Despite Enfield having a five-goal handicap advantage, Bexley were still the favourites to reach the final, especially with two Great Britain Olympians – Jack Waller and Sean King – in their starting line-up.
In the opening quarter, Enfield failed to get to grips with the hosts’ pace and strength, although Alex Waller, Andy Rollé and Rob Lucas did manage to find the net to make the score 7-3 at the end of the first.
Rollé scored again at the start of the second and GB junior Alex Waller fired in two more superbly-taken goals, but Bexley continued to dominate as they extended their lead to 14-6 at the break.
In the third, Enfield held the ball better and pressed the hosts throughout. Rob Threadgold and Charlie Briers were on target for Enfield, and some excellent defensive work by Andy Poore, Craig Snowdon and Martin Ilievski restricted Bexley to just the three goals.
The final quarter also finished 3-2 as Enfield again frustrated Bexley. The visitors’ goals coming from Alex Waller with his fourth of the night, and his brother Richard Waller completed the scoring with an exquisite strike from distance.
The outcome was no surprise as Enfield-born Jack Waller showed no mercy throughout as he top scored for Bexley with seven goals, while fellow-Olympian Sean King hammered home five of his own.
Enfield would like to wish Bexley all the best in the London Water Polo Winter League Cup final and look forward to welcoming them to Southgate soon.
Enfield Water Polo’s team in full: Andy Boorman, Alex Waller, Richard Waller, Rob Threadgold, Martin Ilievski, Andy Rollé, Rob Lucas, Craig Snowdon, Andy Poore and Charlie Briers.