Water polo double
Stirling Water Polo were a splash hit with two Scottish Championship wins at the weekend
On Sunday, the club contested Scottish Cup finals at Tollcross Swimming Pool in Glasgow in the under 16 boys and under 19 boys age groups.
The younger lads took on Portobello in a repeat of last year’s final which Stirling won.
They started strongly and overwhelmed their opponents in taking a 7-1 lead at the end of the quarter. And that continued throughout the game as Portobello failed to cope with the pace and fitness of the Stirling team who closed down their opponents’ attack and countered quickly. Clinical finishing saw Stirling running out easy 38-9 winners.
Later the Under 19s were up against Dunfermline in their first final in the age category.
In a competitive match, Stirling started apprehensively. They carved out three good opportunities to score but they were not clinical in converting them and Dunfermline, having soaked up the pressure took the lead on a breakaway goal.
The Stirling players were also becoming frustrated as a number of referee decisions went against them but after a time out, the players regained their composure and worked some well taken goals to take a 4-1 lead into the second quarter.
Dunfermline came back and scored a couple of quick goals but Stirling reacted well to restore their three-goal lead.
As the game progressed goals were traded but Stirling retained a comfortable cushion throughout with good outside shooting and clever counter attacks and they controlled the clock in the final quarter to run out 14-9 winners.
Stirling girls were also represented on the day with Hannah and Rachel Luke playing for Kirkintilloch and Kilsyth in their victory in the girls Under 19 final against Dunfermline.
Winning squads: Under 16s - Kester Harris, Jamie Ralston, James Clafferty, Nathan Campbell, Murray Dickson, Finn Lanyon, Hamish Robertson, James Miller, Adam Hill, Rory MacNair. Jason Dickson played in the semi final but was unavailable for the final. Under 19s - Olly Carr, Jamie Ralston, Ilhan Omar, Ian McDornach, Harry Gray, James Miller, Shawn Cooper, Matthew Wearing, Cameron Blance, Gregor Rodger, Alexander Harris, Adelio Canton and Fraser MacNair.