THE Pressed Earth Dolphins are emerging as the standout team in the 2017 Men’s Challenge Cup scoring a second straight win to start the season while Triton and Phantoms played out a thrilling draw.

Round 2 of the Challenge Cup for 2017 took place on Saturday at Claremont Pool and it began with a nail-biter between Phantoms and Triton.

Triton had scored the first two goals of the fourth quarter to take the lead but Phantoms drew level with just under two minutes remaining.

Phantoms had a long-range shot on the buzzer as time expired that was no good and the end result was a 9-9 draw.

It was then time for the Pressed Earth Dolphins to take on the Barbarians. It was another high-quality contest but the Dolphins just had the edge of the Barbarians throughout the contest to end up winning 12-7.

The results leave the Pressed Earth Dolphins unbeaten after two games to start the Challenge Cup season. The Barbarians are now 1-1 after two games with Triton and Phantoms having a loss and a draw apiece.

The Round 2 action at Claremont Pool began with Phantoms playing Triton. It was Phantoms who required just a minute to score first courtesy of Esfandiar Shahmir.

Triton got the response thanks to Gabriel Tebar as he began a huge afternoon personally. Phantoms answered to again lead with a goal to Richard O’Halloran but things were tied at 2-2 at quarter-time after a Triton goal from Tebar again.

Phantoms scored two goals inside a minute to start the second term with Nick and Richard O’Halloran doing the damage. Triton answered with two of their own inside 45 seconds both from Tebar to level scored at 4-4.

When Aden Chrystal scored for Phantoms just before half-time they managed to lead 6-5.

Things were again tied at 6-6 to start the second half with a Triton goal to Carter Fabling. Phantoms led briefly again when Richard O’Halloran scored but in less than a minute Triton answered through Peter Perry.

It was then Triton who hit the lead when Tebar scored his fourth of the game leading into three quarter-time.

Richard O’Halloran again found the net to tie things up before Triton took the advantage with a goal to Matt Osman with just over four minutes left. They couldn’t hold on, though, with the game’s last goal going to Phantoms from Nick O’Halloran to secure the draw.

Richard O’Halloran hit four goals for Phantoms and Nick O’Halloran three while Tebar scored four times for Triton and Fabling two.

Tebar received the three votes after the game, Nick O’Halloran the two and Richard O’Halloran the one.

It was then time for the Dolphins to take on the Barbarians. It was a tight tussle for more than the even five minutes before it was Dolphins who scored first with the advantage of an extra.

Harry Paterson scored but the lead lasted just 26 seconds before Barbarians answered through Hamish St George.

Both teams scored another goal each before quarter-time with scores locked at 2-2.

Dolphins again scored first to start the second term through Jeremy Carbone but Barbarians responded immediately through Gaby Tebar who delivered a remarkable over the head shot while facing away from goal and under pressure from two defenders.

But Dolphins managed the last two goals of the first half from Harry Foley and Peter Gaunt to take a 5-3 advantage into the break.

Barbarians did close that gap with Tebar scoring to open the second half but the next four goals went the way of the Dolphins to Gaunt, Paterson, Carbone, Carbone again and Luke Swanson.

That saw them build a match-winning 10-4 lead and while the Barbarians kept fighting, Dolphins still went on to win 12-7.

Carbone scored four times for Dolphins, Gaunt two and Paterson two. Tebar scored four goals for Barbarians to go with his four to start the day for Triton. Xandy Buckland scored twice for Barbarians as well.

Tebar received the three votes again while Carbone was awarded the two and Swanson the one.

Round 3 of the Challenge Cup will take place this Saturday at Beatty Park starting at 1.15pm with Triton taking on the Pressed Earth Dolphins. Phantoms will then play the Barbarians.

ROUND 2 MEN’S CHALLENGE CUP RESULTS
Phantoms 9 drew with Triton 9 at Claremont Pool
Pressed Earth Dolphins 12 beat Barbarians 7 at Claremont Pool