Bradford on Avon Water Polo

Bradford on Avon ASC men's water polo team welcomed Swansea Water Polo Club to the riverside baths for the first fixture in the 2025 season of the Bristol & West Water Polo League, division 2.

BoA had a full squad of thirteen with Swansea bringing a squad of ten. BoA also had a full squad of table officials to help with filling in the match sheet, timekeeping and operating the scoreboard.

BoA captain Tom Bentley won the toss and BoA started attacking towards the river (shallow end). In a fairly uneventful quarter, BoA failed to score but Swansea got a couple of goals, with their pit man proving to be a bit of a handful. 0-2 at the end of the quarter.

BoA were much improved in the second quarter. Adam Slezak getting three goals with one apiece from Chris Hodges and Luke Barnsley. BoA's defending was much improved, shutting out Swansea to lead 5-2 at half time.

The third quarter was a tight affair with both teams scoring twice. BoA's goals coming from Martyn Hodges and Fletcher Stevenson.

7-4 to BoA at the start of the fourth quarter, with BoA shooting at the deep end, should have seen BoA comfortably see out the game. But Swansea pulled a goal back before BoA rattled in four goals without reply, three from Stevenson and one from Barnsley. 11-5 up with 1 minute 36 seconds of the game left should have seen BoA close out the game comfortably. But credit to Swansea, who fought back and scored three times in the remaining time left. Final score, 11-8 to BoA.

A great game to open the season with. Very competitive and fast paced, physical, and with some powerful shooting.

Thanks to referees Smith and Poole, The Three Horseshoes pub for hosting the teams afterwards, Jo Bancroftt for providing the sandwiches and thanks to Swansea for making the long trip to Bradford on a Monday evening. Best of luck for the rest of the season!

Next match is on Monday, March 3rd, against Swindon Dolphin Waterpolo, the only other water polo club in Wiltshire. If you fancy coming to watch, the game starts at 8:30pm. Free entry! See you there.

Tonight is our mens first game of the 2025 season in the Bristol & West Water Polo League. We're in division 2, and we welcome Swansea Water Polo Club to the Riverside Baths. The match starts at 8:30pm, so come on down and watch the toughest sport in the world!
We're always on the lookout for new players, so if you're a good swimmer who fancies a new challenge, or a former player looking to get back into the sport, come on down on Monday evenings at 8:30pm. Junior sessions also on Mondays, at 7:30pm.

It's the eve of the 2025 season, so I thought I'd have a little recap on the 2024 season.

For the senior men's team, it was our most successful for a number of years, with a final playing record of:
P 10, W 5, D 0, L 5, GF 133, GA 140, GD -7.

Fletcher Stevenson played the most games, 9, followed by Andy Perry and Stuart Moore with 8 appearances. Alex Mosey, Jacob Greenow and Martyn Hodges playing 7 matches.

On the goalscoring front, Fletcher Stevenson led the way, scoring an impressive 43 goals. Martyn Hodges won the battle of the brothers, scoring 28, with Chris Hodges netting 23.

Fletcher Stevenson made it a clean sweep of awards for the season by winning the major king, amassing 12 exclusions, with Alex Mosey two behind.

At Bradford on Avon ASC's celebration evening, Fletcher was presented with the player of the year award, with Clive Milner winning the Club Person of the year. Both thoroughly deserved!

The junior section has had a fantastic 2024. The swimming club helped fund a promotional offer which saw a lot of children gain an introduction to water polo. For a number of weeks we saw nearly 30 children in the water, and a good number of them have continued to come to the junior sessions. They have played in a few tournaments and did themselves and the club proud with their performances, with many of the children playing competitive water polo for the first time.

Now for a few thankyou's:
To Bradford on Avon swimming club for their continued support of water polo. In the time that I have been at the club (16 years), the relationship has never been better. Thanks to everyone on the BoA committee, especially James Hobbs.
Thanks to Bradford on Avon Swimming Pool for all their help and for making sure that everyone is safe and looked after.
Thanks to the Bristol and West Water Polo League for running the sport in the area, and for all the referee's who make sure that the games are played.
Thanks to all the coaches and helpers on poolside for your efforts in ensuring that everything runs smoothly on training nights and match nights.
Thanks to the Three Horseshoes pub, who kindly allow us to bring our own food into the pub, and thanks to Jo Bancroft for supplying the buffet, to allow us to entertain the opposition and referee's whilst we re-hydrate.
Thanks to everyone who has come and supported us.
And finally, thanks to everyone who has played for us this season.
Your support for BoA water polo is greatly appreciated.

Roll on the 2025 season!

Calling all junior swimmers who are confident in the pool and may wish to try something different to lane swimming…Now is your chance to try it out! Bradford on Avon Water Polo club are running a limited pilot scheme in partnership with Wiltshire Council and Swim England.
This scheme is 10 weeks in length running from 9th September until 11th November, every Monday 7.30-8.30pm at the Bradford on Avon pool. The scheme is subsidised at £3 per session. See attached poster and register your place asap as numbers are limited and based on a first come first served basis. Experience the joy of a great team sport and see what it is all about 🤽🤽‍♀️🤽‍♂️

Use the trial link and make sure you type “WPlink” in the swimming experience box.

https://www.boaswimming.org.uk/register-for-trial/

A great day at the Wiltshire County Masters Swimming Championships on Saturday as our polo players proved that polo players are great swimmers!
Jacob Greenow led the way with four first place finishes from four individual swims. Stuart Moore gained two firsts, a second and a third place. And Clive Milner lived up to his nickname with three first places from three swims. Former player Chris Maslen also swam well and got two third place finishes. There were various medals won by the boys in a number of relay races, too.
The polo boys also teamed up in the 4x25metres freestyle relay, swimming alongside a team of 'proper' swimmers from the Bradford on Avon club. The polo boys swam superbly to get a 2nd place in their age group. They weren't able to beat the 'proper' swimmers, but they gave them a fright!
The BoA swimming club had a great day at the meet. 14 swimmers, all swimming fantastically, with every one of them winning at least one medal.
Congratulations to everyone who swam!

BoA Water Polo would like to wish our current players Jacob Greenow, Stuart Moore, Clive 'medals' Milner and our former player Chris Maslen the very best of luck for tomorrow, as they try to prove that water polo players are great swimmers, when they compete in the Wiltshire Masters Swimming Championships at Marlborough College.

They are part of a team of 13 representing Bradford on Avon ASC. So if you fancy seeing if you've still got it, please consider entering the next round of competition.

Masters Swimming is for everyone aged over 18, swimming in five year age groups, 50-54, 55-60 etc. Last time out the oldest swimmer was 93!! There are three afternoons of competition each year. For more information get in touch with your local swimming club or chheck out Wilts Masters Swimming on Facebook.

Best of luck, boys!

BoA welcomed the Celtic Dragons to the Riverside Baths recently, for their latest Bristol & West Water Polo League, division 2, match.

The Dragons are a combination of Newport 2nds and Cwm Draig (Aberdare), and came over the Severn with a squad of nine players. BoA's DoP, Jim Robinson, had earlier in the week announced a full squad of thirteen players, with Clive Milner and Tom Bentley on table duties. This was a game that BoA felt that they had a chance of winning, and there aren't many of them, and there was a tense atmosphere as BoA came onto the poolside in front of the biggest crowd for quite a while, of five. Many thanks to Alex Ridge's wife and his visiting relatives from Canada. They may have been hoping to see a fight, but, sadly for them, a water polo match broke out.

The Dragons took an early lead but BoA came back with two goals from Fletcher Stevenson and one from Martyn Hodges to lead 3-1 at the quarters end.

Another goal from Stevenson and two from Chris Hodges in the second quarter for BoA, but the Dragons scored three times to leave the half time score at 6-4 to BoA.

Chris Hodges rattled in a third quarter hat trick for BoA, but the Dragons got four of their own to leave the score at 9-8 to BoA with one quarter remaining.

Adam Slezak increased BoA's lead but the Dragons scored two goals in 21 seconds to level the game up, 10-10. The two teams traded goals until, with 1min 28secs left, the Dragons took the lead, 12-13. BoA pushed for the equaliser, but with 40secs left on the clock, the Dragons got another and held on until the final whistle, to win by two goals, 12-14.

A very tight game that BoA could have won, but credit to the Celtic Dragons, who defended very well and took their chances well. BoA's players were disappointed after the game, along with BoA head coach Jim Robinson, but they know that if they can work the ball up the pitch quicker and get a ball into the pit, the goals will come.

The two teams retired to the Three Horseshoes pub for drinks and another Jo Bancroft buffet. Many thanks! Thanks also to referee's Selby and Poole, and to Selby Jnr for assisting on the table.

BoA's next match is on Monday night, May 20th, at home, against Swindon Dolphins. The match start at 8:30pm. Come on down, it's free entry, and should be another exciting match.

BoA welcomed Welsh Wanderers 2nd's to the Riverside Baths for their first home fixture of the season last Monday. The teams had met only a few weeks previously in Cardiff, where BoA had lost 23-14, but with home advantage, BoA were hopeful of doing much better this time.

BoA had to convene a selection committee meeting for the first time in a long time, and DoP Jim Robinson announced a full, and on paper, a strong squad. The Wanderers came with only eight players, but as the 2nd team of the best team in the UK at the moment, they were all going to be very useful.

BoA lost the toss, lost the swim off, and after 50 seconds had had a man sent out and conceded the first goal. After 2mins 46secs, Alex Ridge got his second major foul and BoA were 3-0 down. But credit to Ridge, who played the remainder of the match without getting his third major foul. But BoA fought back, and two goals apiece from Martyn Hodges and Fletcher Stevenson with one from Chris Hodges, saw BoA leading 5-4 at the end of the quarter.

BoA extended their lead to 7-4 in the second quarter, before The Wanderers fought back to take the lead at half time, 8-7. BoA's goals from Martyn Hodges and Jonathan Roche.

The second half was one to forget for BoA. No goals in the third quarter saw BoA trailing 11-7.

BoA did get two more goals in the last quarter from Martyn Hodges and Stevenson, but The Wanderers played some great polo, swimming hard and shooting harder, they scored a further eight goals against a tiring BoA. The final score, 19-9 to Welsh Wanderers.

A disappointing result for BoA, especially after only trailing by one goal at half time. But there were a few too many loose passes and too few shots got away. But credit to the Welsh eight, who played extremely well.

We all retired to The Three Horseshoes pub for drinks and sandwiches. Thanks to Jo Hazell for providing the food, referee's Tomlinson and Smith, table officials Gary Smith and James Bancroft and The 'Shoes for hosting us.

Next match is tomorrow, Monday, April 29, against Celtic Dragons, a collaboration between Cwm Draig (Aberdare) and Newport water polo clubs. Game starts at 8:30pm, it costs nothing to watch, so come on down and enjoy a game of water polo.

It's game day!

BoA's men's team welcome Welsh Wanderers 2nd team to the Riverside Baths for BoA's first home match in this years Bristol & West Water Polo League.

BoA's first match was away at Swansea and we narrowly lost 12-9.
BoA's second match was in Cardiff against tonight's opponents. BoA lost 23-14 against the second team of the best team in the country at the moment, so another tough match is expected tonight. But BoA have a full squad and home advantage, so you never know...

The game starts at 8:30pm and it's free entry? So come on down and take a look at the oldest team sport in the Olympic games, and at what is widely regarded as the toughest sport in the world. Don't believe me? Then come on down on Monday nights at 8:30 and have a go!

Join us afterwards for refreshments and reflections on tonight's game in the fabulous Three Horseshoes pub.

BoA polo fans worldwide, it's been a long time since I last reported, so apologies for not keeping you up to date.

The 2024 season has started, but first, I shall briefly report on last seasons efforts.

We knew 2023 would be a tough season. We had a large group of ageing players and a group of youngsters who would be leaving for university during the season. There were very serious discussions about withdrawing from the league, and even calling it a day completely. But our DoP, Jim Robinson came to the rescue, approaching Bath University and Frome water polo clubs, and arranging for BoA to 'loan' players from these clubs, to allow us to play our games. And it worked very well, with BoA able to complete the season, the players from Bath and Frome getting more training and game time, the ageing BoA players kept on going and our Uni lads playing when they were home.

Our 2023 playing record was:
P 12
W 2
D 0
L 7
3 walk overs given
gf 96
ga 125

I have not worked out who our top scorer was, but Martyn Hodges must be in with a shout after scoring 11 against Taunton.

We are incredibly grateful to the Bath University and Frome Water Polo Club's for their help in keeping BoA water polo going, and we are delighted that they have agreed to help us again during 2024.

Our junior sessions continued to be well attended, and they have had their first taste of competitive polo in a couple of tournaments.
Huge thanks to Clive Milner for running the junior section. Hopefully we will see some of the juniors playing some games for the senior teams soon.

2023 did see one of our stalwarts leave the club, as Roger Chapman moved out of the area. Roger played in goal since long before my time, and we'd like to say thank you Roger, for all your efforts over the years.

The 2024 season has started, and I shall report again shortly with all the latest news.

Amazing games today from our junior water polo team! They played their socks off! With no subs due to numbers attending it was a big ask of the team and they met the challenge head on. Some superb close matches and a fantastic afternoon had by all. A big welcome to our most recent players Emily and Matthew all the way from New Zealand. Well done everyone and thank you to all those that volunteered. 💪💪👏👏🫡Swindon Dolphin Waterpolo waterpolo waterpolo club Bradford on Avon ASC

Our very own Jim Robinson received an honorary life membership in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the club. Jim has been an absolute rock to water polo and without him the club would simply not exist.
Thank you Jim from the bottom of our hearts for always being there and always getting the best out of your players. 🫡🏆🏆👏💪🙏