Southampton defeated Croydon Amphibians 13-10 in the opening men’s Division 3 match on day two at Manchester Aquatics Centre – but it failed to save them from the drop into Championship 3.
Much later, the final game of divisional programme was to determine their fate. If Manchester Hawks could beat City of Birmingham by a minimum five goals, Southampton would progress to Championship 2 at the expense of the Hawks. But Birmingham were determined that wouldn't happen. They won 13-9, scoring four times late on through Drazen Videc (2), Dan Mason and David Lane to propel them from sixth at the start of the weekend to a final position of third.
So Otter, Penguin, Birmingham, Castleford and Manchester Hawks go to Championship 2 (Manchester and Southampton both totalled five points, but Manchester moved up thanks to defeating Southampton when the sides met earlier in the season). Southampton join Croydon and Cheltenham Spartans in Championship 3.
The derby battle between the two top teams, Otter and Penguin, ended appropriately in an 8-8 draw. Penguin recovered from 6-2 down to 7-7 before Alex Zachariades edged Otter back in front with a man-up goal less than three minutes from the end. Corsini equalised with a penalty with 1.03 remaining.
Photo (Trevor Hyde): Nathan Wilkes (blue cap), a leading goalscorer for Birmingham.
Much later, the final game of divisional programme was to determine their fate. If Manchester Hawks could beat City of Birmingham by a minimum five goals, Southampton would progress to Championship 2 at the expense of the Hawks. But Birmingham were determined that wouldn't happen. They won 13-9, scoring four times late on through Drazen Videc (2), Dan Mason and David Lane to propel them from sixth at the start of the weekend to a final position of third.
So Otter, Penguin, Birmingham, Castleford and Manchester Hawks go to Championship 2 (Manchester and Southampton both totalled five points, but Manchester moved up thanks to defeating Southampton when the sides met earlier in the season). Southampton join Croydon and Cheltenham Spartans in Championship 3.
The derby battle between the two top teams, Otter and Penguin, ended appropriately in an 8-8 draw. Penguin recovered from 6-2 down to 7-7 before Alex Zachariades edged Otter back in front with a man-up goal less than three minutes from the end. Corsini equalised with a penalty with 1.03 remaining.
Photo (Trevor Hyde): Nathan Wilkes (blue cap), a leading goalscorer for Birmingham.
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