The next stage of developing BWPL’s partnership with the Maltese Water Polo Federation took place during the Champions Cup weekend at Coventry when representatives from the island were among the event’s officials.

Former FINA referee Mario Dalli was one of the delegates while the referee panel included LEN referee Alex Deraffaele.

Officials line-up – L-R, back row: Damien Taylor, Simon Wiley. Middle: Delegates Mario Dalli, Andrew Allen, Jeff Parker, Trevor Pledger. Front: Jonny Richards, Alex Deraffaele, Max Gerasimov.

The highly successful Champions Cup weekend offered the chance to catch up with an important presentation – the award of the top goal-scorer award to Polytechnic’s South African Olympian Liam Neill.

The splendid, hand-carved trophy was jointly presented to the former men’s National League in 1993 by the Birkenhead and Newport and Maindee Olympic clubs in memory of one of their finest players, Pete Olson.

These days, the award goes to the top marksman in the Super 5s – and Liam Neill’s 28 goals were crucial in Poly’s march to the title.

Originally, it was presented to the top scorer in all Division 1 matches, which explains why the trophy records the names of many of Britain’s finest sharp-shooters – including Colin Burgess (Lancaster), Mike Cowburn (Tyldesley) and Tom Curwen (Lancaster), plus Lancaster’s Scott Carpenter, who achieved a century of goals or more in consecutive seasons, 2006 and 2007.

Scott’s father George was the first player to record the goals ton in the League when he played for Durham City – he managed it twice exactly two decades earlier, 1986 and 1987.
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The presentation to Liam was made by League President Trevor Pledger.

Polytechnic completed a memorable season when they beat City of Manchester 10-7 to clinch the men's Champions Cup at Coventry today.

The League champions were never really sure of completing a very special double success until the final quarter, which began with Joel Leighton scoring for Manchester to cut Poly's lead to 8-7. A smart goal by Nick Hook eventually put Poly 9-7 up and then a penalty, converted by skipper Kion Haralambous, settled it. 

The trophy and medals were presented by BWPL President Trevor Pledger. Referees were Max Gerasimov and visiting Maltese official Alex Deraffaele.

Third place match: Penguin 13, Sutton & Cheam 7.​

Otter celebrated victory in the women's Champions Cup after defeating City of Manchester 8-6 in an excellent final at Coventry today.

The London side led from the start - 3-1 in the first period, then 4-3 at the halfway stage. It would have been worse for Manchester but for two penalty saves by their goalkeeper Sophie Jackson.

Lucy Bullock's goal from distance put Otter 5-4 up early in the third period and two more goals by Bullock made it 7-4. That's how it stayed for much of the final quarter, in which Manchester had their chances - only to be either thwarted by goalkeeper Molly Dilalla or spoil promising attacks with indifferent finishing.
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Earlier, Liverpool Lizards beat Hucknall 13-9 to take third place. Milly Wordley led their scoring with five.

Otter will meet City of Manchester in the Champions Cup women's final at Coventry tomorrow (14 May) after defeating Hucknall 10-5 at Coventry.

Hucknall were in the hunt until the middle of the final quarter when Otter held a slender 7-5 lead. Then a long break from her own half resulted in Niamhh Moloney scoring a fine goal for the London side - followed shortly afterwards by two more from Rebecca Mulcahy.

​Earlier, Manchester were too strong for Liverpool Lizards, winning 16-6. Leading scorers were Rosie Huck (4), Brooke Tafazolli (3) and Harriet Dickens (3).

Polytechnic eased into tomorrow's men's BWPL Champions Cup final with a 17-7 victory over Sutton & Cheam at Coventry today.

The Championship 1 winners made a spirited start. They were 2-1 ahead after the first period - their goalkeeper Matt Holland saved a penalty - and trailed only 5-4 midway through the second.

Then Poly, bidding to complete a League and Champions League double, took charge. It was 7-5 after two quarters, rapidly improved to 12-6 in the third, including three smart goals by Liam Neill, the top marksman in BWPL Super 5s this season.   

​BWPL’s annual Dave Warriner Memorial Trophy – for outstanding service to the League and the sport in general – has been awarded this year to Denry Leighton, a loyal table official in recent times but someone with a brilliant, long-serving record in numerous different roles.

Denry (pictured on BWPL table duty - photo by Trevor Hyde) played over many years for a number of clubs, including Everton, York and Nova. He coached Rotherham Metro to the old Division 4 title when the club entered the men’s National League for the first time in 1991. And in the 1990s he officiated as a table official at the World Student Games and European Championships, both in Sheffield.

BWPL has also announced this year’s winners of the Columbus Direct Trophies – for outstanding service to League and club.

The women’s award goes to Penguin’s Rachel Bull, whose career includes spells playing for major clubs in Italy and Australia. However, her first loyalty has always been to Penguin, for whom she has been a consistent top goal scorer for a number of years. She played in every Championship 1 match this season.

The men’s winner is Neil Swainson, who holds the remarkable record of playing in every one of the last 32 National League seasons, beginning with Rotherham Metro. There were a few years when he appeared in the National League for South Derbyshire, the club where he is now chairman, before returning as an ever-present in the Rotherham team.  

Unable to attend the Champions Cup weekend at Coventry next month? Well here’s a thought – you will be able to monitor every goal and exclusion as they happen thanks to a wonderful innovation created by the League’s technology wizard James Reddick.
 
It’s real-time match progress - successfully trialled at the recent Super 5s finale weekend as well as the men’s play-off tournament at Habs, receiving glowing reports from website viewers. Apparently, "watching" the Poly-Penguin finale online proved almost as exciting as actually being there!
 
The aim is that, just like the WePlaySport filming initiative, it will become a regular feature of BWPL competitions – a big step, perhaps, towards achieving the League’s long-term aspiration of dispensing with the current paper match sheets and operating everything online. Watch this space!
 
Follow every incident in the Champions Cup matches by going to the fixtures page and clicking on Live Match Events.

The British League today launches a ground-breaking partnership with Malta water polo when one of our leading young officials, Jonny Richards (Photo: Trevor Hyde), flies out to referee a number of games in the island’s Winter League.
 
The focus will then turn to the BWPL Champions Cup weekend at Coventry, 13/14 May, with Karl Izzo, President of the Aquatic Sports Association of Malta, attending as a special guest along with two of Malta’s leading officials – FINA (World Aquatics) referee Mario Dalli and LEN official Alex Deraffaele – among the appointed officials.
 
“We believe this exciting and important collaboration between our two organisations can bring huge benefits for all,” said the League’s Delegate Group chairman Jeff Parker.
 
“Hopefully, Jonny will be the first of many BWPL officials to benefit from experiencing the different environment of water polo in Malta.
 
“The aim of Karl’s visit is to observe how BWPL stages events as well as meeting League officers to explore development of the partnership going forward.
 
"We're most grateful to BWPL President Trevor Pledger for his great work in helping to set up the partnership in its initial stages.”

Sedgefield and Worthing had little difficulty qualifying for men’s Division 3 next season after winning their final games at the promotion event at Haberdashers.

Six goals in the first quarter – three by John Pratt, who finish the game with seven – put Sedgefield in charge against Bridgefield. They won 16-7. Worthing beat the British Army 15-7, only breaking clear in the final period with goals by Sam Cooper (2), George Wood (2), Ben Curtis and Josh Coulson.

Caledonia comfortable won all three matches in the Division 4 promotion tournament, also at Habs. Murray Dickson scored five as they rounded off with a 16-8 victory over Coventry.
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Avondale, Coventry and Northampton all finished on two points – but it’s Avondale who join the Scots in Division 4 next season by virtue of a superior goal difference.

Which two teams will progress to men’s Division 3 next season following the promotion play-offs at Haberdashers? That's impossible to forecast with any certainty after the games on day one both ended in draws.

It was close all the way between Sedgefield and Worthing, who ended up locked at 7-7. Worthing hit back from 6-4 down in the third period to go 7-6 up with goals by Jamie Bond, Sam Cooper and Vytas Liubertas, but the lead lasted less than a minute – Sedgefield captain John Pratt (Photo: Trevor Hyde) fired an equaliser, keeping both sides in the hunt for promotion when the final games take place tomorrow.

The British Army and Bridgefield drew 14-14, Bridgefield’s experienced Lee Cadwallader providing the final goal of the tightest of contests.
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Caledonia Storm enjoyed double success in the competition for two promotion places to Division 4, following up a 9-4 win against Northampton with a 16-7 defeat of Avondale, including goals from Adam Heywood (4), Jack Robertson (3) and Murray Dickson (3).  

Congratulations to City of Manchester’s Izzy Howe, who topped the goal-scoring chart in this season’s women’s Super 5s.

Her tally of 30 put her well clear of nearest challenger Milly Wordley, of Liverpool Lizards, who scored 23. Izzy was presented with her trophy by BWPL President Trevor Pledger.
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In the men’s Super 5s, the leading marksman was Polytechnic’s South African Olympian Liam Neill with 28, followed by Andrea Tulli, of Penguin, on 26.

​The line-up for the Champions Cup spectacular at Coventry on 13/14 May is now confirmed. After their successful debut season in the Super 5s, Hucknall take part in the women’s event for the first time along with City of Manchester, Otter and the inaugural winners last year, Liverpool Lizards.
 
Cheltenham opted not to take part in the men’s event. Their place will be taken by Sutton & Cheam, the new Championship 1 winners who (along only with Cheltenham and Polytechnic) claim the distinction of competing in every season since national league water polo began way back in 1963.
 
The other teams at Coventry will be Polytechnic, Penguin and City of Manchester, the 2022 champions.
 
The men’s competition will be played in a 30m pitch and, for the first time in BWPL, with flying substitutes.
 
Photo (Trevor Hyde): Goalkeeper Matt Holland, 2012 Olympics veteran and still going strong for Sutton. 

In a spectacular finish to the League season, Polytechnic beat Penguin 11-10 in front of large Haberdashers crowd to claim their first Super 5s title - and their first major national win since the last of numerous triumphs in the old men's National League in 1994.

There was rarely more than a goal between the two sides until the score stood at 9-9 midway through the final period. 

Then Poly struck twice - vital goals by Sergio Schiaffano and Caleb Simpson. Penguin were still not out of it - a draw would have been good enough to earn them the trophy. With 1.15 to go, they were back to 11-10 - a strike by William de Vena. And that was how it stayed, prompting tremendous poolside celebrations by the Poly players. 

The trophy and medals were presented by League President Trevor Pledger and former men's National League chairman Stephen Baker, a BWPL life member.

City of Manchester girls claimed their fourth consecutive women's Super 5s title when they defeated Liverpool Lizards 12-9 at Haberdashers today.

Manchester led from the start and Izzy Howe and Rosie Huck both finished with four goals. Molly Boniface replied with four for the Lizards. 

Coventry's bid to qualify for the Champions Cup suffered a setback when they went down 14-13 to Hucknall. 

Hucknall led 11-6 at one stage but, in a nerve-racking final period, Coventry fought back to score five times - but just failed to snatch a point. Cynthia Mulder (4) and Dafne Garcia (4) were the leading Hucknall scorers while Vicki Hawkins contributed five for Coventry.

What a match! Penguin edged out Manchester 13-12 in a thrilling men's Super 5s clash at Haberdashers today and put themselves in line for the title - providing they don't lose the final game of the season against oldest rivals Polytechnic tomorrow.

Poly are still very much in the hunt after their victory over Cheltenham earlier in the day. 

Penguin will probably look back on the dramatic final stages of the third period as the key to their success.

Manchester had pulled up from 7-5 down to 7-7; and it was 8-8 as Manchester's Kai Dowling netted from distance. Then Penguin's Andrea Tulli produced three decisive minutes of magic.

Firstly, he intercepted a loose Manchester pass to steal possession and swim threequarters of the pitch to score. Just 35 seconds later, he produced an almost identical breakaway goal - and then rounded off the period with a clever long shot from distance into the top right corner. 

So Penguin were 11-8 up. Then, at the start of the last quarter, a backhander by centre-forward Mehmet Ali Arat made it 12-8. Victory guaranteed for Penguin? Not a bit of it. Manchester stormed back and were up to 13-12 with 57 very tense seconds remaining thanks to a powerful shot from Dan Paddon. 
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Penguin held on and can now prepare for a mouth-watering title decider tomorrow (13.45).  

Polytechnic maintained a strong interest in the men's Super 5s title race with a 19-10 victory over Cheltenham at Haberdashers today.

The win was effectively assured towards the end of the second period, by which time Poly had raced into a 9-0 lead. Poly's South African international Liam Neill proved particularly difficult to contain at centre-forward - his impressive eventual goals tally for the game was nine.
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Cheltenham, to their credit, rallied to reduce the Poly advantage to 13-7 in the third quarter, then 14-9.

It was all a bit too close for comfort at times, but in the end Sutton & Cheam won men’s Championship 1 at Haberdashers today, squeezing past Welsh Wanderers 11-10 in their final game.

Sutton needed at least a draw from the match to be sure of the title. Defeat would have offered Sheffield the opportunity to pull level on points by winning their last match against Invicta – which would then have left the title to be settled on goal difference.

Wanderers were ahead only once against Sutton – 5-4 in the second period. But it all got a bit nerve-racking in the final quarter as Matt Griffiths’s fourth goal very briefly brought Wanderers level at 9-9. Strikes by Stephen Bayles and Ryan Symington quickly eased the tension for Sutton and all Wanderers could manage after that was a Lewis Gilmour goal 3.12 from the end.

Wanderers lost both their matches at the weekend – each time with an 11-10 scoreline - but still finished in the top three. Caledonia drew level on points by defeating Exeter 16-11 but Wanderers had beaten the Scots earlier in the season.
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A seven-goal blitz in the second period was enough to earn City of Bristol victory over Watford, who hit back later on but still lost 14-11.

Sutton & Cheam will need a point from their final match against Welsh Wanderers at Haberdashers tomorrow to make certain of clinching the men’s Championship 1 crown.

Ashley Castle scored six as Sutton defeated City of Bristol 19-10 today while Welsh Wanderers had their title ambitions blown apart in an 11-10 defeat against Watford.

That left Sheffield as the only team with a chance of overhauling Sutton. Sheffield beat Exeter 14-11 today, featuring hat-tricks by Chris Armstrong, Joel Abbott and Alex Gaywood. If they defeat Invicta tomorrow and Sutton fail to secure at least a draw against Wanderers, Sutton and Sheffield will finish level on points – with goal difference to decide the champions after these teams drew earlier in the season.

Wanderers began the day with high hopes of challenging for the title, but Watford hadn’t read the script, claiming a dramatic victory after trailing 7-4 at the start of an eventful third period.  The rest of that quarter saw Watford hit back to lead 9-8 with goals by Josh Barrett (2), Finlay Parnell, Adam Page and Tom Kelly.
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Sam Carling made it 10-8 to Watford at the start of the last, only for Wanderers to pull level at 10-10 through Matt Griffiths and Lewis Gilmour. Parnell hit the Watford winner 1.14 from the end.