* 2001 Results :-

DAZZLING BRISTOL STEAL THE SHOW

Bristol Central, winners in 1996, 1997 and 1998, clinched the British Championship for the fourth time in real style with three tremendous victories in Manchester’s Commonwealth Pool.

Hat-tricks from Jon Hutchings and Craig Figes set up a vital 10-4 win over Penguin on the first day.

But the real shock of the weekend was the way they demolished reigning NWPL champions Lancaster 8-0. Admittedly, Lancaster were without regular goalkeeper David Cartwright. And there was drama half way through the game when international Ian Mountfield – five goal star of Lancaster’s 11-7 success against Portobello on day one – made a sudden exit following news that his wife was about to give birth!

Central, however, were unstoppable, leading 3-0 at the halfway stage and 6-0 after the third quarter. Scorers were John Sissons 2, Figes 2, Hutchings, Jez Sherman, Rhys Tamlyn and Matt Thresher.

Bristol still went into their final match against Portobello knowing they needed at least a draw to make sure of the title – and the game was very close. In the final quarter, goals by Fraser Rutherford and Andy Gilhooly brought the determined Scots from 7-5 down to 7-7. It needed a Figes goal two minutes from the end and a late strike by Tamlyn to give Bristol a 9-7 win. Bristol scorers: Sean Love 3, Figes 3, Sherman 2, Tamlyn, Thresher. Portobello: Andy Gilhooly 3, Giles Gilhooly, Peter Lamb, Barry Davidson, Rutherford.

One of the tightest games was Portobello’s 11-10 victory over Penguin. The Londoners trailed 6-3 and 11-8 during the last quarter before scoring twice in the last two minutes. Andy Gilhooly netted three times for the Scottish champions while Jerome Read grabbed four for Penguin.

Penguin beat Lancaster 10-5 after being level at 5-5 after two periods. For full results and tables from the Manchester weekend see below.

* 2001 Results :-

Finals : 2001 PLD W L F A PTS GD
Bristol 3 3 0 27 11 6 + 16
Penguin 3 1 2 24 26 2 - 2
Portobello 3 1 2 25 30 2 - 5
Lancaster 3 1 2 16 25 2 - 9

Individual final match results :-

Finals : 2001
Lancaster 11 Portobello 7
Bristol 10 Penguin 4
Lancaster 0 Bristol 8
Penguin 10 Portobello 11
Bristol 9 Portobello 7
Lancaster 5 Penguin 10

Preliminary round table :-

Group A PLD W L F A PTS
Lancaster 3 3 0 21 15 6
Bristol 3 2 1 35 14 4
Rotherham 3 1 2 19 23 2
Tyldesly 3 0 3 20 43 0
Group B PLD W L F A PTS
Penguin 3 2 1 37 23 4
Portobello 3 2 1 30 27 4
Polytechnic 3 2 1 25 24 4
Cheltenham 3 0 3 19 37 0

Individual preliminary round match results :-

Group A
Lancaster 5 Bristol 4
Rotherham 11 Tyldesley 8
Bristol 22 Tyldesley 4
Lancaster 6 Rotherham 3
Rotherham 5 Bristol 9
Lancaster 10 Tyldesley 8
Group B
Polytechnic 10 Cheltenham 7
Penguin 14 Portobello 9
Cheltenham 6 Portobello 11
Polytechnic 8 Penguin 7
Cheltenham 6 Penguin 16
Portobello 10 Polytechnic 7