Durham Palatinates lost for the first time in men's Championship 3 when Croydon Amphibians edged a dramatic final period to win 9-7 at Marlborough College.

With left-hander Tom Andrews (Photo: Trevor Hyde) in fine shooting form, Croydon recovered from 6-4 down to take a brief lead at 7-6. Croydon goalie Tom McKay then saved a Durham penalty, followed immediately by a Durham equaliser - from another left-hander, Ashley Lyne. 

The final period saw both teams take time-outs. Croydon finally won through with two more fine goals from Andrews, taking his match tally to six.

Durham's defeat left Southampton as the only team with a 100 per cent record from four games. They beat Birmingham 16-6.
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Games between Newport and the British Army always tend to produce cliffhanger finishes - and today's game was no exception. The Welsh team charged into a 4-0 lead but the Army gradually fought back and, late on, wiped out a 10-7 deficit to win 12-10 with goals by Joe Hood, Bill Smyth (2), Adam Hanson and Mike Mathers.

Rotherham Metro topped 20 goals for the second time in the day - this time beating Newport 22-11. Ben Alderson helped himself to 13 goals in the two matches. 

Lancaster held their nerve once again to beat Solihull 7-6 in the men's Super 5s at Ponds Forge - which means their three victories so far have all been by a single goal!

An even match exploded into life in the final period as a Glen Robinson back-hander edged Solihull 6-5 ahead, only for Arthur Davies to level from a man-up. Both sides had chances before Scott Sharpe fired the winner with 2.09 remaining.

Feature of the early quarters was the excellent goalkeeping of Solihull's Ben Rice and Marc Robinson, of Lancaster.

In the women's Super 5s, Otter led Manchester 5-4 after two periods but were then hit by a six-goal, third quarter response from the champions, who sprinted 10-6 ahead with goals by Izzy Howe (3), Rosie Huck (2) and Annie Clapperton. Eventually, Manchester won 12-7. Liverpool Lizards beat Sheffield Sharks 10-4.
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Hucknall matched Tyldesley's achievement of five wins from five games in women's Championship 1 when India Wilkinson scored eight in a 22-6 defeat of Exeter. The two unbeaten teams will meet in a potential title decider during the division's finale weekend.

Photo (Trevor Hyde): India Wilkinson (white cap) in charge against Exeter.

Champions City of Manchester made it four wins from four matches by outplaying Cheltenham 14-4 in a fiery men's Super 5s clash at Ponds Forge today.

Jordan Elliot (5) and Joe O'Regan (4) led the Manchester scoring. It was Cheltenham's fourth defeat.
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Undefeated Tyldesley continue to dominate women's Championship 1, chalking up their third win of the weekend - 15-12 against Caledonia. The Scots were 8-3 down at the halfway stage and never really had Tyldesley until pressure until six-goal Nicola Tate spearheaded a late rally. Holly Toone (4), Honor Grimes (3) and Grace Morley (3) led the Tyldesley scoring.

Photo (Trevor Hyde): Manchester's Aron Ando fires in a shot against Cheltenham today.

Solihull chalked up their second victory in the men's Super 5s, leaving it late to beat Sheffield 9-7 at Ponds Forge today.

Sheffield, playing their second game of the day, eased into a 4-1 lead but Solihull were level at 5-5 when Ryan Padbury scored his third goal in the third period. A goal from Finlay Parnell briefly put Sheffield back in front but Solihull dominated the final stages, scoring through Padbury, Jake Vincent and Oliver Vodden. 

Otter defeated Sheffield Sharks 12-6 in the women's Super 5s. Mhairi Nurthen and Isabelle Dean notched hat-tricks. In the final all-action game of the day, Liverpool Lizards and Coventry drew 12-12.
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Impressive Tyldesley completed a second big win in women's Championship 1, beating Mid Sussex Marlins 18-9. Cara Dunsbee scored four for Hucknall in a 12-10 defeat of Caledonia.  

Photo (Trevor Hyde): All action . . . John Pratt (Blue 9) fires in a shot for Lancaster against Cheltenham. Pratt scored a brilliant solo goal in Lancaster's 9-8 win. 

Champions City of Manchester were pushed all the way by City of Sheffield before completing a 5-4 victory in the men's Super 5s at Ponds Forge, Sheffield, today.

Sheffield took a 3-1 lead early on with goals by Joel Abbott (2) and Chris Armstrong. After that, Manchester created a number of chances but either thumped shots against the Sheffield goal frame or were thwarted by some excellent goalkeeping from Josh Smith.

Manchester led for the first time at 4-3 towards the end of the third period, but once again Sheffield rallied to level with a fine goal by Arshia Keyghobadi. Only 1.31 remained when Alvaro Fernandez hit the winner from a man-up chance.

Lancaster beat Cheltenham 9-8 thanks to a late winner from Glen Robinson.

In the women's Super 5s, Manchester defeated Coventry 12-2. Annie Clapperton scored five for the champions.

In women's Championship 1, Tyldesley outplayed Liverpool Liver Birds 20-11, Holly Toone (7), Kelsy Evans (5) and Honor Grimes (5) leading the scoring.  Exeter hit back from 7-4 down to beat Mid Sussex Marlins 9-7 with goals by Emile Raymond (3), Nyah Tomlinson and Jess Street.

Photos (Trevor Hyde) - Above: Holly Toone scores one of her goals at Ponds Forge today. Below: Sheffield shot-stopper Josh Smith.

Otter Lutra go to the women's Championship 2 finale at Grantham on 5/6 March with a perfect record from five matches. Their latest success at Northampton was a 16-4 defeat of Welsh Wanderers, with Lucy Bulloch scoring four and three players – Sarah Ellis-Keeler, Faye Poole and Grace Turner – registering hat-tricks.

Crunch match for Otter at Grantham will be the clash with Penguin Emperors, who won for the fourth time – 13-4 against Southampton, including four goals from Alice Woods (Photo: Trevor Hyde).
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Sofia Fountain netted four for Cheltenham, who also claimed their fourth victory – 12-6 over Watford.  Sheffield Stingrays defeated Birmingham 10-9 to record their first win.

Penguin Emperors’ title hopes in women’s Championship 2 were dented when they crashed 11-6 to a young Cheltenham team at Northampton. Amelie Perkins (4), Charlotte Martin (2), Sofia Fountain (2), Elizabeth Ross (2) and Freya Webster scored the Cheltenham goals.
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This left Otter Lutra at the top of the table with the only 100 per cent record after an 11-4 win against Southampton – including four goals by Sarah Ellis-Keeler – followed by a 15-10 defeat of Watford. Grace Turner led the Otter scoring with five.

Photo (Trevor Hyde): Watford's Eve Barnes (blue cap).

As a feature of the BWPL women’s Championship 1 finale weekend at Liverpool Aquatic Centre on 12/13 March, Swim England North West will be running a table officials’ course.

It’s the perfect opportunity for players, parents or supporters to take part and learn the basics of one of the sport’s most vital roles from experienced BWPL officials.
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The course takes place on Saturday, 12 March. Learn more by clicking on https://swimnorthwest.org/event-course/senw-water-polo-club-table-officials-course-2/