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BRITAIN CLOSE THE GAP ON EUROPEAN RIVALS
A young British water polo squad working towards a goal of competing at the London 2012 Olympics highlighted the progress made with some impressive performances at a European tournament in Slovenia.
Britain were in Kranj to try to qualify for this summer’s European Youth Water Polo Championships and they came very close but ultimately the strength and experience of favourites France and hosts Slovenia were the telling factor. The competition, which featured 23 nations split into three groups of six and a group of five, placed Britain with France, Slovenia, Portugal, Belgium and Austria, with the top two from each group qualifying for the European Championships.
Britain’s first game was against eventual group winners France and in a close encounter the French eventually came out on top 8-6.
The squad, aged 17 and 18, faced Slovenia in the next match and it was a contest that would go on to determine which nation who would qualify alongside France. Britain competed strongly but missed out with the game going to Slovenia 10-7.
In their final three games against Portugal, Belgium and Austria, Britain found their scoring touch with three convincing wins 25-2, 11-4 and 18-4 respectively.
National Performance Director for British Water Polo Nick Hume was pleased with what he saw from the squad and feels progress is being made.
“For many years the likes of France and Slovenia have been a long way ahead of us but this group of 13 has shown that we’re closing that gap all the time,” said Hume.
 
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