After the drama of the Super 5s finale at Lancaster, it was back today for some teams to the pressurised business of qualifying for playing membership of the British League at the start of next season.

Six women’s teams lined up at Northampton, where three places were up for grabs in Division 3 at the beginning of the new campaign. Of those obliged to go through the qualification process after finishing in the bottom three earlier in the 2018/19 competition, Manchester Comets made the most emphatic impact, winning all their three matches.

In the men’s competition at Walsall (five teams battling for three places), Bedford’s long playing membership of the British League – and, before that, in the former men’s National League – is in danger of ending after losing on day one to new applicants Chester, 9-5, and City of Newport, 10-4.
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Newport, whose line-up includes such accomplished players as Chris Taylor, Carl Wyatt (Photo: Trevor Hyde) and James Farror – all with BWPL experience in top divisions – also defeated Northampton 15-9. Chelmsford were the other team to win twice – 6-3 against Chester and 9-6 against Northampton.
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Teaching the finer points of water polo to a newcomer to the sport can be quite challenging. Which is why Andy Stein, of the Warwick club, himself very much a late beginner (he’s now 56) has published a book – Water Polo Explained.

“I wrote it initially,” he says, “so I could understand the many rules – and later to help me pass a referee’s examination. It's for new players (and their families), new referees and anyone else who takes an interest in this great sport."

It has all be done in experienced company – Andy's collaborator was Gary Tonks (pictured), the ex-GB international who these days coaches the City of Birmingham girls’ team in the BWPL, including his 18-year-old twin daughters, Pia and Sancha.
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The book features a detailed history of water polo as well as every aspect of the game itself, from playing to refereeing. It’s available from Amazon – paper version £6.99, ebook £3.99.
 

No prizes for guessing the identity of this season's top marksmen in the men's Super 5s. Tom Curwen (Photo: Trevor Hyde) takes the award - for the FIFTH time in the eight years of the competition!

Actually, it was a close run thing. The Lancaster player finished just one goal ahead of Invicta's Callum Bailey and 18-year-old Tom Hunt, of Cheltenham.

The women's award went to Coventry's Kimberly Watson, with Lily Turner, of Otter, finishing runner-up for a second year. Other divisional hot-shots:

Women's Championship 1, Charlotte Hopwood, Liverpool Liver Birds
Women's Championship 2, Nia Sanders, Welsh Wanderers
Men's Championship 1, Zach White, Durham Palatinates
Men's Championship 2, Nick Corjon, Otter
Men's Championship 3, Addison Brown, Tyldesley
​Men's Championship 4, Nick Covington, British Army

Thousands of water polo fans around the world tuned in watch the drama unfold at the British League finals in Lancaster live on television, via the BBC IPlayer and online – and we’re thrilled that so many have contacted since then to say how great it was to see our sport given such a high profile.

Thanks to all! And, of course, a very special thanks to those who made it possible.

Putting BWPL water polo live on British terrestrial television for the first time required an incredible amount of work behind the scenes by so many people, not just the League’s administrators. In particular, we must mention:

The numerous sponsors and water polo friends who provided essential financial backing for the venture.

Paul Nicholson (at one time an officer of the former men’s National League) and his fabulous production team, with their cameras – including one high in the roof – in operation for many hours covering a total of nine matches.

Chief commentator Alan Anderson and his numerous volunteer assistants.
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The wonderfully supportive staff at the Salt Ayre Leisure Centre, Lancaster.

Photo (Trevor Hyde): Alan Anderson in action, with co-commentator Claire Walmsley.

City of Manchester men concluded their title-winning season by defeating last year's champions Solihull 17-10 at Lancaster.

This was a closely contested game until the final period when Manchester broke loose to score seven times. Their leading scorers were  Dan Paddon (4), Eleftherios Chelioudalis (3) and John Patterson (3). 

Photo (Trevor Hyde): L-R, back row Dan Paddon, Michael Patterson, Lewis Daly, James Warman, Guive Shafie, Barry James, Isaac Wass, Joel O'Regan, Joel Leighton, James Moffat, Eleftherios Chelioudalis, Cameron Richards, coach Theo Nousios. Front: Martin Howe, Spilios Kaloudis, Dylan Green, Aaron Winstanley, Andrea di Caro.

City of Manchester completed a British League Super 5s double at Lancaster as their girls easily defeated City of Coventry 6-1 in the match to decide the women's title.

With the men's trophy already secured by Manchester, the women went into their final game knowing that a draw or win would guarantee them top spot.

It all proved fairly straightforward. Coventry had their chances early on, shooting against the goal posts and drawing strong saves from Manchester goalkeeper Jade Smith. But from 2-1 up at the end of the first period, Manchester scored three times without reply in the second - all from Annie Clapperton - to build a lead they never looked likely to lose.

​The trophy and medals were presented afterwards by BWPL President Pippa Jones. L-R: Joan Howe (team manager), Emma Bartlett, Annie Clapperton, Izzy Howe, Steph Whittaker, Emmie-Rose Eastwood, Ella Chadderton, Jade Smith (captain), Rosie Egan, Niamh Campbell-O'Donnell, Honor Grimes, Martha Warrilow, Thea Simpson, Theo Nousios. Photo (Trevor Hyde)

Invicta beat Cheltenham 10-9 at Lancaster today to clinch second place in the men's Super 5s - rounding off their best-ever season.

Remarkable feature of a tense affair was Invicta's ability to survive the loss of a player to a brutality offence at the end of the opening period. At the time, they led 3-2. Not only did Cheltenham miss the ensuing penalty - Invicta's six players controlled the play so effectively for four minutes that, by the time they were up to strength again, the lead had increased to 5-3.

Cheltenham recovered later, briefly leading 6-5. But it was 7-7 at the end of the third, then 8-8 in the last - the point at which Jack Waller's two goals earned Invicta the points.

Later, Lily Turner scored five as Otter defeated Liverpool Lizards 12-5 in the women's Super 5s.

Photo (Trevor Hyde): Heavy treatment for Jack Waller from young Cheltenham defender Joe Berry.

Invicta, led by four-goal Jack Waller, inflicted the first defeat of the Super 5s campaign on champions City of Manchester at Lancaster today - by the resounding margin of 11-5. The triumph repeated their success of the first phase of the season, when they were the only team to take both points against Manchester.

The match was close early on - Manchester led 3-2. But Invicta took charge in the second period, scoring three times without reply through Scott Martin, Ben Tinkler-Davies and Callum Bailey and excelling in defence - with goalkeeper Ben Alcorn making several fine saves. It was 7-4 to Invicta after three periods; then goals by Waller (2), Shaun King - both members of GB's 2012 Olympic squad - and Martin took them clear to a superb victory.

In the last match of the day, Lancaster pulled off a thrilling first victory - 8-7 against Solihull. To the delight of the home crowd, Lancaster recovered from 6-2 down to claim a winner by Tom Curwen seconds from the end. Lancaster owed much in the early stages to the defensive heroics of goalkeeper Marc Robinson while Graham Harrington scored twice with powerful long shots.

Photo (Trevor Hyde): Manchester's Joe O'Regan faces determined defence from goalkeeper Ben Alcorn and the Invicta defence.

Champions Otter crashed out of this season's women's Super 5s title race when they went down 7-4 to City of Manchester at Lancaster today.

Only Coventry can now overhaul Manchester. The Midlanders beat Caledonia 18-7 to set up a winner-takes-all title decider between the sides tomorrow. Coventry must win - a draw or victory will give Manchester the trophy.

Inevitably, the Manchester-Otter clash was a tight affair, Manchester leading 2-1, 5-2 and then 6-2 as the game moved into the final period. Briefly, Otter threatened, scoring through Peggy Etiebet and Robyn Greenslade. Then their defence left too much space for Annie Clapperton, who swooped for her third, decisive goal of the game. 

Photo (Trevor Hyde): All-out defence from Manchester.

Cheltenham have rebuilt their side around a talented group of youngsters since their last British League title win two years ago - and a couple of them excelled in today's 10-4 Super 5s victory over Lancaster at Salt Ayre.

Charlie Brogan, just 17 in January, scored twice. And there was a hat-trick for one of the division's top scorers this season - Tom Hunt (below), who was 18 earlier this month. Will Rayson (above), a comparative veteran of 22, also scored three. 

As usual, Tom Curwen provided the main attacking threat for Lancaster, scoring three of his team's four goals.

Photos: Trevor Hyde