* 2005 Results :-

FIVE-GOAL BOWERS INSPIRES LANCASTER


 Lancaster won the British National Water Polo Championships for a third successive season, defeating Rotherham Metro 7-4 in the final at Manchester Aquatics Centre. Former GB captain Neil Bowers netted five.

 


 
Victory was sweet for Ryzard Detko's team, who have also won the National League title for the last three seasons. "We were missing three key players this weekend, so it made the achievement of winning that more special," said Detko, who was without England internationals Tom Curwen, Colin Burgess and Andy Squires.

 

Curwen, the club's top-scorer, and Squires are playing for the Melbourne Tigers in the Australian National League while Burgess was away on a skiing holiday. "It gets harder and harder every year to win this competition. All credit to Rotherham, they are a good side. But we've blooded some youngsters and they will have learned from this experience and get better," added Detko.
 
Lancaster fought back from 4-3 behind to beat Bristol Central 9-8 in a tense men's semi-final, while Rotherham beat Portobello 13-7. 
 

Sheffield won the inaugural women's competition with a 9-5 victory over Liverpool. Laura Evans led the way for the champions with four goals. Results: 3rd/4th play-off, Bristol 9 Portobello 7. Semi-finals: Rotherham13 Portobello 7, Bristol Central 8 Lancaster 9. Women – 3rd/4th play-off: Manchester 6 Coventry 4. Semi-finals: Sheffield 12 Coventry 10 (in over time), Liverpool 10 Manchester 6.

 
Final round results :-


Final: Lancaster 7 Rotherham 4.

Semi-finals: Rotherham Metro 13 Portobello 7, Bristol Central 8 Lancaster 9.

3rd/4th play-off: Bristol 9 Portobello 7

 
Preliminary round table :-

Group A (consisting of teams that finished first, third, fifth and seventh in the national League - Lancaster, Rotherham, Penguin and Manchester)

Group B (consisting of teams that finished second, fourth and sixth in the National League - Bristol, Cheltenham, Tyldesley and the first from the Scottish National league, Portobello)

Group A PLD PTS
Rotherham 3 6
Lancaster 3 4
Manchester 3 2
Penguin 3 0
Group B PLD PTS
Bristol 3 6
Portobello 3 4
Cheltenham 3 2
Tyldesley 3 0

The two top teams from each group go through to the final round in Manchester on 19/20 February.  For the final round, the top four teams from the Women’s National League (Sheffield, Liverpool, Manchester and Coventry) play their own British Championships.

For details of the Final Round Programme click on Fixtures - British Championships

Individual preliminary round match results :-

Group A
Lancaster 14 Penguin 4
Rotherham 10 Manchester 9
Penguin 5 Rotherham 10
Lancaster 15 Manchester 5
Manchester 5 Penguin 4
Lancaster 2 Rotherham 3
Group B
Bristol 9 Tyldesley 6
Cheltenham 11 Portobello 12
Tyldesley 9 Cheltenham 20
Bristol 11 Portobello 7
Portobello 16 Tydlesley 11
Bristol 8 Cheltenham 7