DUNFERMLINE Water Polo Club member Finlay Nesbitt is set to make his maiden senior international appearance in an ‘Auld Enemy’ clash this weekend.

The talented youngster, alongside club captain Ali Campbell, Darren Campbell, Chris Campbell and Matthew Crighton, has been selected to represent Scotland’s senior side in a friendly with England on Sunday.

Hosted by the British Water Polo League at Ponds Forge in Sheffield, the game kick-starts the national team’s preparations for the Commonwealth Water Polo Championships to be held in Malta in September and the Scots will be looking to avenge a 13-12 defeat on penalties in their previous meeting last May.

Captain Campbell said: “This will be Finlay’s first senior international so congratulations to him.

“This time last year he was a bit player for the second team in the British leagues down south (Caledonia) and sub for the Dunfermline senior men’s team.

“But fast forward one year and he’s now one of the top players for the team down south, and on course to win their league, is a main goalscorer for the Dunfermline seniors, was top scorer for the Scotland under-21s in November last year and has now just had his first senior international call-up!”

As well as international call-ups, Rory Nesbitt, Thomas Cameron and Harry Gray all represented the club at the Under-18 Inter-Regions event in Liverpool at the weekend.

Playing for Scotland Saltires, a win over West Midlands (12-6), a draw with Wales (9-9) and defeats to East and East Midlands (6-8, 6-8) ensured that they finished fifth out of eight competing teams.

Meanwhile, the club’s senior men followed up their 27-5 win over Warrender with another emphatic league win at Carnegie Leisure Centre last Thursday.

With just 41 seconds on the clock, Ali Campbell and Nesbitt put Dunfermline two goals up against Menzieshill before a further double from Campbell, and singles from Nesbitt, Andrew Woodall and Crighton gave them a 7-2 lead at the end of the first period.

A solid defensive performance, along with a double from Crighton and singles from Nesbitt and Darren Campbell – from halfway – extended the advantage to 11-2 by the break.

Dunfermline took the third period 5-3 thanks to Ali Campbell (2), Crighton, Nesbitt and Chris Campbell before further goals by Darren Campbell (2), Crighton (2), Nesbitt and Mark Speed completed a 22-8 victory.

Coach Davie Baxter commented: “Another very strong performance from the guys, which was made even more pleasing by the fact we were able to rotate the team and give our junior players more experience at this level and still continue to pull ahead during the match. We did, however, lose some composure in parts of the match so we need to learn to keep our focus for the whole match in future.”

Meanwhile, the ladies narrowly lost out to rivals – and table-toppers – Edinburgh University in a league match that could have gone either way.

The West Fifers led at half-time thanks to long-range efforts from Hannah Milner and Libby McMeekin but they were clawed back in the second half, with the students nicking a 6-5 win in the final minutes.

Team manager Julia MacKay said: “Defensively, we worked together and as a team which closed Edinburgh Uni’s main threats down and made them rely on riskier long-range shots or man up for their goals. Credit also goes to Chantal Guillot in goal as she made some absolutely cracking saves, including a penalty save from Edinburgh Uni’s captain.

“Our passing really let us down in attack though, along with missing several big opportunities on goal.

“If we had managed to convert more of them then the scoreline would have been a lot different.”