THE Men’s Challenge Cup for 2017 got underway on Saturday at Claremont Pool with the Dolphins and Barbarians proving victorious over the Phantoms and Triton.

The four-team competition has been set up in place of the Premier League which concluded in December with the UWA City Beach Bears defeating the Melville Sharks in the Grand Final at Bicton Pool.

The Pressed Earth Dolphins, Phantoms and Triton were still looking for a competition for the rest of the summer with it being decided that would be the Challenge Cup. The fourth team, the Barbarians, was organised made up of a variety of players from different clubs.

Saturday was the first day of action in the Challenge Cup for 2017 with the Pressed Earth Dolphins beating Phantoms 14-3 and then the Barbarians defeating Triton 10-6. Both games took place at Claremont Pool.

The action got underway on Saturday with Dolphins taking on Phantoms, and it was Dolphins who took the early advantage. They scored two first quarter goals from Tom Beare and Harry Paterson while Phantoms’ goal came courtesy of Nick O’Halloran.

Dolphins added another three goals in the second term from Paterson, Jeremy Carbone and James Beare to lead 5-2 at the half. Phantoms’ second goal was scored by Scott Chrystal.

Dolphins then dominated further in the second half with five goals to one in the third quarter, and the only four goals of the last to end up winning 14-3.

Tom Beare finished with four goals for Dolphins, James Beare three and Paterson three. Nick O’Halloran scored two for Phantoms.

Dolphins goalkeeper Marko Draksimovic received the three votes with two for Tom Beare and one to Paterson.

It was then on to the second game of the afternoon between Triton and Barbarians, and it was Triton who opened the scoring courtesy of Matt Oberman. Barbarians responded with the advantage of an extra man when Lachlan Mackenzie found the net.

Harry Foley and Adrian Battley scored to open the second term to give Barbarians the 3-1 advantage but scores were all tied up at the half following Triton goals to Kalani Ireland and Matt Reaper.

Triton then took the lead 40 seconds into the second half with a goal to Lewis Putt. That would be their last advantage though. Barbarians responded just 21 seconds later through Tibor Seress before goals also to Foley and Carbone to see them lead 6-4 at three quarter-time.

Barbarians stretched their advantage to 7-4 with a goal to Battley 47 seconds into the fourth quarter. It was then 8-4 with a goal Xandy Buckland. Triton did get a couple back from Matt Osman and Oberman.

Barbarians did score two more goals themselves from Seress and Carbone to win 10-6.

Battley, Carbone, Foley and Seress all scored twice each for Barbarians while Oberman also scored two goals for Triton.

Barbarians goalkeeper Tomas Lasic received the three votes with Seress awarded the two and Triton’s Thomas McKinnon one.

Round 2 of the Challenge Cup again takes place this Saturday at Claremont Pool with Phantoms taking on Triton, and then Dolphins playing Barbarians. The first game starts at 3pm.

ROUND 1 MEN’S CHALLENGE CUP RESULTS
Pressed Earth Dolphins 14 beat Phantoms 3 at Claremont Pool
Triton 6 lost to Barbarians 10 at Claremont Pool