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Latest NewsMANCHESTER WOMEN TOP NATIONAL WATER POLO LEAGUE(February 03, 2011)MANCHESTER WOMEN TOP NATIONAL WATER POLO LEAGUE The women’s ‘A’ team from City of Manchester Water Polo Club have clinched the prestigious British Water Polo League title for the first time. Undefeated throughout the season, the team secured the championship with an emphatic 15-1 victory over Leeds Sharks in their penultimate Division One match at Manchester Aquatics Centre. They then nailed their unblemished record with a final 4-1 win against London Penguin Emperors. Liverpool Lizards were runners-up. Manchester’s women have always fared well in the elite competition, formerly the National League, which sees the top British clubs battle it out in the toughest of the aquatic disciplines. When they won the British Championships for the third time last year sights were firmly set on doing the double in 2011 and Captain Victoria Hawkins is thrilled to be halfway there. “It’s a fantastic feeling to captain the team to our first ever league victory, “she said. “It’s been a real team effort with no one player standing out and we’re all extremely pleased that our hard work has paid off. ”Our coach Sue Webb has been an inspirational leader and has united everyone together and helped us to realise our potential,” she added. This year’s result was all the sweeter because at the start of the season it looked as though they’d be the victims of their own success. The majority of last year’s team were GB players and all but three were called up for international duty in the Hungarian National League, in preparation for London 2012. This left the squad dependent on players from the ‘B’ team stepping up to the mark and coach Sue is delighted that they pulled it off in such style. “I’m very proud of the girls for securing their first League win,” she said, “especially as only three players remained from last year’s squad. “We made hard work of some matches but the players kept fighting right to the end”.
City of Manchester has consistently proved itself to be a hotbed of water polo talent. Since its inception in 1999 the Club has enjoyed considerable success nationally and internationally. Twelve senior women, five senior men, and 44 junior and youth players have gone on to represent Great Britain. Next weekend sees the men’s team in action at the British Championships at Manchester Aquatics Centre where they’ll be going head to head with Rotherham, Portobello and Lancaster in the preliminary matches. Tickets will be available on the door.
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