Water polo started again in the Netherlands

After a forced break of more than three months, the highest water polo league in the Netherlands has started again with the National Cup competition. Spectators are not allowed yet, but matches can be played again. The Cup competition is played without internationals, as they are busy with qualifying for the Olympic Games at the moment.

Thanks to the availability of sufficient coronavirus tests for the clubs and the cooperation of swimming pools for opening for teams in the highest league, the restart gained momentum. The National Cup competition is set up differently from other years. The first round is played in two groups for both men and women (Round Robin system). The regular competition – with internationals – for the women restarts on February 13. The men will follow two weeks later after the OQT in Rotterdam. A number of cup rounds will therefore be played after the end of the regular competition in June, including the semi-final and the final.

Dutch Men Water Polo Cup

In the first round, the biggest surprise was in Rotterdam, where in group A home club SVH was beaten by Water Polo Den Haag (10:17). Last season, the team from The Hague still played in the first division, but on Saturday they ran smoothly to a big victory in the second half. Reigning cup holder AZC narrowly beat ZPB (10:11). ZV De Zaan was too strong for BZC in Borculo with 8:13.

In group B the most tension was in Nijverdal where Het Ravijn and Polar Bears shared the points (16:16). The home team had the lead for a long time, but Polar Bears evened the game in the last quarter. Reigning national champion UZSC shook off ZPC Amersfoort in the regional derby (10:12). Former international Benjamin Hoepelman was the big man at the Utrecht club with five goals. ZVL beat PSV with 14:10. The team from Leiden took the lead only in the last quarter. 

Men Group A – first round

SVH – Den Haag 10:17 (3:6, 5:4, 1:3, 1:4) 

SVH: Milos Filipovic 3, Rick Vermeulen 3, Frank Bot 2, Max van Genabeek 1, Mathijs Haksteen 1.

Den Haag: Kjell Wansleeben 4, Koen Heiden 4, Daan Heiden 2, Fabian van Niekerk 2, Twan de Kadt 2, Jorik Amesz 2, Coen Berendse 1. 

ZPB – AZC 10:11 (3:5, 1:1, 3:2, 3:3) 

ZPB: Unknown

AZC: Attila Kincses 3, Jacoppo Mandolini 3, Laszlo Balasz Nagy 2, Thomas Glansdorp 2, Nathan de Zwaan 1.

BZC – ZV De Zaan 8:13 (2:2, 2:4, 2:4, 2:3)

BZC: Unknown

ZV De Zaan: Angelo Korver 4, Phil Brantjes 3, Don Rempt 2, Stan Meijn 1, Mick van den Bree 1, Jurriaan van der Struijk 1, Rick Keijzer 1. 

Standings Group A

1. Waterpolo Den Haag 1-3
2. ZV De Zaan 1-3
3. AZC 1-3
4. GZC Donk 0-0
5. ZPB 1-0
6. BZC 1-0
7. SVH 1-0

Men Group B – first round

ZPC Amersfoort – UZSC 10:12 (2:4, 3:1, 2:5, 3:2)

ZPC Amersfoort: Max van der Werve 3, Lars Reuten 2, Mees Keuning 1, Danny Budding 1, Mitchell Budding 1, Sebastiaan van Mil 1 en Jorren Hanselaar 1.

UZSC: Benjamin Hoepelman 5, Sebastiaan Hessels 4, Sook Willemsen 1, Jeroen Rouwenhorst 1, Joep de Jong 1.

ZVL-1886 – PSV 14:10 (3:2, 2:3, 2:2, 7:3)

ZVL-1886: Claudio Brancatello 5, David Spijker 3, Ruben van Vierzen 2, Jasper Haasnoot 2, Mark Visser 1, Eric Verdoes 1.

PSV: Unknown

Het Ravijn – Polar Bears 16:16 (6:4, 3:3, 4:4, 3:5)

Het Ravijn: Emiel Wouters 4, Lars Gottemaker 3, Jorrit Aanstoot 2, Bas Jan Dijkink 2, Yoran Loos 2, Sander Veltkamp 1, Rob Gottemaker 1, Sam Stertefeld 1. 

Polar Bears: Kas te Riele 3, Rick Meijer 3, Sander Roels 3, Jikke Tolsma 2, Sjors de Kater 2, Lars ten Broek 2, Tarik Scherrenburg 1.

Standings Group B

1. ZVL 1-3
2. UZSC 1-3
3. Het Ravijn 1-1
4. Polar Bears 1-1
5. De Ham 0-0
6. ZPC Amersfoort 1-0
7. PSV 1-0

Dutch Women Water Polo Cup

Women cup holder Polar Bears lost in a goal-rich game against UZSC (14:16). The team from Utrecht had built up a comfortable lead after three quarters, but Polar Bears came quite close in the last quarter. At UZSC-side, former international Amarens Genee was top scorer with five goals. Fun fact: her sister and captain of the national team Dagmar Genee qualified for the Olympic Games in Tokyo in Trieste at the same time by beating Greece 7-4. ZV De Zaan lashed out against PSV. It became a whopping 6:22. Maxine Schaap scored on her own for ZV De Zaan as much goals as the entire home team in total.

In group B, GZC Donk met De Ham. The reigning champion took a distance in the third period. De Ham wasn’t able to recover that hole. ZVL defeated Het Ravijn with 18:11. 

Women Group A – first round

Polar Bears – UZSC 14:16 (4:4, 4:6, 2:5, 4:1)

Polar Bears: Storm Willemsen 6, Lola Moolhuijzen 4, Nienke Vermeer 2, Laura Schinkel 1, Jill Oort 1. 

UZSC: Amarens Genee 5, Nerida Drewes 3, Saloua Maafi 3, Sam Jutte 3, Marese Borgts 1, Esther Scheij 1.   

PSV – ZV De Zaan 6:22 (1:6, 1:5, 2:4, 2:7)

PSV: Annelot van Rooijen 3, Sofie de Klein 2, Tessa Kimenai 1.

ZV De Zaan: Maxine Schaap 6, Lieke Rogge 5, Anouk Bergsma 3, Sam Takyiwa 2, Yara Galjé 2, Jessie van der Kamp 1, Lola van de Velde 1, Sigrid Vleeshakker 1, Lotus Plugge 1. 

Women Group B – first round 

ZVL-1886 – Het Ravijn 18:11 (4:1, 7:6, 4:3, 3:1)

ZVL: Malissa van Rijn 4, Nikki Meijer 4, Renée de Kleer 2, Laura Roels 2, Sterre Bijkerk 2, Anne de Kleer 1, Hanneke Slagter 1, Isis Keijzer 1, Anna Pauli 1.

Het Ravijn: Noa de Vries 3, Lotte Beunk 2, Lieke Schokker 2, Margreet ter Schure 2, Laura Boerdam 1, Noa Donker 1.

GZC Donk – De Ham 15:11 (4:3, 4:4, 4:0, 3:4)

GZC Donk: Marit van der Weijden 4, Saskia Vos 4, Kayleigh Schonewille 2, Vivianne Kretzmann Bahia 1, Anouk Vermeulen 1, Isabella van Toorn 1, Sabine Bergsma 1, Gina Sjardijn 1. 

De Ham: Lizette Rozeboom 3, Amy Rozemeijer 3, Duchanka Kammerman 2, Danique Sap 1, Lisa van Trotsenburg 1, Noha Zwiers 1.

Standings Group A

1. ZV De Zaan 1-3
2. UZSC 1-3
3. Polar Bears 1-0
4. PSV 1-0

Standings Group B

1. ZVL 1-3
2. GZC Donk 1-3
3. De Ham 1-0
4. Het Ravijn 1-0