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KNIGHT SUPER SHOW IN VAIN

14/12/2014

Former Great Britain goalkeeper Andy Knight saved three penalties - including two in a tense final quarter - but could not prevent Castleford grabbing a crucial 14-12 victory over his team, City of Cambridge, in men's Championship 4 at Marlborough College.

The result left Castleford to face Ealing today (14 December) in a winner-takes-all clash for the title. Cambridge will take third place if they beat the other top four team, Bedford.

Castleford battled throughout to withstand a determined Cambridge challenge. They were almost always narrowly ahead until the start of the final quarter, when Cambridge squared the match at 10-10. Thanks to Knight's brilliance, Cambridge were able to keep in touch at 11-11 and then 12-12 before goals in the last two minutes by Dan Pollock and Luke Franks took Castleford clear. Franks finished with five for Castleford while Hamish Crichton was top marksman for Cambridge with four.

CARLISLE CELEBRATE TITLE

13/12/2014

Carlisle made certain of the men's Championship 2 title by defeating City of Birmingham 14-12 in a remarkable match at Lancaster University.

Midway through the third quarter, Birmingham were seemingly coasting with an 11-6 lead. Carlisle cut the gap to 12-9 by the start of the final period - and then proceeded to score five goals without reply through Andrew Robinson (3), Colin Burgess and Matt Grieve.

Manchester Hawks defeated Hucknall 17-8, including seven goals by Jack Wilczynski and three apiece from Sam Hanrahan and Lewis Daly. Solihull beat Worthing 10-7. Worthing are already guaranteed a top three place, but the other spot will depend on the outcome of the Solihull/Penguin match today (14 December).

BIG WEEKEND FOR BRITISH LEAGUE

11/12/2014

While women's Super 5s and Championship 1 teams battle for points at Leeds University this weekend (13/14 December), three titles will be decided in men's divisions.

At Lancaster University, a new venue for the League, Carlisle will be Championship 2 winners if they defeat City of Birmingham and Hucknall in their remaining games. But there's little to choose between most teams in the division, therefore nearly every match will have some impact on the key issue of which clubs finish in the top three places and progress to Division 2 at the start of next season.

Undefeated York City lead Championship 3, which also reaches its climax at Lancaster University; again, there will be close competition for the all-important top three spots.

At Marlborough College, Wiltshire, a mini league involving the leading four clubs - Bedford, Castleford, City of Cambridge and Ealing - will decide the Championship 4 winners, with other clubs fighting for positions that can affect their placings when the 2015 campaign gets under way.

WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP 2 LINE-UP

10/12/2014

The schedule for the grand finale weekend of women's Championship 2 at Leeds University on 10/11 January is now published on the fixtures pages. Top four qualifiers are City of Birmingham, English Roses, Hucknall and Manchester Comets.

RUNNERS-UP SPOT FOR SHEFFIELD

7/12/2014

City of Sheffield beat Invicta 11-7 in the match at Lancaster to decide second place in men's Championship 1.

Both teams - plus champions Team Northumbria - progress to Division One at the start of next season.

NORTHUMBRIA'S TITLE

7/12/2014

Team Northumbria completed an outstanding season by securing the Championship 1 title at Lancaster today.

They needed a point in their final match against Polytechnic and, after an even battle early on, won 10-6. Northumberland led 6-5 after two quarters but there was only one goal for each side in a tense third period. The pressure eased for Northumberland in the final four minutes as they added goals by Neil Bowers, Hector Lam and Andrew Calvert.

Northumberland won all their matches earlier in the season in Division Two and dropped just a single point - in an 11-11 draw against Invicta - in the Championship. BWPL President Pippa Jones (far left) presented the Roger Hargreaves Trophy and medals. Pictured in the back row (left to right) are Neil Bowers, Harry Cowley, Stephen Green, Brett Perkins, Hector Lam and Richard MacAlister. Front: John Pratt, James Pratt, Alex Kazmier, Adam Courtley, Matt Calvert.

PORTOBELLO'S SUPER FINISH

7/12/2014

Portobello staged a thrilling late fightback to draw 13-13 with Lancaster in the men's Super 5s at Lancaster today (7 December).

From 10-10 at the end of the third quarter, the Scots looked down and out as three goals from Tom Curwen - who finished the match with six - swept Lancaster into a 13-10 lead.

Fraser Rutherford began the recovery by scoring with just over two minutes remaining. Antonella Padolecchia's sixth goal followed; then Jose Ronaldo struck the equaliser with 30 seconds left on the clock.

Manchester, last year's champions, finally claimed their first victory at the sixth attempt - 15-7 against Bristol Central. Bristol led 3-2 after the first quarter but Manchester coasted through after scoring five goals without reply in the second, including four by Rob Rae.

WANDERERS' LATE SURGE

7/12/2014

Welsh Wanderers scored six times in the last quarter - through Chris James (2), Dan Laxton (2), Morgan Hirsch and Nigel Davies - to ensure a 15-12 victory over Croydon Amphibians in Championship 1 at Lancaster today.

Caledonia banged in eight without reply in the third period against Sutton & Cheam in a 21-9 win. Chris Campbell and Mark Speed scored five each.

CHELTENHAM EDGE OUT SCOTS

6/12/2014

Cheltenham avenged their only men's Super 5s defeat so far this season with a 16-14 victory over Portobello at Lancaster. The Scots had won the first meeting, 12-11.

There was drama in the final quarter when Cheltenham, battling to hold on to a narrow lead, had three players wrapped - losses that will not help their cause when automatic one-match sanctions kick in at the Super 5s finale in Guildford on 24/25 January.

Cheltenham were ahead 4-3 after the first quarter and 8-6 after two. Portobello levelled at 11-11 late in the third but Cheltenham were back in front at 13-11 early in the final period - and they maintained a narrow advantage until the end. Rob Parker, Mark Banwell and Mike Thomas all scored hat-tricks for Cheltenham. The main Portobello scorers were Ivan Losa Zurita (5) and Daniele Devecchis (3).

Earlier in the day, Cheltenham defeated City of Manchester 14-10.

LANCASTER MAINTAIN TITLE PUSH

6/12/2014

Lancaster kept the pressure on Cheltenham in the battle for the men's Super 5s crown with a 14-10 victory over Bristol Central at Lancaster. The sides were level at 4-4 at two periods but, once again, Tom Curwen's shooting had a key impact on the match and he finished with five goals. Alex Parsonage scored four and Glen Robinson two.

In Championship 1, Zac White's goals ensured that Team Northumbria maintained their title challenge with a 16-9 win against Welsh Wanderers. White claimed five of the goals as Northumbria raced into a 6-2 first quarter lead. He finished the match with eight.

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