The most unusual and striking of BWPL trophies is about to go home to Wales after a gap of almost three decades!

The beautifully created Peter Olson Memorial Trophy was expertly carved by former men’s National League chairman Bob Davies, of Newport, and presented to the League in the 1990s on behalf of the Birkenhead and Newport & Maindee clubs as a tribute to Olson, an outstanding forward who played for both teams and passed away at a young age.

For many years, the trophy was presented  to the leading goalscorer in the former men’s National League and now goes to the top Super 5s marksman. This season that honour falls to Welsh Wanderers’ captain Dan Laxton, who totalled 35 goals in eight games.

Appropriately, the first person to offer congratulations to Dan was Gwyn Davies, son of Bob, who was Dan’s coach in his first Wanderers season. Gwyn recalls Peter Olson as “an absolutely lovely bloke and great player who taught a lot to many of the Maindee team that won the National League title three times in the 1980s.”
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The trophy’s list of previous winners is a real who’s who of the League’s most feared goalscorers of recent decades, headed by Tom Curwen (a record seven times!) and Colin Burgess (five), both on behalf of Lancaster.

This season's women's top goalscorer award will be shared by two City of Manchester players, Brooke Tafazolli and Izzy Howe, who finished level on 22 each. 

​City of Manchester and 20023 champions Polytechnic may have drawn their first Super 5s clash of the season, but it was Manchester who deservedly triumphed 15-12 in the crunch second meeting at Coventry to take the title for the fifth time.

Manchester built an 8-3 lead during the second period, a buffer that kept them in control for the rest of the game, despite a spirited Poly attempt at recovery which, at different stages, saw them pulling up to 8-5, then 13-10.

In the end, Manchester's finishing was much sharper.  Manchester goalie Malachy Byrne made several saves but crucially he was helped out on a number of occasions as defenders succeeded in blocking powerful Poly shots. 

The trophy and medals were presented by BWPL President Trevor Pledger, assisted by Ian Mackenzie, Chairman, Swim England Water Polo Leadership Group.

City of Manchester won the women's Super 5s title for the seventh time - and fifth in a row - by defeating Liverpool Lizards in the winner-takes-all finale at Coventry today.

The game was effectively all over before the end of the second period when Manchester's runaway start had built a 7-0 lead thanks to goals by Harriet Dickens (2), Brooke Tafazolli (2), Izzy Howe, Isabelle Robb and Lucy Blenkinship.

To their credit, Liverpool battled back to reduce the Manchester advantage to 8-5. But, despite some excellent saves by Liverpool goalkeeper Hayley Price, Manchester eased clear in the final stages to win 14-8.
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The trophy and medals were presented by BWPL President Trevor Pledger, assisted by Ian Mackenzie, Chairman, Swim England Water Polo Leadership Group.

Earlier, Coventry beat Sheffield Sharks 12-7, ensuring their qualification for the Champions Cup, also to be staged at the Alan Higgs Centre, in May. The sides were level at 4-4 early in the second period before Coventry eased into a 9-5 lead at the end of the third with goals by Mathilde Ribordy (3), Sophie Linney and Rhianne Oscroft.
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In the men's Super 5s, Dan Laxton took his goals tally for the Super 5s to 35 with seven more in Welsh Wanderers' 17-9 victory over Cheltenham.

Champions Polytechnic set up a men's Super 5s title decider against City of Manchester tomorrow when they defeated Welsh Wanderers 16-10 at Coventry today.

The win avenged Poly's only defeat so far this season (Wanderers won a thriller, 21-20) and put them level on points with Manchester, who began day one with an 18-10 victory over Sutton & Cheam. Kimon Haralambous, Poly's skipper, scored four, as did Liam Neill. Dan Laxton contributed five for Wanderers, taking his total for the season so far to 28.

Later, in their second match of the day, Sutton & Cheam beat Cheltenham 9-5 to complete a double for the season as well clinching Champions Cup qualification. The result also ensured a top four place for Welsh Wanderers.

Sutton withstood pressure for long periods of the Cheltenham game. The match turned in the third period when, with Sutton battling to hold a 6-5 lead, they produced two stunning goals - a long-distance lob from the left edge of the pitch from Dave Smithson, then a powerful angled shot from the right-hand side by Ali Wakeling. Cheltenham missed several chances before Caleb Hughes netted the only goal of the final period.

Otter, women's Champions Cup winners in 2023, took an important step towards qualifying for this season's competition when they defeated Sheffield Sharks 14-13 in the Super 5s at Coventry today.
Before the start, both teams were stranded at the bottom of the table without a point - but with Sheffield holding a key advantage of superior goal difference.

Otter led for much of the game, although Sharks battled with great determination to draw level after trailing 5-3, then 10-7. Briefly, Sheffield led 11-10 at the start of the last - a goal by Anna Motley (Photo: Trevor Hyde) after Otter had a player excluded. But Otter were soon ahead again, as Niamh Moloney equalised and Rebecca Mulcahy, Emily Campbell-Lamerton and Isabelle Dean established a 14-11 lead. Sheffield's final goals were not scored until the last 50 seconds and so Otter claimed the points.

Sarah Snyder (4), Isabelle Dean (3) and Rebecca Mulcahy (3) were the main Otter scorers while Rosie Griffiths and Larissa Partridge claimed hat-tricks for Sheffield.
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In their second game, Otter went down 20-13 to Liverpool Lizards, who take on Manchester tomorrow in a title decider. Manchester defeated Coventry 22-6.

Penguin carried off the men's Championship 1 title when they defeated Sheffield 13-9 in a winner-takes-all finale to an exciting weekend at East Manchester.

Sheffield had travelled to East Manchester knowing they could steal the trophy if they won both their matches against Watford and Penguin, the teams that began on day one in the top two places.

Watford were beaten. But the double was a tall order -  Penguin proved too great a challenge, taking charge during the third period when goals by Andre Savic and Albie Duffy improved a tenuous 6-5 lead to 8-5. The points were virtually assured once Dennis van der Line and Savic added further strikes at the start of the last to make it 10-6.

Consolation for Sheffield is that they return to Division 1 next season in the company of Penguin and Watford while Portobello, City of Bristol, Exeter, Lancaster and Caledonia join the top three from Championship 2 - Sedgefield, Invicta and Worthing - in Division 2.

There were tight finishes in other games. Dan Brussow scored five seconds from the final whistle to earn a 14-13 victory for Bristol over Caledonia. There were only four seconds left when Kameron Powell netted the goal that brought Exeter a 12-11 success against Portobello.
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PENALTY KING!: Is this a record? Watford goalie Karan Basu (Photo: Trevor Hyde) is the penalty specialist that teams just can't beat! At Manchester, he completed a remarkable run in which he saved EIGHT Championship 1 penalties in a row - three against Portobello, three more against Sheffield, then two today against Lancaster.

​Sedgefield (Photo: Trevor Hyde)  withstood a terrific challenge from Southampton in men's Championship 2 at Eton College to win 20-17 and secure the title with a proud 100 per cent record.

Key moment in the game came in the third period when Southampton, leading 12-10, lost a player to a violent conduct incident. By the time the four-minute penalty had been played out, Sedgefield were level at 14-14.

To Southampton's credit, they immediately went ahead again - a powerful shot from eight metres by skipper Charlie Roberts, one of his seven goals in an outstanding individual display. But Sedgefield were soon ahead again and, with John Pratt taking his personal goal tally to six, they broke clear in the final stages.

The trophy and medals were presented to skipper Matt Calvert and his team by former international referee Andy Allen.

Invicta beat Hucknall 15-13 to secure second place while the third promotion spot to Division 2 went to Worthing, 16-3 winners against Manchester Hawks. 
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Southampton, Manchester Hawks, Hucknall, Croydon and Otter go to Division 3 where they will be accompanied by Rotherham Metro (6th team in Division 3 this season) and two from what promises to be very competitive playoff tournament involving Castleford, Cheltenham Spartans, City of Birmingham and Bridgefield.

The clash between Penguin and Sheffield at East Manchester tomorrow (10 March) in the final match of the men's Championship 1 season will decide which team clinches the title.

Sheffield brought themselves back into the picture by defeating Watford - who started the weekend in second place - 9-7. A close match saw Watford trail 6-5 early in the final period, only for goals by Corran Bradley, Arshia Keyghobadi and Connor Carpenter to take Sheffield clear.

Five goals by Telemachos Pissas (Photo: Trevor Hyde) led Penguin to a comfortable 10-4 victory over Lancaster. 
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Whatever the outcome of tomorrow's final drama, Penguin and Sheffield will both start next season in Division 1. So will Watford. Even if they lose to Lancaster tomorrow and fourth-placed Portobello beat Exeter - leaving the teams level on points - Watford will take precedence by virtue of a win against the Scots earlier in the campaign.

Sedgefield continued their rapid rise up the BWPL ladder by clinching the men's Championship 2 title with a dramatic 12-10 victory over nearest rivals Worthing at Eton College today.

At the start, Sedgefield raced into a 3-0 lead. But the advantage didn't last long as Worthing hit back, briefly going ahead 5-3  when Ben Curtis scored from distance with a speculative lob.

Later, Sedgefield edged in front again at 9-7. At that point, they had a player dismissed for a violent act, offering Worthing the chance to play a man up for four minutes. They started badly - Sedgefield goalie Richard Murray saved the resulting penalty - and, by the time Sedgefield were back to full strength, Worthing still trailed only 10-8. Goals by Ben Alderson and John Pratt then ensured Sedgefield's victory.
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Defeat leaves Worthing still unsure of a place in Division 2 next season. Invicta finished day one in second position after beating Otter 17-9 and they take on Hucknall tomorrow. Worthing, who face a crunch match against Manchester Hawks, and Southampton, who take on Sedgefield, are also chasing the all-important third promotion spot.

Photo (Trevor Hyde): Ben Stephenson on the charge for Sedgefield during their crucial win over Worthing.

Hucknall defeated Cheltenham 11-8 at Grantham today to win women’s Championship 1 for the third time in six years. They held a lead throughout after going 4-1 up the opening quarter with goals by Cara Dunsbee (2), Helen Reader and Helena Batey.

Exeter beat Rotherham Metro 14-12. A late rally saw Rotherham cut Exeter’s lead to 12-11, but Felicity Tuckett’s fourth goal and another by Jessica Garrad ensued success for the Devon team.

Third-placed Tyldesley finished with a 16-11 win against Liverpool Liver Birds, including five goals by Amelia Crompton.
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In the women’s Super 5s at Sandwell, Milly Wordleyscored six as Liverpool Lizards completed an 11-8 win against Coventry. Manchester outplayed Otter 19-3, Lucy Blenkinship leading the scorers with six. Liverpool and Manchester meet in a potential title decider at Coventry, 23/24 March.