WOMEN'S 2012 SEASON - TABLES, RESULTS, REPORTS

super fives - woMen's Table (final table)

Team P W D L F A Pts GD
Manchester 8 7 1 0 82 28 15 +54
Otter 8 5 2 1 78 42 12 +36
Liverpool Lizards 8 4 1 3 87 53 9 +34
Coventry 8 2 0 6 74 84 4 -10
Penguin Emperors 8 0 0 8 19 133 0 -114
                 

 

week 1 manchester aquatics centre

Date

Score

White

Blue
3 November 5-9 Liverpool Lizards Manchester
  14-5 Coventry Penguin Emperors
  9-12 Coventry Otter
4 November 14-1 Liverpool Lizards Penguin Emperors
  4-8 Otter Manchester

 

week 2 manchester aquatics centre

Date

Score

White

Blue
17 November 14-8 Liverpool Lizards Coventry
  14-2 Manchester Penguin Emperors
  8-8 Otter Liverpool Lizards
18 November 18-2 Otter Penguin Emperors
  3-10 Coventry Manchester

 

week 3 salt ayre sports centre, lancaster

Date

Score

White

Blue
8 December 5-3 Manchester Liverpool Lizards
  5-18 Penguin Emperors Coventry
  4-4 Manchester Otter
9 December 3-17 Penguin Emperors Liverpool Lizards
  7-6 Otter Coventry

 

week 4 Surrey University, guildford

Date

Score

White

Blue
19 January 0-16 Penguin Emperors Otter
  10-21 Coventry Liverpool Lizards
  1-22 Penguin Emperors Manchester
20 January 5-9 Liverpool Lizards Otter
  10-6 Manchester Coventry

Championship 1 (2 december)

Team P W D L F A Pts GD
Liverpool Liver Birds 7 6 0 1 67 52 12 +15
Manchester Comets 7 6 0 1 74 51 12 +23
Sheffield 7 4 1 2 64 41 9 +23
                 
Caledonia 7 4 1 2 56 53 9 +3
Leeds Sharks 7 4 0 3 54 42 8 +12
Welsh Wanderers 7 1 1 5 54 66 3 -12
Bristol Central 7 1 1 5 42 68 3 -26
Mid Sussex Marlins 7 0 0 7 36 74 0 -38

 

week 1 manchester aquatics centre

Date

Score

White

Blue
3 November 7-5 Liverpool Liver Birds Manchester Comets
  5-4 Sheffield Leeds
  2-6 Mid Sussex Marlins Bristol Central
  7-6 Caledonia Welsh Wanderers
4 November 10-2 Sheffield Mid Sussex Marlins
  13-8 Liverpool Liver Birds Caledonia
  8-5 Leeds Welsh Wanderers
  11-7 Manchester Comets Bristol Central

 

week 2 manchester aquatics centre

Date

Score

White

Blue
17 November 13-8 Manchester Comets Welsh Wanderers
  10-5 Leeds Bristol Central
  6-6 Sheffield Caledonia
  9-8 Liverpool Liver Birds Mid Sussex Marlins
18 November 4-7 Liverpool Liver Birds Leeds
  5-9 Mid Sussex Marlins Welsh Wanderers
  10-8 Caledonia Bristol Central
  7-9 Sheffield Manchester Comets

 

week 3 luton sports village

Date

Score

White

Blue
1 December 2-13 Mid Sussex Marlins Leeds
  5-8 Caledonia Manchester Comets
  11-8 Liverpool Liver Birds Bristol Central
  12-10 Sheffield Welsh Wanderers
  11-15 Mid Sussex Marlins Manchester Comets
  8-6 Caledonia Leeds
2 December 8-6 Liverpool Liver Birds Sheffield
  6-6 Bristol Central Welsh Wanderers
  6-12 Mid Sussex Marlins Caledonia
  13-6 Manchester Comets Leeds

 

 15-10 Liverpool Liver Birds Welsh Wanderers

 

 18-2 Sheffield Bristol Central

Championship 2 (9 december)

Team P W D L F A Pts GD
Otter Lutra 7 6 0 1 79 41 12 +38
Tyldesley 7 5 0 2 49 53 10 -4
Sheffield Sharks 7 5 0 2 75 52 10 +23
                 
+Solihull 7 5 0 2 71 51 8 +20
Polytechnic 7 3 0 4 36 46 6 -10
Liverpool Water Beatles 7 2 0 5 53 58 4 -5
++Southampton 7 1 1 5 41 68 1 -27
Hucknall 7 0 1 6 59 94 1 -35

 

+ Solihull deducted 2 points, non-fulfilment ++ Southampton deducted 2 points, unregistered player

week 1 Basildon

Date

Score

White

Blue
3 November 11-3 Otter Lutra Polytechnic
  11-10 Solihull Liverpool Water Beatles
  9-9 Hucknall Southampton
  9-10 Sheffield Sharks Tyldesley
  12-8 Otter Lutra Liverpool Water Beatles
  14-6 Solihull Polytechnic
  9-13 Hucknall Tyldesley
  16-5 Sheffield Sharks Southampton
4 November Tyld w/o Solihull Tyldesley
  15-3 Otter Lutra Southampton

 

 6-4

Sheffield Sharks

 Liverpool Water Beatles

 

 4-6 Hucknall Polytechnic

 

week 2 manchester aquatics centre

Date

Score

White

Blue
17 November 10-7 Solihull Sheffield Sharks
  12-6 Otter Lutra Hucknall
  7-5 Tyldesley Polytechnic
  6-7 Southampton Liverpool Water Beatles
18 November 5-4 Sheffield Sharks Polytechnic
  10-8 Solihull Southampton
  15-3 Otter Lutra Tyldesley
  6-14 Hucknall Liverpool Water Beatles

 

week 3 walsall gala baths

Date

Score

White

Blue
8 December 11-8 Otter Lutra Solihull
  16-22 Hucknall Sheffield Sharks
  8-7 Southampton Tyldesley
  8-3 Polytechnic Liverpool Water Beatles
9 December 2-4 Southampton Polytechnic
  3-10 Otter Lutra Sheffield Sharks
  9-7 Tyldesley Liverpool Water Beatles
  18-9 Solihull Hucknall

Championship 3 (3 february)

Team P W D L F A Pts GD
Manchester Barracudas 8 7 0 1 77 53 14 +24
Sunderland 8 6 0 2 84 59 12 +25
Penguin Kings 8 4 0 4 89 84 8 +5
Birmingham 8 3 0 5 77 65 6 +12
+Iceni 8 0 0 8 40 106 -2 -66

 

+Iceni deducted 2 points, unregistered player

week 1 manchester aquatics centre

Date

Score

White

Blue
17 November 11-9 Manchester Barracudas Sunderland
  3-18 Iceni Birmingham
  18-7 Penguin Kings Iceni
  6-10 Birmingham Manchester Barracudas
  5-10 Sunderland Penguin Kings
18 November 4-5 Birmingham Sunderland
  9-4 Manchester Barracudas Iceni

 

week 2 walsall gala baths

Date

Score

White

Blue
1 December 7-8 Birmingham Manchester Barracudas
  7-19 Iceni Sunderland
  15-7 Manchester Barracudas Penguin Kings
  9-12 Birmingham Sunderland
2 December 12-9 Penguin Kings Iceni
  5-8 Manchester Barracudas Sunderland
  13-11 Birmingham Penguin Kings

 

WEEK 3 WALSALL GALA BATHS

Date

Score

White

Blue
2 February 11-2 Sunderland Iceni
  10-11 Birmingham Penguin Kings
  9-3 Manchester Barracudas Iceni
  11-15 Penguin Kings Sunderland
3 February 5-10 Iceni Birmingham
  10-9 Manchester Barracudas Penguin Kings

 

Division 1 woMen's final Table (7 october)

Team P W D L F A Pts GD
City of Manchester 7 7 0 0 84 32 14 +52
Otter 7 5 1 1 78 35 11 +43
City of Coventry 7 5 1 1 66 34 11 +32
Liverpool Lizards 7 4 0 3 74 49 8 +25
Penguin Emperors 7 2 1 4 28 53 5 -25
                 
Liverpool Liver Birds 7 2 0 5 40 75 4 -35
City of Sheffield 7 1 0 6 38 79 2 -41
*Bristol Central 7 0 1 6 27 78 -5 -51
                 
                 

 

*Bristol deducted six points - unregistered player in 3 matches

week 1 ponds forge, sheffield

Date

Score

White

Blue
Sat, Sept 8 12-8

 Liverpool Lizards

 Liverpool Liver Birds
  8-7

 Manchester

 Coventry
  12-7

 Otter

 Sheffield
  3-3

 Penguin Emperors

 Bristol Central
  14-2

 Coventry

 Liverpool Liver Birds
  10-8

 Manchester

 Liverpool Lizards
  7-3

 Sheffield

 Bristol Central
  14-3

 Otter

 Penguin Emperors
Sun, Sept 9 6-3

 Penguin Emperors

 Sheffield
  7-5

 Coventry

 Liverpool Lizards

 

 14-2

 Otter

 Liverpool Liver Birds

 

 14-4

 Manchester

 Bristol Central

 

week 2 watford

Date

Score

White

Blue
Sat, 22 Sept 6-12

 Bristol Central

 Coventry
  7-8

 Sheffield

 Liverpool Liver Birds
  11-5

 Otter

 Liverpool Lizards
  10-1

 Manchester

 Penguin Emperors
Sun, 23 Sept 13-5

 Manchester

 Liverpool Liver Birds
  16-7

 Liverpool Lizards

 Sheffield

 

 16-3

 Otter

 Bristol Central

 

 2-6

 Penguin Emperors

 Coventry

 

week 3 liverpool

Date

Score

White

Blue
Sat, 6 Oct 6-6

 Otter

 Coventry
  20-2

 Manchester

 Sheffield
  18-2

 Liverpool Lizards

 Bristol Central
  9-7

 Penguin Emperors

 Liverpool Liver Birds
Sun, 7 Oct 5-14

 Sheffield

 Coventry
  9-5

 Manchester

 Otter

 

 6-8

 Bristol Central

 Liverpool Liver Birds

 

 4-10

 Penguin Emperors

 Liverpool Lizards

 

Division 2 woMen's Table (20 october)

Team P W D L F A Pts GD
Caledonia 7 5 1 1 61 42 11 +19
Leeds Sharks 7 5 0 2 57 48 10 +9
Manchester Comets 7 4 1 2 76 47 9 +29
Welsh Wanderers 7 3 1 3 55 61 7 -6
Mid Sussex Marlins 7 3 1 3 55 53 7 +2
                 
Otter Lutra 7 2 1 4 56 61 5 -5
Solihull 7 1 2 4 57 74 4 -17
Sheffield Sharks 7 1 1 5 42 73 3 -31

 

week 1 ponds forge, sheffield

Date

Score

White

Blue
Sat, Sept 8 7-8

 Solihull

 Leeds Sharks
  9-7

 Sheffield Sharks

 Otter Lutra
  2-13

 Welsh Wanderers

 Manchester Comets
  12-3

 Caledonia

 Mid Sussex Marlins
  7-7

 Sheffield Sharks

 Solihull
  5-7

 Otter Lutra

 Leeds Sharks
  8-10

 Manchester Comets

 Mid Sussex Marlins
  6-7

 Welsh Wanderers

 Caledonia
Sun, Sept 9 14-8

 Manchester Comets

 Otter Lutra
  10-5

 Caledonia

 Solihull

 

 11-9

 Welsh Wanderers

 Leeds Sharks

 

 7-13

 Sheffield Sharks

 Mid Sussex Marlins

 

week 2 watford

Date

Score

White

Blue
Sat, 22 Sept 4-9

 Otter Lutra

 Mid Sussex Marlins
  10-14

 Welsh Wanderers

 Solihull
  8-17

 Solihull

 Otter Lutra
  9-8

 Welsh Wanderers

 Mid Sussex Marlins

 

week 3 liverpool

Date

Score

White

Blue
Sat, 6 Oct 5-10

 Sheffield Sharks

 Leeds Sharks
  5-5

 Manchester Comets

 Caledonia
  9-8

 Caledonia

 Leeds Sharks
  4-15

 Sheffield Sharks

 Manchester Comets

 

week 4 walsall gala baths

Date

Score

White

Blue
Sat, 20 Oct 16-10

 Manchester Comets

 Solihull
  6-7

 Mid Sussex Marlins

 Leeds Sharks
  10-3

 Welsh Wanderers

 Sheffield Sharks
  7-8

 Caledonia

 Otter Lutra
  6-6

 Solihull

 Mid Sussex Marlins
  5-8

 Manchester Comets

 Leeds Sharks
  7-11

 Sheffield Sharks

 Caledonia
  7-7

 Welsh Wanderers

 Otter Lutra

Division 3 woMen's Table (21 october)

Group A                
  P W D L F A Pts GD
Liverpool Water Beatles 4 4 0 0 60 19 8 +41
Southampton 4 3 0 1 64 35 6 +29
Penguin Kings 4 2 0 2 37 45 4 -8
Birmingham 4 1 0 3 28 46 2 -18
Sunderland 4 0 0 4 27 71 0 -44

 

Group B                
  P W D L F A Pts GD
Polytechnic 4 4 0 0 41 23 8 +18
Hucknall 4 3 0 1 57 29 6 +28
Tyldesley 4 2 0 2 62 32 4 +30
Manchester Barracudas 4 1 0 3 30 43 2 -13
Iceni 4 0 0 4 10 73 0 -63

 

Combined table, 20 October

 

                
  P W D L F A Pts GD
Liverpool Water Beatles 7 7 0 0 108 34 14 +74
Polytechnic 7 7 0 0 67 28 14 +39
Hucknall 7 5 0 2 94 53 10 +41
Tyldesley 7 5 0 2 107 53 10 +54
Southampton 7 4 0 3 83 53 8 +30
                 
Penguin Kings 7 3 0 4 57 74 6 -17
Manchester Barracudas 7 2 0 5 57 71 4 -14
Sunderland 7 1 0 6 57 107 2 -50
Birmingham 7 1 0 6 45 96 2 -51
Iceni 7 0 0 7 23 129 0 -106

 

week 1 walsall gala baths

Date

Score

White

Blue
Sat, 22 Sept 13-2 Liverpool Water Beatles Birmingham
  4-20 Manchester Barracudas Tyldesley
  16-11 Southampton Penguin Kings
  16-2 Polytechnic Iceni
  24-6 Liverpool Water Beatles Sunderland
  6-13 Manchester Barracudas Hucknall
Sun, 23 Sept 25-0 Tyldesley Iceni
  7-9 Birmingham Penguin Kings
  9-8 Polytechnic Hucknall
  24-6 Southampton Sunderland

 

week 2 walsall gala baths

Date

Score

White

Blue
Sat, 6 Oct 9-8 Polytechnic Tyldesley
  8-13 Sunderland Penguin Kings
  17-5 Hucknall Iceni
  7-9 Southampton Liverpool Water Beatles
  7-5 Polytechnic Manchester Barracudas
  10-7 Birmingham Sunderland
Sun, 7 Oct 4-14 Penguin Kings Liverpool Water Beatles
  9-19 Tyldesley Hucknall
  17-9 Southampton Birmingham
  3-15 Iceni Manchester Barracudas

 

week 3 marlborough college, wiltshire

Date

Score

White

Blue
Sat, 20 Oct 1-9 Birmingham Polytechnic
  8-10 Southampton Tyldesley
  29-4 Liverpool Water Beatles Iceni
  10-17 Sunderland Hucknall
  9-19 Birmingham Manchester Barracudas
  6-13 Penguin Kings Tyldesley
  1-4 Southampton Polytechnic
  10-7 Liverpool Water Beatles Hucknall
Sun, 21 Oct 17-6 Sunderland Iceni
  4-13 Penguin Kings Hucknall

 

 9-4 Liverpool Water Beatles Manchester Barracudas

 

 3-13 Sunderland Polytechnic
  7-22 Birmingham Tyldesley

 

 10-3 Penguin Kings Iceni

 

 10-4 Southampton Manchester Barracudas

 

hot shots/majors 2012-2013

women's super fives (20 january)

Kathryn Fowler Liverpool Lizards 25
Katie Hesketh Liverpool Lizards 24
Ella Chadderton Manchester 17
Danielle Elliott Coventry 16
Vicki Hawkins Coventry 16
Alexis Higlett Otter 14
Victoria Hawkins Manchester 13

Player

Team

Exclusions
Alice Byrne Liverpool Lizards 12
Alex Andrews Penguin 10
Victoria Bowen Otter 10
Sophie Gilbert Liverpool Lizards 10
Sophie Greener Coventry 10
Alexis Higlett Otter 10
Kathryn Fowler Liverpool Lizards 9
Vicki Hawkins Coventry 9
Andrea Holmes Coventry 9

women's championship 1(2 december)

Bernice Cowton Manchester Comets 24
Nicola Ross Liverpool Liver Birds 24
Jennifer Myo Welsh Wanderers 23
Nicola Tate Caledonia 20
Lauren Tasker Liverpool Liver Birds 18
Isobel Bates Mid Sussex Marlins 15
E Smith Welsh Wanderers 14
Louise Betts Bristol Central 12
Emma Little Leeds 12
Julia MacKay Caledonia 12

Player

Team

Exclusions
Gemma Deacon Mid Sussex Marlins 17
Gael Logan Caledonia 12
Isobel Bates Mid Sussex Marlins 10
Heather Hall Sheffield 10
Alison Green Liverpool Liver Birds 9
Lauren Pascoe Bristol Central 9
Emily Sutcliffe Leeds Sharks 9
Victoria Binks Welsh Wanderers 8
Lucy Deacon Mid Sussex Marlins 8

women's championship 2 (9 december)

Grace Morley Tyldesley 23
Miriam Ridha Solihull 20
Jo Davies Southampton 17
Helen Reader Hucknall 16
Beth Bolton Liverpool 15
Jo Costello Tyldesley 15
Rachel Endy Hucknall 15
Helen Reader Hucknall 16
Pippa Jones Sheffield Sharks 15
Amanda Saville Sheffield Sharks 15
Matilda Williams Otter Lutra 13

Player

Team

Exclusions
Jenny Worrel Sheffield Sharks 10
Jo Costello Tyldesley 9
Fernanda Masri Polytechnic 9
Megan Price Tyldesley 9
Jennifer Quirk Liverpool 9
Jo Davies Southampton 8
Lindsey Gaywood Sheffield Sharks 8
Pochin Solihull 8
Lesley Jennings Solihull 8

women's championship 3 (3 february)

Jessica Arthur Birmingham 24
Eve O'Keefe Birmingham 24
Ashley Boardman Sunderland 22
Vicky Miller Penguin Kings 22
Alison Mell Sunderland 21
Laura Hues Penguin Kings 20
Holly Short Sunderland 16
Jia Mei Lee Penguin Kings 14
Rachel Bull Manchester Barracudas 13
Claire O'Sullivan Birmingham 12

Player

Team

Exclusions
Natasha Ivkonic Manchester Barracudas 11
Vicky Miller Penguin Kings 11
Ashley Boardman Sunderland 10
Jessica Arthur Birmingham 8
Jia Mei Lee Penguin Kings 8
Nicola Williams Birmingham 8
Chloe Arthur Birmingham 7
Sam Beeston Manchester Barracudas 7
Laura Hues Penguin Kings 7

 

women's division 1 (7 october)

Alexis Higlett Otter 30
Kathryn Fowler Liverpool Lizards 22
Aine Hoy Manchester 21
Vikki Hawkins Coventry 15
Michaela Krejci Otter 13
Meritxell Manzano Liverpool Lizards 13
     
     
     

Player

Team

Exclusions
Vikki Hawkins Coventry 9
Sarah Sanderson Sheffield 9
Lucy Aspinall Manchester 8
Kathryn Fowler Liverpool Lizards 8
Alison Green Liverpool Liver Birds 8
Jane White Liverpool Liver Birds 8

women's division 2 (21 october)

Isobel Bates Mid Sussex Marlins 23
Charlotte Bates Mid Sussex Marlins 17
Rosie Huck Manchester Comets 15
Lesley Jennings Solihull 14
Jennifer Myo Welsh Wanderers 14
Lisa Marshall Leeds Sharks 12
R Mulcaly Otter Lutra 12
Lucy Williams Welsh Wanderers 12
Julia McKay Caledonia 11
Leanne Pochin Solihull 11

Player

Team

Exclusions
Sophie Drinkwater Solihull 14
Gael Logan Caledonia 11
Joanne Jones Sheffield Sharks 10
Michaela Williams Otter Lutra 10
Gemma Deacon Mid Sussex Marlins 8
Isobel Howe Manchester Comets 8
Emma Little Leeds Sharks 8

 

Player

Team

Exclusions

women's division 3 (21 october)

Grace Morley Tyldesley 49
Beth Bolton Liverpool Water Beatles 41
Rachel Endy Hucknall 33
Laura Woodfield Hucknall 31
Jo Davies Southampton 23
Tamsyn Sciotino Southampton 22
Alison Mell Sunderland 21
Jo Costello Tyldesley 18
Fiona Greer Penguin Kings 18
Jessica Arthur Birmingham 16
Grace Rowland Tyldesley 15

Player

Team

Exclusions
Ashley Boardman Sunderland 10
Chloe Arthur Birmingham 8
Cassandra Mercer Hucknall 8
Megan Price Tyldesley 8
Chioca Palazzo Penguin Kings 7

BARRACUDAS’ LAST GASP Triumph

It was necessary to wait until the final seconds of the very last quarter of a British League season featuring almost 400 matches to determine winners of the one remaining trophy – women’s Championship 3.

The honour went to Manchester Barracudas, but only after a nerve-racking clash with Penguin Kings at Walsall (3 February).

The Barracudas knew they needed one point from the match to overhaul overnight leaders Sunderland and take the title. They started well enough, going 3-1 up after the opening period. But Penguin, led by four-goal Fiona Greer, stormed back to take a 6-4 lead at the halfway point and it was still 7-7 as the teams entered the last quarter. With three minutes left, it was 9-9. Both sides then had chances to score, but it wasn’t until three seconds from the end that Manchester finally celebrated with a goal that secured a 10-9 victory.

It was all very unfortunate for unlucky Sunderland, who lost narrowly to Manchester and Penguin on the opening weekend of the season and then avenged both those defeats in a winning run of six games.

The trophy and medals were presented to Manchester by delegate Brian Pugh.

title stays with dominant manchester

As expected, Manchester retained the women's Super 5s title at Guildford, sweeping aside bottom team West London Penguin 22-1 and then beating Coventry (20 January) 10-6.

The trophy and medals were presented by BWPL life member and former NWPL treasurer Dr Mike Clark.

Manchester coach Theo Nousios was delighted with the success. "It has been achieved with a mainly young team which includes a number of players still in the juniors," he said. "The academy system works really well for us and it's encouraging that we have more excellent youngsters still in the process of coming through."

Manchester team (photo by Trevor Hyde): Pictured with team manager Diane Chadderton are (back row, left to right) Rosie Egan, Ella Chadderton, Victoria Hawkins (captain), Lucy Aspinall, Rebecca Kershaw, Sarah Pimblett and Siobhan Hoy. Front: Polly Egan, Emma Bartlett, Jade Smith, Casey Smith and Alex Rutlidge.

Otter took the runners-up spot after an impressive 9-5 victory over Liverpool Lizards. The teams reached the start of the third quarter locked at 3-3. Then Otter goalkeeper Sammy Owen conceded a penalty and reacted by saving the shot - a key moment for her team.

Lizzie Dunn made it 4-3 to Otter late in the third and the London team then dominated the remainder of the game, Dunn scoring twice with strong shots from the arc. In this action picture from Guildford (by Trevor Hyde), Otter's Brooke Tafazolli (blue cap) challenges for the ball against Penguin.

On day one, Liverpool's Katie Hesketh and Kathryn Fowler were too strong for Coventry as the Lizards won 21-10. Nine of the goals were scored by Katie - with Kathryn contributing eight. Vicki Hawkins worked hard for the Midlands team and claimed a hat-trick.

KATHRYN TOPS GOAL SCORERS AGAIN

For a second consecutive year, Liverpool Lizards' Kathryn Fowler has ended the season top goal-scorer in the women's Super 5s. She notched 25 - one goal ahead of teammate Katie Hesketh.

The men's trophy will go to Alex Parsonage, of Lancaster. His tally of 32 was six more than nearest challenger Matt Thresher, of Bristol Central.

Click on Statistics page for leading scorers and major kings in all divisions.

TOP TEAMS DRAW AT LANCASTER

It’s difficult to see any team overhauling champions City of Manchester as the women’s Super 5s move on to the final weekend at the Surrey University pool, Guildford (19/20 January).

Manchester were involved in two very tight games at Lancaster (8/9 December), but a three-point haul guaranteed a three-point lead over nearest challengers Otter.

Against Liverpool Lizards, Manchester eased into a 3-0 lead – enough, in the end, to clinch a 5-3 victory. It was much closer against Otter, who grabbed a 3-1 first quarter advantage with goals by Elizabeth Dunn and Alexis Higlett. Manchester hit back and were 4-3 up until a Brooke Tafazolli goal earned a point for the London side with two minutes remaining.

Otter were given a late scare by Coventry before winning 7-6. The Midlanders scored twice near the end after trailing 7-4 but just failed to snatch a draw.

There was good news for Otter in women’s Championship 2. An 11-8 victory over Solihull secured the title, with Tyldesley and Sheffield Sharks – surprisingly easy 10-3 winners against Otter in a later match – also moving up to Division Two at the start of next season. Our photo above (by Jason Quiterio) shows the Otter Lutra girls receiving their trophy from delegate David Bathurst, the former international referee. Below: Juliet Edey, of Otter Lutra, lines up a shot despite the close attentions of Kate Teasdale, of Solihull (picture, Darren Nash).

LIVER BIRDS RETAIN CHAMPIONSHIP 1 TITLE

Liverpool Liver Birds are getting used to tense finishes to the season! They won Championship 1 last season by virtue of a superior goal difference to main rivals Sheffield. This time, they finished level on points with Manchester Comets at the top of the table, but took home the trophy because they won their clash with the Comets – in the very first match of the campaign.

Our picture shows the Liverpool girls celebrating their success with coach Gordon Dacre, the BWPL President.

There was a far less satisfying repeat experience for Caledonia. For the second consecutive year, the unfortunate Scots will be cursing their luck after missing promotion to Division One next season by a whisker. This time, they were pipped for the vital third place by Sheffield on overall goal difference after the sides drew earlier in the season.

The challenge for the Liver Birds at the Luton Sports Village pool (1/2 December) was to win their three matches.

They beat Bristol 11-8, finishing the stronger with goals by Lauren Tasker, Nichola Ross and Alison Green after the sides reached the halfway stage at 7-7. They had a scare against Sheffield, allowing their opponents to catch up from 6-2 down to 7-6 before Tasker eased the nerves with a goal 35 seconds from the end. The third victory was more straightforward – 15-10 against Welsh Wanderers, including six goals by Ross and five by Tasker.

Manchester Comets knew from the start they could only win their matches – which they did – and hope for a Liverpool slip-up. They defeated Caledonia 8-5, Mid Sussex Marlins 15-11 – including five goals by Bernice Cowton – and Leeds Sharks 13-6.

Sheffield were level at 8-8 with Welsh Wanderers at the start of the last quarter but held on for what proved to be a vital 12-10 victory. Rhiannon Foulds scored four of their goals while the star player for Wanderers was Jen Myo, with seven.

Wanderers claimed a point against Bristol Central with a goal from Smith just five seconds from the end. Louise Betts led the Bristol scoring with four.

In women’s Championship 3, Sunderland won their three matches, Alison Mell scoring six in an 8-5 success against leaders Manchester Barracudas. Birmingham beat Penguin Kings 13-11, including seven goals by Eve O’Keefe.

Action photos from Southampton, in white caps, against Tyldesley (by Trevor Hyde). Top: Nicola Holt battles with Southampton's Jo Davies. Below: Georgina Lay makes a pass despite close attention from Zoe Carroll.

OTTER HIT BACK TO CLAIM POINT

Otter and Liverpool Lizards fought out an 8-8 draw in the second round of women’s Super 5s at Manchester Aquatics Centre (17/18 November), the London club recovering from 5-1 down at one stage.

Goals for Otter were shared equally by Peggy Etiebet, Fran Leighton, Brooke Tafazolli and Lex Higlett. Hannah Wild, Manzano Meritxell and Katie Hesketh each scored twice for the Lizards.

The result indirectly boosted champions Manchester, whose two wins – 14-2 against West London Penguin and 10-3 against Coventry – maintained their 100 per cent record and extended their lead to three points.

The Coventry game was much closer than the score suggests – there were no goals at all in the first 13 minutes. It was a good match if your name was Hawkins! Victoria Hawkins was the leading scorer for Manchester with four – and Vikki Hawkins contributed all the Coventry goals.

In Championship 1, Leeds Sharks went top on goal difference from Manchester Comets and Liverpool Liver Birds courtesy of wins over Bristol Central (10-5) and the previously unbeaten Liver Birds (7-4). Sheffield salvaged a point in a 6-6 draw with Caledonia when Elinor Weatherill grabbed their late equaliser.

In the match between two top sides in Championship 2, Otter Lutra won with surprising ease against Tyldesley, 15-3. Beth Boulton scored six in Liverpool Water Beatles’ 14-6 defeat of Hucknall.

CONFIDENT MANCHESTER BEGIN IN STYLE

Champions Manchester made a positive start to the Super 5s campaign at Manchester Aquatics Centre (3/4 November), defeating last season’s runners-up Liverpool Lizards 9-5 and Otter 8-4.

The Liverpool game was a tight affair early on and the sides reached the third period all square at 3-3. But in the end three goals by Ella Chadderton secured the points for Manchester.

The Otter match could well have been closer but for two penalty saves by Manchester goalkeeper Jade Smith.

Penguin struggled in both their matches, losing 14-5 to Coventry – for whom Claire Walmsley scored five – and 14-1 to the Lizards.

In Championship 1, also at MAC, Sheffield and Liverpool Liver Birds were the only sides not to drop points. Sheffield won a tight Yorkshire derby against Leeds, 5-4, and comfortably disposed of Mid Sussex Marlins 10-2.

Liver Birds were 4-3 adrift against Manchester Comets after three periods but, with Nichola Ross scoring twice, fought back to win 7-5. Nicola Tate netted four in Caledonia’s 7-6 win over Welsh Wanderers.

OTTER LUTRA AND TYLDESLEY MAKE WINNING STARTS

There were several exciting finishes in women’s Championship 2 at Basildon (3/4 November) – none more so than in Tyldesley’s clash with Sheffield Sharks.

The Sharks ended the third period with a 7-6 lead and were 9-8 ahead with only one minute 25 seconds remaining. Then Jo Costello equalised and, just 16 seconds later, Grace Morley scored again for Tyldesley to clinch a 10-9 victory. Costello and Morley contributed all Tyldesley’s goals – five apiece. There were also five goals for Sheffield’s Mandy Saville.

Solihull recovered from 9-8 down after three quarters to edge out Liverpool Water Beatles 11-10. And Hucknall scored twice in the last 50 seconds to draw 9-9 with Southampton.

Solihull beat Polytechnic 14-6 but conceded their Sunday match against Tyldesley due to a player shortage. It meant that Tyldesley and Otter Lutra – who enjoyed three convincing wins – were the only teams to complete the opening weekend with 100 per cent records. Our pictures (by Darren Nash) show (top) Hucknall's Jemma Senczyszyn (white cap) battling with Megan Price, of Tyldesley. Below: Tough going for Otter Lutra's Matilda Williams against Liverpool Water Beatles.