A young Enfield side suffered a 21-11 (2-3, 3-6, 2-6, 4-6) home defeat to Penguin in the Middlesex Water Polo League on Wednesday.

With the west Londoners arriving with a strong and experienced line-up, including several National League players, the hosts were always likely to struggle.

But Enfield did manage to open the scoring, with Richard Waller catching Penguin’s keeper napping with a quick turn-and-shot from outside 5m.

Penguin stormed back with three unanswered goals, before Costas Chamalidis fired in a fine effort from the wing to reduce the deficit to 3-2 at the end of the first.

In the second quarter, Charlie Briers battled hard in 2m to register his only strike of the night, and Sean O’Brien was allowed time and space to find the net from deep.

Claudio Palumbo then stole the ball on halfway, swam through and lifted the ball over the keeper with a delicate lob as he fought off several covering defenders.

They were Enfield’s only three attacks of note in the second, as Penguin began to dominate on the break and took a 9-5 half-time lead.

In the third, Richard Waller was again on target and Nikos Chamalidis also beat the keeper from a man-up, but Penguin moved further ahead to make it 15-7.

Enfield’s Nikos Chamalidis was on target

Enfield keeper Andy Boorman pulled off a string of superb saves in the final period, although it wasn’t enough to stop Penguin adding six more to their tally.

Debutant Paul Henzaky hammered home two finely-taken goals for Enfield, while Costas Chamalidis grabbed his second of the night.

Rob Lucas finished off the home side’s scoring with a late consolation, but it was Penguin who ran out comfortable 21-11 winners on the night.

Enfield’s team in full v Penguin: Andy Boorman, Tony Matthews, Chris Waller, Richard Waller (2), Charlie Briers (1), Claudio Palumbo (1), Rob Lucas (1), Paul Henzaky (2), Costas Chamalidis (2), Nikos Chamalidis (1), Sean O’Brien (1), Adrian Lo & Patrick Isaacs.