ANOTHER trophy is heading for Dunfermline Water Polo Club’s extensive cabinet after their under-18s successfully retained the Scottish Cup at the weekend.

The talented team took home the Willie Mellors under-18s cup at Carnegie Leisure Centre on Saturday as the top four teams in Scotland – Dunfermline, Portobello, Menzieshill and Warrender – faced off.

The semi-final line-up saw Dunfermline take on Portobello and Menzieshill face Warrender, and the West Fifers started their match with a strong press that allowed them to capitalise on any mistakes by the opposition.

They broke quickly up the pool to lead 6-0 at the end of the first quarter, with captain James Melville starting the scoring by grabbing a double before completing his hat-trick by the end of the period. Debutant Harry Gray scored the first of his seven goals while centre forward Euan Broatch netted the other two.

Dunfermline maintained their intensity throughout the rest of the game, containing Portobello to one goal in each half, and Broatch added another four goals to his tally as they completed a comprehensive 28-2 victory.

The rest of the goals were shared across the rest of the team, with youngsters Harris Bruce, Rory Nesbitt and Craig Harris all contributing.

Menzieshill made it past Warrender to contest the final but they were unable to stop a powerful Dunfermline team from winning the trophy.

Maintaining the high press and intensity that served them well in the semi-final, the home side once more made a strong start and led 6-0 after the first period, with Finlay Nesbitt and James Melville both grabbing doubles.

Although they conceded at the beginning of the second period, Dunfermline added another three goals before settling into their stride after half-time and seeing out a convincing 24-4 success, with a performance that delighted coach Davie Stewart.

Meanwhile five Dunfermline players were in action for Scotland’s Junior Boys team at the Baltic Amadeus Cup in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Goalkeeper Jamie Heywood, James Melville, Matthew Crighton, Finlay Nesbitt and Euan Broatch were all included in the 13-strong squad for the event that run from October 26-31 and they helped Scotland record two wins out of their five games.

Melville and Heywood, voted as Scotland’s MVP, will now leave the juniors to join the senior ranks.

In further Scotland recognition for the club, Saul Paton has been selected for the Scotland boys team that will compete at the 2003+ Inter Regions in Walsall next month.

The successful Dunfermline under-18s team (with combined scores in brackets) was Thomas Cameron, Craig Stewart (2), Lewis Goldie (3), James Melville (C) (8), Elliott Lawrence (7), Craig Harris (2), Finlay Nesbitt (6), Harry Gray (10), Harris Bruce (5), Rory Nesbitt (1), Jack Gillespie, Euan Broatch (8) and Jamie Heywood.