TAMWORTH Tigers held their spot on top of the Tamworth Water Polo table with a 12- point thrashing of the U16s, whilst a fiery affair saw four ejections in the other match.
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Southgate took on Eco Energy in the first game and the two sides were going goal for goal in the first quarter.
Jordan Sharpe scored the first of his five goals to level the scores at two all, although a late goal from Jayden Gimbergh saw Southgate go into the first break up 3-2.
The second quarter was just as close, with Eco getting a goal back to be 4-all at halftime.
That was where Southgate would stay, as Eco piled on five more goals to win 9-4.
An early ejection for Eco had both teams fired up and it erupted into a fight in the final quarter, with both sides feeling the wrath of the umpires with ejections.
Eco captain Ryan Martin said it was always a fiery affair when both teams meet.
“It’s great to get the win over these guys before the Christmas break,” Martin said.
“We applied a bit of pressure and these guys just couldn’t handle it again.
“It is a pretty tight competition this year.”
The captain rated Jordan Sharpe as the best in the pool after he scored a goal in every quarter and two in the last before getting ejected.
Daniel Pyne also had a good game in goals and earned the umpires’ nod.
In the following game the Tigers mauled the U16s on the back of four goals each to Matt Sandel and Max Colby.
A very one-sided match saw a 7-1 half-time score perfectly double to be 14-2 at the final whistle.
Tigers captain Chris Rowbottom said it was good to get the win and stay on top.
The premiers have only lost one game this season and have a good mix of young and older players.
“The 16s are a development squad and a good young side,” Rowbottom said.
“They are getting stronger and improving every week.”
“That is what it is about with that side in the competition.”
At the Christmas break, Tigers are on top with Eco winning the close battle for second over Southgate and the U16s are on the bottom.