Manchester Hawks were crowned men’s Championship 2 winners after defeating Worthing 8-2 at Bolton today.

Worthing scored first, but didn’t find the net again until 1.23 from the end. In between, Harry Bentham (4) and Harry Dunkerley (2) ensured the Hawks stayed in control.
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City of Bristol briefly topped the division at the start of day two by beating Hucknall 12-5, including goals from Stuart Fennell (4), Nathan Brown (3) and Tom Whiting (3). Manchester’s success then pushed Bristol into second place, although they will be promoted to Division 2.

Moving up with them - after a most dramatic end to the final game - will be Portobello. The Scots clashed with Otter knowing that promotion would be the winners' prize. 

For much of the time, Otter were ahead - as comfortably as 11-6 at one point. The game went to 14-10 before Portobello staged a spectacular fightback in the third period when goals by Ben Scott (2), Ramon Fernandez (2) and Luca Pollock snatched a 15-14 lead. Scott put Portobello 17-16 ahead with 2.31 to go, only for Nathan Perren to equalise 1.17 from the end - 17-17 all! Portobello therefore finished a point ahead of Otter. 

There was also a goals avalanche in the clash of the bottom two teams, Castleford and Cheltenham Spartans. Castleford won 22-20. Remarkably, Cheltenham's Taylor Walsh, managed to score ten goals and finish on the losing side.

Photo (Trevor Hyde): Tom Whiting, City of Bristol.

Men’s Championship 2 clubs are set for an intriguing finale at Bolton tomorrow, with the top six all starting with a chance to finish in the three promotion places.

Worthing moved into contention with a 9-8 victory over Portobello, edging through with goals by Sam Cooper, Toby Underwood (Photo: Trevor Hyde) and Matt Smith late in the game.
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Manchester Hawks top the table after beating Otter 14-10 – a match decided in the third period when Hawks went from 9-8 to 12-8 with goals by Conor Lynch, James Blenkinship and Harry Beltham.

Hucknall swept to the women’s Championship 1 title at Liverpool today, comfortably defeating Tyldesley 13-7 in the winner-takes-all meeting of the top two.

They eased into a 4-0 lead in the early stages, including two goals by the division’s leading scorer India Wilkinson. Briefly, Tyldesley hit back to level at 5-5. But Hucknall went clear again in the third period, building a 9-6 lead with goals by Wilkinson, Lucy Rodgers and Giorgia Bosworth. Rodgers added three more in the final quarter.
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Tyldesley will still join Hucknall in Division 1 at the start of next season. The third promotion spot remains up for grabs after Rotherham Metro went down 12-11 to Liverpool Liver Birds, whose chief scorers were Charlotte Hopwood (5) and Laura Hesketh (3).

Exeter meet Rotherham tomorrow in a match that will decide the third promotion place. The Devon side beat Caledonia 10-7, including three goals each for Jasmin Coleman and Amy Potter.

Photo (Trevor Hyde): India Wilkinson (White 11) on the attack for Hucknall against Tyldesley's Honor Grimes and goalkeeper Kelsy Evans.

They’re back! The Great Britain men’s team who performed so magnificently at the London 2012 Olympics are getting together again to play a match against the current GB squad as one of the top-of-the-bill attractions at the League’s huge celebration event at Parliament Hill Lido, London, on 9 July.

BWPL 35/60, as this special day will be known, is a double celebration, marking the 60th anniversary of the men’s National WP League and 35 years since the formation of the original Women’s National League.

In addition to the reunion of Craig Figes and the GB 2012 heroes, the programme will include a match involving the current GB women’s squad.

There’s a festival of games for men’s and women’s team aged 40+. Add a poolside hog roast and bar and all is set for a fabulous day out – for water polo people of all ages, whether or not you’re in the water.

Click on BWPL 35/60 to find all you need to know about the programme for the day, ticketing and a lot more.
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See you all at the Lido! 

Poster Design: Callum Bailey, Duo Technology Ltd.
Photos: Trevor Hyde
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The 2022 British Water Polo League (BWPL) Champions Cup will gain extra prestige after confirmation that the event will now provide teams with the chance to qualify for international LEN tournaments.

Agreement over qualification berths for the leading women's and men's teams from the Champions Cup was reached following productive discussions between British Swimming and the BWPL.

The Champions Cup – on 14/15 May in Coventry - pits the top four teams from the women's and men's Super 5s competition against each other.

At this stage, Manchester top the men's and women's Super 5s table with six and five wins respectively from their six fixtures to date. There are two matches each remaining, with the campaign concluding on 26/27 March, also at Coventry.
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BWPL chairman David Andrews said: "We're thrilled to be able to make this announcement. I believe it's recognition of the British Water Polo League's vital contribution to the development and success of club water polo in this country."

Otter and Coventry drew 12-12 after a nerve-racking finish to their women’s Super 5s clash at Haberdashers today.

Just 1.21 remained when Katy Cutler’s sixth goal of the game edged Otter into a 12-11 lead. With 14 seconds left, Otter had a player excluded and Vicki Hawkins stepped up to equalise and claim her fifth goal – with just one second to go!

City of Manchester top the table after cruising to an 18-3 victory over Sheffield Sharks. There were eight different Manchester scorers, led by Annie Clapperton, with four.

Manchester’s men had a much tougher examination against Lancaster before winning 12-10 in the men’s Super 5s. Lancaster held a 3-1 early advantage and briefly edged 7-6 up at the start of the third period with a goal by Tom Curwen. However, the rest of that quarter saw Manchester take charge and build an 11-7 lead with strikes by Alvaro Fernandez, Joel Leighton, Aaron Winstanley (2) and Dan Paddon.
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Having lost their first four matches of the Super 5s, Cheltenham bounced back with their second win of the weekend – 8-7 against Sheffield. A close match throughout reached 6-6 in the last period when two Joe Hubble goals gave Cheltenham the edge.  

Photos (Trevor Hyde) - Above: Sarah Linney, of Coventry, under heavy pressure from Otter's Katy Cutler (White 7) and Peggy Etiebet. Below: Manchester's Alvaro Fernandez is almost submerged as Glen Robinson, of Lancaster, moves in to tackle. 

Otter Lutra made sure of the women's Championship 2 title by defeating Birmingham 18-7 at Grantham today. The team received their trophy from BWPL President Trevor Pledger.

Cheltenham rounded off an excellent campaign by beating Southampton 16-5 to finish as runners-up. Penguin Emperors, who drew with Otter on day one, could only draw again - 4-4 with Watford. 

Otter Lutra, Cheltenham and Penguin all start next season in Division 2.

Above: Otter celebrate! Back, L-R: Natasha Gerhardstein, Sarah Mdaoukhi, Grace Turner, Mia Mutadich, Mimi Anderson, Milly McDonagh. Front: Flick Hughes, Juliet Lyons, Audrey Tala, Pippa Danielson, Sarah Ellis-Keeler, Lucy-Mai Helliwell, BWPL President Trevor Pledger. Also played: Faye Poole, Lucy Bullock.

City of Manchester made no mistake in their second meeting with Liverpool Lizards in the women’s Super 5s at Haberdashers today, avenging a shock defeat in January with a resounding 15-5 win.

Annie Clapperton (4) and Liv Henderson (3) led the way for the champions, who are now level on points with Liverpool at the top of the table – but with a game in hand and a vastly superior goal difference.

Coventry’s dominant third period display against Sheffield Sharks set up a 12-8 victory. Goals in the third quarter by Rhianne Oscroft (2), Sacha and Pia Tonks and Sophie Linney took their team from 6-5 to an unassailable 11-7 lead.

There was a dramatic finish to the men’s Super 5s clash as Sheffield defeated Lancaster 9-8. Sheffield appeared to be cruising when a goal midway through the last period by Alex Gaywood stretched their lead to 8-4.
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Astonishingly, in just two minutes of play, Lancaster hit back with a rush of goals from John Pratt (2), Tom Curwen and Scott Sharpe to level it at 8-8. Only 20 seconds remained when Finlay Parnell hit the Sheffield winner.

City of Manchester extended their lead at the top of the table, Alvaro Fernandez and Aaron Winstanley both scoring twice in a 9-5 defeat of Solihull.

Photo (Trevor Hyde): John Pratt scores for Lancaster against Sheffield today.

Liverpool Lizards maintained their challenge for the women's Super 5s title with an 11-7 victory over Otter at Haberdashers today.

Molly Boniface-Ashton (5) and Milly Wordley (4) led the scoring for Liverpool, who controlled the game after falling 2-0 down in the first three minutes.

In the men's Super 5s, Cheltenham beat Solihull 12-8 to collect their first win and avenge two defeats by the Midlanders earlier this season - in phase one and then in their first meeting in the Super 5s.

​Cheltenham led all the way through without ever building an emphatic advantage until Joe Hubble scored his fourth goal with a super cross shot in the final quarter to make it 12-8. Even then, Solihull hit back with two late goals.

Photo (Trevor Hyde): Rachel Tibke, Liverpool Lizards, shoots past Otter goalkeeper  Laura Fitzharris at Habs today.

We’re all aware of the awful situation unfolding in Ukraine. And the League plans to support fund-raising efforts nationwide by placing donation buckets at all remaining events this season. Member clubs and supporters are also encouraged to donate via the League’s Crowdfunding page:
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/britishwaterpololeague?utm_term=GxJNBQnDj
 
Thank you for your support.