Sedgefield Water Polo Club’s under 19 team based at Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre travelled to Manchester for the semi final and hopefully final for the National under 19 Championships after battling through two tough qualifying rounds.
Once again Sedgefield faced old rivals City of Manchester in their own pool in the semi final. The game was really tight all the way through and going into the last quarter Sedgefield looked to have won with a three goal lead but the home team battled back to tie the game at 8-8.
This meant a penalty shoot out and with the momentum with Manchester and the large home crowd behind them they were favorites now.
Sedgefield how ever showed their steel when it really matters and Ben Stephenson, John Pratt, Connor Keeble and Kris Egginton all converted their penalties while Sedgefield goalkeeper Richard Murray stopped two Manchester penalties so
Sedgefield marched into the final 12-10 winners.
In the final the next day were last years Champions Exeter who had beaten Sedgefield by four goals in the qualifying groups. The game was level at half time 4-4 but then Exeter took charge in the third period and went into the last period 7-4 in front and looked like winners but once again Sedgefield showed their fighting spirit and with great support from the Sedgefield supporters drew level at 7-7 with 2 vital goals from Kris Egginton but with a minute to go Exeter regained the lead and looked to be winners.
With 30 seconds on the clock left Michael Cousins scored a great equalizer. So once again Sedgefield faced penalties.
Sedgefield scored the first four penalties from Stephenson, Pratt, Cousins and Egginton while once again Sedgefield goalkeeper Murray made two brilliant stops from Exeter penalties for Sedgefield to triumph and win the under 19 title for the first time 12- 10.
Richard Murray was voted the Most Valuable player for the finals after some excellent goalkeeping. The other members of the Sedgefield team were Matt Bottomley, Aron Mason, Daniel Armstrong, Mike Kelly, Isaac Wass, Finlay Parnell.
This is Sedgefield’s eighth National title since the club was started 20 years ago by George Carpenter the Chief coach and he has decided to retire with the club having an excellent coaching team in place to take the club forward from here.