Penrith travelled to Manchester for their first tournament of the season in the North West Regional Division 3 Canoe Polo league, with a new team.
With the recent growth of the club, it is restructuring their teams to try to accommodate the influx of keen youngsters.
However, this is an open league with other predominantly adult teams, so four youth players, two playing in their first open league, were supported by two more experienced adult players.
The first tournament of the league was cancelled in October due to Storm Amy and the team almost missed this tournament due to a car fire closing the M6 for an hour.
Fortunately the other teams were willing to rearrange the games to accommodate Penrith’s late arrival.
Not the best start for a new team, and the first game against a young but well organised Friends of Allonby team, exposed Penrith’s lack of time playing together, losing 6-2 with both goals from Tim Mather.
A good team talk after this match settled nerves, and the next game against Shrewsbury was much more even, despite losing 4-3.
Good to see the youngsters getting on the scoresheet with Leo Simpson scoring one and Leo Davies scoring twice in his first tournament.
Trentham were up next. An old rival, but a newly formed team, with a very experienced player in goal, so the 3-2 victory was even more satisfying.
Simpson and Dylan Raeburn scored one each and Ben Bailie scored a great long shot in his first tournament.
It could have been more, but Mather failed to score a penalty.
Last up were Manchester Wildcats, who were league leaders, after their first tournament, but Penrith’s confidence was now high and they had certainly developed their teamwork during the tournament.
Penrith gave it their all, winning 3-1 with goals from Simpson, Davies and Bailie. A superb end to the tournament.
They are now looking forward to their next tournament on February 14.
