16/03/08 - Rotherham Metro 18 Sheffield 9

Highlights to be shown on BBC Breakfast

(29th March BBC1 @ 0630, 0730, 0830, 0930)

A friendly organised to allow Mike Bushell from BBC Breakfast to train with the current British champions.  Not surprisingly a fantastic turn out by both players, WAGs and fans saw a strong starting seven gain a 6 - 1 advantage after the first period (Scholefield 3, Leighton 2, Wade).

With the introduction of Mike Bushell in the second quarter Sheffield found our new pit defender a difficult to deal with......Whilst Mike spent most of the time recovering Rotherham adopted various drops to create a productive counter attack that saw the second period score move to 10 - 4 (Scholefield, Swainson, Floyd, Pacey).

The third period started with Floyd winning a swim off against the under water camera man.  Mike reemerged from the bench after 5 minutes of 100% oxygen.  However Sheffield didn't seem to realise who he was and Mike has a good case for GBH off a couple of over enthusiastic players.  Rotherham Metro played the majority of the quarter practicing man down with Mike acting as a goal hanger for the camera.  The closest he came to opening his Rotherham account was from a direct pass from Birch that bounced off his head nearly catching the Sheffield goalkeeper out.  15 - 7 (Wade 2, Leighton, D Stocker, Armstrong)

The fourth period saw Mike play 30 seconds as centre forward showing Scholefield how to cause havoc. 

Mike then had a dabble in goal and managed to turn a speculative effort onto the bar.  Then with a hand from Birch, Mike saved a penalty awarded against Leighton for general sloppy play.  17 - 9  Then right on the whistle Rotherham launched a counter leading to a one against one for Mike Bushell who calmly lobbed the keeper from 5 metres to settle the derby result 18 - 9 (Swainson, Scholefield, Bushell)

The friendly was a great advert for the sport and a big thank you to Martin Kelly and Sheffield Water Polo Club for agreeing to this game and all the training games in the run up to the British Championships.