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MANCHESTER OUTGUN CHELTENHAM

City of Manchester thoroughly enjoyed a Division One weekend at their home Aquatics Centre venue, winning all three matches – and knocking Cheltenham off the top of the table in the process.

2007 Season PLD W D L F A PTS GD
Bristol 7 6 0 1 89 49 12 40
Lancaster 6 5 1 0 111 46 11 65
Cheltenham 7 5 1 1 92 70 11 22
Manchester 6 4 0 2 70 48 8 22
Rotherham 6 4 0 2 82 63 8 19
Welsh Wanderers 6 2 1 3 67 66 5 1
Penguin 6 0 2 4 43 87 2 -44
Polytechnic 6 1 0 5 37 74 2 -37
Portobello 6 0 0 6 59 99 0 -40
Otter 6 1 1 4 54 102 -3 -48

Although Manchester led Cheltenham only 4-3 at the end of the first period, they gained increasing control, scoring four goals with only one in reply in the third period. Eventually, Cheltenham lost 17-9, with Robert Rae (5), Jonny Kirk (4) and Sean Ryder (4) leading the Manchester scorers.

Manchester cruised into an 11-2 lead in the third period against Welsh Wanderers before relaxing a little too much and seeing the eventual winning margin cut to 13-9. Robert Rae scored three and Brett Perkins, Kevin Williams, Charles Booth and Sean Ryder two apiece. The other Manchester success was against Polytechnic – 16-3.

The weekend proved something of a stroll for champions Lancaster, who amassed no less than 74 goals in victories over Penguin (26-4), Otter (26-8) and Portobello (22-12).

Inevitably, the international duo of Scott Carpenter and Tom Curwen were the main beneficiaries. Carpenter scored ten against Penguin, matched by Curwen’s ten against Otter. As if that wasn’t enough, Carpenter added another personal tally of 11 in the Portobello fixture – putting him well on track to match last season’s phenomenal total of exactly 100.

Bristol Central lead the division after winning their three matches – against Rotherham (13-8), Portobello (22-11) and Penguin (9-4) – although second-placed Lancaster are just a point behind with a game in hand.

Bristol’s game with Rotherham was all square at 8-8 at the beginning of the last period, but the West Countrymen lasted the pace far better, scoring five goals without response through Craig Figes, Jon Hutchings, Danny Williams, Paul Morris and Brad Poole.

The derby between London sides Polytechnic and Otter was close all the way through, a goal by Campbell less than three minutes from the end clinching a 7-6 victory for Otter.

Dan Laxton contributed seven goals for Welsh Wanderers in a 13-6 defeat of Portobello.

Leaders Bristol and Lancaster clash at the next Division One weekend at Millfield School, Somerset, on 6/7 October.