Sedgefield Water Polo Club based at Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre were hoping to retain the National Under 17 ASA Boys Championship they won last year when they travelled to the Manchester Aquatic Centre for the last 4 play offs for the medals.
Sedgefield had beaten Manchester, Crawley, Northampton, Watford, Wales and London Invicta in qualifying. They faced Caledonia most peoples favourites, which is basically the Scottish National team in the Semi Final.
The Scottish team ended the first quarter 2-1 in front and the score at half time was 5-5. In the third quarter Sedgfield’s extra fitness told as they took a 2 goal lead and kept the Scottish team at bay in the last quarter to win 12-10 to reach the next day’s final.
Sedgefield scorers were Ben Stephenson 7, Michael Cousins 2, Kris Egginton 2, Connor Keeble 1.
In the final Sedgefield were up against North East rivals Sheffield. In a tight first half the score was all even at 4-4 but as usual Sedgefield’s tremendous fitness started to tell as they scored 4 goals without reply to lead 8-4 going into the final quarter. Sedgfield stormed to victory 15-7 to retain their title and this was Sedgefield’s 3rd National title in 18 months.
Sedgefield were the only team in the competition to have a shallow water pool but teams do not have an answer to Sedgefield’s tremendous defence, fitness, organization and flair even with their Olympic size pools and other resources.
The scorers in the final were Michael Cousins 15 with 6, Ben Stephenson 14 with 5, Finlay Parnell 16 with 3 and Connor Keeble 15 with 1.
Richard Murray 16 was voted best goalkeeper in the finals from the 4 clubs. Ben Stephenson 14 with 12 goals was Sedgfield’s outstanding outfield player.
The other members of the Sedgefield team were Jake Mendelson 13, Haydn Craggs 13, James Moore 14, Mathew Alderson 14, Mathew Bottomley 15 and Joe Barron 16.
The Sedgefield coaches are Richard Cousins and Peter Griffiths.