TWO teams with Dunfermline Water Polo Club enjoyed the winning feeling last Saturday as they scooped titles at a prestigious national competition.
The annual Scottish Cup finals day, which was held at Glasgow's Tollcross International Swimming Centre, saw six trophies across three age groups, and four of which were contested by the West Fifers.
They were represented in the senior women and senior men's finals, and in the under-19 and under-17 girls showpiece matches, and came home with silverware from the senior women and under-19s events.
In the first game of the day, Dunfermline's under-19s took on Kirkintilloch and Kilsyth and, in a highly competitive match, secured the trophy by an 11-10 margin thanks to Kayleigh Roy's winning goal just seconds before the final buzzer.
That ensured that they retained the trophy won last year, when they defeated Portobello, and, although the under-17s were unable to repeat the trick, going down 16-7 to Kirkintilloch and Kilsyth, who they had beaten 12 months ago, Dunfermline's senior women joined the under-19s in claiming the trophy once more.
They faced Warrender in a repeat of the 2022 final and, once more, came away with the victory thanks to a 17-3 margin.
There was, however, heartbreak for the senior men who took on long-time adversaries, Portobello, who had won the final between the teams 12 months ago.
After a highly-competitive 9-9 draw, the contest went to penalties, which, unfortunately for Dunfermline, went the way of their opponents 4-2.
Dunfermline Water Polo Club secretary, Richie Metcalfe, said: "For the senior women, it was good to see a few of the younger ones playing. We were missing three of what would be our senior starting seven, so some of the younger ones had to step up. They stuck to their game plan and got a good result.
"We expected a tough game and it was. The scoreline didn't reflect how tough it was. For some of the younger players, it was their second game of the day, as they played in game one for the under-19s.
"The first game was very close and very physical. It's always a tough tussle against Kirkintilloch. We were two down at half-time, and three down at one point, but came back. In final few seconds, Kayleigh scored to make it 11-10. We were fortunate, and our thoughts go out to the Kirkintilloch girls, to be so close.
"The under-17s was always going to be a bit of a toughie. We had quite a few younger ones, quite a few under-15s, and some under-14s, so there are a few who have got another two years at that age group.
"The senior men were one up with a minute to go, and we thought, they'll play the game out. In the last 30 seconds, Portobello got an equaliser, and penalties is always a pot luck thing. You have sympathy for the players who had theirs saved, or missed.
"They were desperately unlucky. It's the closest we've come to beating Portobello in a cup final for a few years, so that's a positive.
"We were the only club to get teams in four finals, and only us and Stirling (winners of the under-17 and under-19 boys finals) won two. We've got to look on the positives."
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