DESPITE the wintry conditions, the APCO Bendigo Water Polo competition continues to draws more players.After two rounds, this season shapes as being better than last summer.Bendigo APCO service stations and car washes owner, Damien Carew, has again indicated that APCO will be Bendigo Water Polo’s naming rights sponsor, as was the case last season.Highlights of last season included Bendigo fielding two men’s and a women’s team at the Victorian Country championships in Albury.Bendigo players Jacinta Street, Camille Woodland and Molly Pridham were selected to represent Victorian Country Water Polo in the Australian Water Polo Championships.The inaugural Victorian Country Junior Water Polo Championships, hosted by Bendigo, was a great success, with 16 teams making up the weekend’s competition.The championships were so successful that Bendigo has once again been asked to host both the senior and junior championships in February.Last Thursday night’s action at the Bendigo Aquatic Centre began with the clash between Couttas and Westpac Warriors.The in-form Coutts scored a 7-2 victory.The dominant player for Couttas was Dean Spencely, who scored four goals.Bruce Pridham, Brendan Hinck and Rob Campbell played well for the winners.Best for the Warriors were Nick Swan, Tim Carew and Damon Symons.Couttas again played in game two of the night and continued on their winning way by defeating Sharks, 6-2. Dean Spencely dominated with three goals and had great support from Sam Hargreaves and Rob Campbell. Sharks goalscorers were Damian Jennings and Dale Boyd.The third game of the night was in the APCO Bendigo Water Polo’s women’s- junior’s competition where the Dolphins defeated the Mermaids, 7-3.Goals were shared for the Dolphins by James Fitzpatrick, Meg Livermore, Sarah Lyons, Britnee Swan and Samantha Hommelhoff. Best players for the Mermaids were Nikki Ridley and Kelly Semple.Draw for this Thursday’s water polo matches at the Bendigo Aquatic Centre:6.35pm, men: Sharks v Couttas. 7.15pm, women-juniors: Dolphins v Mermaids. 8pm, men: Westpac Warriors v Sharks.