsity together and we wanted to go out with a bang.”
Captain Holly Toone, who scored 6 goals, said: “We didn’t have the best season, so this is a great way to end it.”
It was a welcome point for Sheffield Hallam in a varsity competition they are losing heavily, taking the tally to 55.5-27.5 in favour of Uni of.
