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BWPL SERVES UP A TV THRILLER!
The first-ever filming of British Water Polo League Super 5s action for screening by Sky Sports could hardly have produced a more spectacular weekend of drama at Manchester Aquatics Centre (21/22 January).
As this was the finale of the men’s competition (the girls finish at Cardiff International Pool on 11/12 February), it was inevitable that the title battle between Lancaster City and City of Manchester would hold centre stage.
Lancaster eventually won through – but only by virtue of a superior goal difference. The whole affair was so close that, if Manchester had scored just one more goal when beating Lancaster 10-9 on day one, they would have been crowned champions.
But narrow defeat offered Lancaster a lifeline, which they gleefully accepted. Goal difference would now be the key, providing both teams won their final matches - which they did. Manchester had the better record going into day two – but the battle was effectively over once Lancaster hammered West London Penguin 22-7.
No one could have written a better television script!
The first television coverage of a British club match for several decades follows months of work by the league – but would certainly not have happened without the considerable contribution behind the scenes of former National League chairman Stephen Baker.
BWPL chairman David Andrews said: “This initiative is something we believed was essential to give our sport far more exposure – and to demonstrate what a great spectacle water polo provides.
“What must be stressed is that the whole project has been self-funded by BWPL thanks to sponsorship and the very generous support of friends of the league. Bringing it to fruition is a huge coup for BWPL – and what better timing than in the year of the Olympics.”
Sky Sports will be screening a one hour “Match of the Day”-style highlights programme on five occasions. Provisional dates:
• 5 March Sky Sports 2 18.00
• 5 March Sky Sports 2 21.00
• 6 March Sky Sports 4 00.30
• 6 March Sky Sports 3 09.00
• 6 March Sky Sports 4 15.00
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BWPL sponsors at MAC:
• Adidas www.adidas.com
• CRL Concrete Repairs www.concrete-repairs.co.uk
• Gatwick Outsourcing
• J.C.Leisure www.jcleisure.co.uk
• Vincent Timber www.vincenttimber.co.uk
Our picture shows the victorious Lancaster squad with the Super 5s trophy.
Back row (left to right): Duncan Holmes (team manager), Colin Burgess, Tom Curwen, Mike Brown, Sam Smith, Hamish Crichton, Dave Bush. Middle: Rysz Detko (coach), Zak Sly, Decland Ellwood, Marc Robinson, Giannis Paraskevopoulos, Fotis Paraskevopoulos, Jeff Parker (team manager). Front: Skipper Chris Hartley, James Wannop.
Click on the men's and women's Phase 2 news pages for all the action from MAC.
LANCASTER’S TITLE – BUT ONLY JUST
Rysz Detko, coach of Lancaster city, admits that at one stage a few weeks ago he could never have imagined his team as British League champions.
“We had a very poor first half of the season and, to be honest, were lucky to qualify as one of the top five,” he declared.
“Since then, our performances have shown a significant improvement, even though we are still erratic at times. To give the other teams credit, they have made this a very tight contest. There are certainly no easy games in the Super 5s.”
Rysz described Tom Curwen as a “giant” of the team after his eight-goal virtuoso performance in a 22-7 victory over West London Penguin. “At 42, our goalkeeper Dave Bush is also an incredibly valuable member of the side, as he proved by saving a vital penalty against Manchester. But this was an occasion when all the squad played their part.”
Curwen ended the season as top scorer in the men's Super 5s with 35, 12 more than second-placed Attila Banhidy, of West London Penguin. For all the details of scorers/major kings, click on the statistics page.
rockhoppers ARE CHAMPIONS
Penguin Rockhoppers claimed the women’s Championship 3 title at Walsall (28 January) after the closest of battles with London rivals Polytechnic.
The teams finished equal on points, each with seven victories from eight matches. So it was the result of their meeting way back in November – Penguin won 5-2 – that determined the champions.
Southampton, leaders before the final weekend with a 100 per cent record, lost both their matches – 5-1 against Poly and 13-7 against Tyldesley.
Penguin just squeezed home against Hucknall, 13-12, before beating Invicta 8-4 to make sure of the title. Poly also defeated Hucknall, 5-4.
REFEREE EXCHANGE
The British Water Polo League and Irish Water Polo Association have launched a key initiative to support the development of future senior referees by agreeing a first exchange of officials.
Two of the BWPL’s promising young referees – Gareth Twohey and Maxim Gerasimov – are due to officiate in Irish League matches during February and March.
Irish referees will be invited to gain experience in the British League in the early stages of next season.
WHITGIFTIANS JOIN BRITISH LEAGUE
Men’s Division 5 will have an additional team next season following the election of Croydon-based Old Whitgiftian Waterpolo to the British League.
The club was formed in 1994 as the result of a merger between Old Whitgiftians and Old Mid-Whitgiftians. OMW competed in the men’s National League from 1972 until 1996, gaining Division One status for a single season in 1975.
OMW Swimming Club was always the traditional base for the old boys’ water polo club of Trinity School. The school has developed many fine players over the years, winning the national schools’ championship in 1989, 1991, 1998, 2000 and 2001.
INVICTA STUN ROTHERHAM WITH TOP THREE SPOT
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Bristol Central clinched the men’s Championship 1 title by taking five points from their last three matches of the season at Guildford (8 January).
But the real drama involved the chase for second and third positions – also earning the successful sides promotion to Division One alongside the Super 5s clubs at the start of next season.
Polytechnic deservedly took second place. Third position went to Invicta – but only after they and Rotherham had finished with the same number of points and an identical goals difference. Rotherham were edged out because Invicta scored just four more goals in all Championship matches. Earlier, the meeting of the clubs had ended in a draw – 13-13.
Watford won Championship 4, defeating previous favourites Grantham 15-14 in their final game.
For more details click on the results and Phase 2 news pages.
The picture above shows the victorious Bristol Central team with the new Roger Hargreaves Trophy, which was presented by the British League in memory of the former leading official and ex-international referee, whose obituary appears below. Bristol line-up (left to right): Greg Harper (coach), Matt Thresher, Sean Coles, Dan Williams, John Sissons, Simon Handley, Stuart Fennell, Jon Hutchings, Andy Crawford, Rich Manion, Daniel King, Carl Wyatt. Photo: Trevor Hyde.
WATERSWIM JOINS BWPL – AND ANNOUNCES NEW AWARD!
Dutch sports goods company Waterswim, which specialises in water polo costumes and caps, has become the latest sponsor of the British Water Polo League.
And Waterswim (www.waterswim.co.uk) is launching its partnership with BWPL by announcing a new award – the winners of this season's Super 5s men's and women's competitions will receive a set of caps, customised with club and sponsor logos.
The Waterswim company was formed 10 years ago in Columbia and Arnoud Posthuma, of Waterswim Europe, a Dutch international goalkeeper for more than five years, is the official European Distributor.
Waterswim already sponsors the current men’s and women’s champions of Holland – BZC Borculo and GZC Donk - as well as Polar Bears. In the past year, the company has supplied more than 45 clubs in Holland and Germany with customised hats, trunks and suits.
Waterswim’s service includes free designs, fast delivery following design approval and order confirmation (approximately 5 to 6 weeks); repeat orders in low quantities (even one piece); and flexible pricing.
