HISTORY MADE AS LANCASTER AND SHEFFIELD WIN
LANCASTER and Sheffield made history at this year's British
National Water Polo Championships at the Manchester Aquatics
Centre this weekend.
Both clubs toasted sweet success after making successful defences
of their national titles.
For Lancaster's men, who have also dominated the National
League during the last decade, their success cemented a record-breaking
fifth successive title, their seventh in the last nine years.
And for Sheffield's women, victory over Liverpool in a repeat
of last year's showcase final meant a hat-trick of consecutive
national crowns.
Without a string of key players both clubs knew it was going
to be very difficult to retain their titles.
But some starring performances in the pool made sure they
both pulled through stormy waters.
Lancaster, without star players David Bush and Neil Bowers,
still proved too good for Cheltenham, despite a brave effort
from their opponents in an exciting final.
A 15-12 victory made sure Lancaster were able to raise plenty
of high 'fives', understandably delighting coach Duncan Holmes.
"It's a brilliant achievement to have won this title
again. Five in a row is something special," said Holmes.
"It gets harder and harder to win this competition because
other teams improve, so to have won it without some of 'big
name' players is very rewarding.
"I thought Tom Curwen was excellent. His shooting was
important for us this weekend, and Douggie Campbell and Colin
Burgess worked so hard and got everyone going."
David Taylor top-scored with four goals for Cheltenham, but
four goals from Lancaster's leading scorer Curwen and hat-tricks
from Campbell and Scot Carpenter gave the defending champions
victory.
"We've got the National League to look forward to, which
starts in September, but we'll be doing our best to come back
here and defend our title next year," Holmes added.
Sheffield's women were pushed considerably closer in their
rematch with Liverpool, but despite seeing their opponents
win the third period 3-2, the South Yorkshire ladies held
on for their memorable triumph.
Two goals from Great Britain international Laura Evans and
further goals from Bernice Cowton, Elizabeth Bullivant and
Larissa Davies did the damage.
Forber GB internationals Jane White and the Dacre sisters,
Helen and Kathryn, netted for Liverpool, as did captain Siobhan
Winter, but Sheffield led 3-1 at half-time and always kept
their noses in front.
"We knew it was going to be tough this year. When you've
won the title two years on the row, then other teams want
to knock you off your perch," said club secretary Denry
Leighton.
"But it was although it was a really close final, the
girls showed tremendous character to win."
This year's two-day competition also saw four other champions
crowned.
Manchester women's youth and junior teams both won titles
on their home patch, romping to a 22-1 win over Sheffield
in the youth final, followed by an 11-1 win against Liverpool
in this year's junior showpiece.
Sedgefield were upset by Invicta in the men's junior final,
beaten 9-7 having trailed 5-4 at half-time.
However, Sedgefield were not without honours. A 10-6 win over
Cheltenham secured the men's youth title.
Weekend results
British National Water Polo Championships (Manchester
Aquatics Centre)
Men's Youth semi-finals: Sedgefield 13 Birmingham 4, Cheltenham
15 Croydon Amphibians 8
Women's Senior semi-finals: Sheffield 8 Manchester 7, Liverpool
C 2 Liverpool A 14
Men's Junior semi-finals: Sedgefield 18 Cheltenham 5, Sheffield
7 Invicta 8
Men's Senior semi-finals: Welsh Wanderers 2 Lancaster 14,
Manchester 8 Cheltenham 9 (after extra time)
Women's Youth final: Manchester 22 Sheffield 1
Men's Youth final: Sedgefield 10 Cheltenham 6
Women's Junior final: Manchester 11 Liverpool 1
Senior Women's final: Sheffield 5 Liverpool 4
Men's Junior final: Sedgefield 7 Invicta 9
Senior Men's final: Lancaster 15 Cheltenham 12
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