TWO games played, two games lost, but president of the Jersey Waterpolo Association, Nick Dotter, was upbeat after his squad returned from the UK following their first National League Division III matches at Walsall Gala Baths played at the weekend.

It was very much a learning curve,’ he said.

‘The first game in particular was very difficult.

Following on from the Olympics it has become a non-contact sport.

We weren’t used to that, so our game against Bristol University saw us penalized for 14 exclusions.

Each exclusion meant that one of our players was barred from playing for 30 seconds each – a total of seven minutes out of the pool during the game.

‘It was very difficult to come to terms with that.

We were always defending.

Matt Gregory scored our only goal, in a game we lost 17-1, but we’re a lot better than the scoreline suggests.’ That game was on Saturday, and with lessons quickly absorbed the Jersey team played against Basingstoke yesterday afternoon, again at Walsall, this time to leave the pool 18-6 down but with enough confidence to believe they can return in two weeks’ time believing they can win.

‘Towards the end we were starting to get our game together,’ said Dotter.

‘We were playing against guys who are ex-GB players.

We’ve a lot of learning to do, but I really believe it is a learning curve for us.

I’m hoping we’ll survive this season, to build on the experience to do well next year.

‘We’re training hard but need the experience of games like these.

‘Having looked at the teams we’re to play against, I’ve no doubt we can beat some of the opposition.

I’m looking forward to the season ahead.’ Against Basingstoke the JWA team scored goals from Dominic Sanchez, Nat Snook and Daniel D’Oliveira.

JWPA is supported by Education, Sport and Culture, and Aqua Splash.