Despite having no substitutes Polar Bears managed to thrash defending premier Mariners 9-2 in the Bowral Water Polo B grade competition on Monday.

The Mariners who were also without substitutes were not able to overthrow the stalwarts of the competition.

Polar Bears captain Nick Campbell-Jones said the win came from a great team effort.

“It’s early days but we expect the team will do well,” he said.

“Playing with no subs was hard which showed by the end of the game.”

He said the best performers for his side was goalie Owen Webb who performed well and even scored two goals.

As one of the longest standing players, Campbell-Jones said he kept coming back for the fun of the game.

“I have been playing for 21 years while Tony Springett has been playing for 22,” he said.

“It’s a whole pile of fun playing in B grade as no one gets carried always and it’s played in great spirit.”

Mariners’ captain Greg Burke said it was his side’s first loss and there was always room for improvement.

“It is early days and it didn’t help that we had no subs,” Burke said.

“We don’t have the winning side we had last year. The side has three new players so it may take a while to really get going.

“The Polar Bears are the fossils of the competition as they have been there forever and are a team that’s hard to bear.”

Best for Mariners were Wendy Elliott and the evergreen Dave Chandler who is an A grade player.

Polar Bears goal scorers: Nick Campbell Jones 2, Owen Webb 2, Andrew Orford 2, Carl Phillips, Scott Bidewell, John Anderson.

Mariners goal scorers: Wendy Elliott and Dave Chandler.