VARSITY 2015 UPDATE: 
While this was the year of some truly fantastic and exceptional games of Water Polo, by far the highlight of the season was the 2015 Varsity match. Despite Cambridge having home advantage, Oxford brought along enough noise, enthusiasm and energy to smash the Tabs. 

The final results are as follows: 
Men's 2nd team: OXFORD 9-8 CAMBRIDGE
Women's 1st team: OXFORD 6-5 CAMBRIDGE
Men's 1st team: OXFORD 8-9 CAMBRIDGE

Massive congratulations to both the Women's 1st and the Men's 2nd for being the 2015 Water Polo Varsity CHAMPIONS!!!

With a difference of only one goal in the final score of all three games, the fight between Cambridge and Oxford was close and certainly entertaining all the way through. We are tremendously proud over all our three teams and their achievements during the entire year and of course at Varsity. 

Finally we would also like to extend a great big thank you to all the Dark Blue supporters and alumni who came to cheer us on! 

ELEANOR JONES, WOMEN'S VICE CAPTAIN ELECT
- on behalf of Amelia Hughes

Lennard Lee of the OUSWPA asks a few post match questions:

How do you feel the Oxford team has come along this year?
The squad is larger and stronger than it has been in a number of years. Everyone has improved hugely in a very short time. The whole squad has worked really hard and helped us get to a place where we gave Cambridge a real scare. Even the Cambridge Coach was impressed with the improvement since the teams last met in December. Our defence is really strong and effective. We move the ball down the pitch really well, but our score to shot ratio is low.

Who was your man/woman of the match this year?
Amelia Gurley - our fantastic goalkeeper

Who was your most improved player?
Bryony Henry, for two brilliant goals

What was the best goal of the Varsity competition?
Holly Redford Jones scoring in the bottom left corner from right wing, floating the ball straight over the goalie.

What did you think of the Cambridge team?
They are physically bigger and stronger than Oxford.

Anything you wished might have been different if you could do it again?
We had many shots at goal, but few of them were successful. If we had scored on more of our opportunities we could have won the match. This is an area to work on in the future.

Would you care to share with the alumni about possible future plans/directions for the club?
We want to continue the rate of improvement of this year. If we do we will be in a much better position this time next year. We are hoping to have more full court time in training, so that we can train as close to match conditions as possible. We are lucky to have the amount of water time that we do, but full court time would enable us to take our training to another level. Match practice and high intensity are important to our plans for the next year.

Finally, anyone you’d like to thank or mention?
Our captain Milly has been amazing this year, as have our vice-captain Nicola and social secretary Bryony. We will be very sad to lose Milly, Bryony and Amelia and they will leave a massive gap in the squad.
A huge thank you goes to our coaches Rose and Mac, for putting in so much time and support to make the squad as strong as it is. Their arrival has marked the start of new successes in Oxford Women's Water Polo.

An invitation to Oxford and Cambridge players and alumni...

This year the Oxford and Cambridge Water Polo Clubs have been working together to organise a joint post-match dinner. We're excited to be able to offer a great deal at The Big Bang following the Varsity Match. We apologise for the short notice - it has been quite a task organising a venue large enough to seat the combined clubs' players and alumni on what is a very busy Varsity weekend in Oxford. We must stress that the deadline for tickets is this coming Saturday the 22nd as numbers have to be provided to the restaurant at this point. After this date, further tickets cannot be sold and unfortunately refunds cannot be offered. 

The annual Water Polo Varsity Match will be held on Saturday the 1st of March. Players and alumni from both Oxford and Cambridge are invited to the post-match dinner to be held at The Big Bang. Tickets are priced at £21 per head for a two course dinner. For the drinkers, wine will be provided, with water for non-drinkers.

Click Here to purchase tickets.

After finishing 3rd in the Premier South League behind competition favourites, Bristol and the old enemy, Cambridge, Oxford Men's Blues face up against Sheffield Hallam on the 26th of February at The Rosenblatt Pool (Iffley Sports Centre).  


The winner of this match will progress to the semi-finals to be held in March. 


Come down and support the boys - 26th February, 9 PM - Rosenblatt Pool.