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Men’s Water Polo - 10th December 2007
BRISTOL CENTRAL CLINCH CHAMPIONSHIP CROWN!
Lancaster’s magnificent five-year reign as National League champions is over after Bristol Central claimed the 2007 title in style at Loughborough University.
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2007 Season : Phase 2
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PLD
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W
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D
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L
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F
|
A
|
PTS
|
GD
|
|
Bristol Central
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17
|
14
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0
|
3
|
210
|
150
|
28
|
60
|
|
Lancaster
|
17
|
12
|
2
|
3
|
266
|
155
|
26
|
111
|
|
Cheltenham
|
17
|
11
|
2
|
4
|
247
|
181
|
24
|
66
|
|
Manchester
|
17
|
8
|
0
|
9
|
195
|
175
|
16
|
20
|
|
Rotherham
|
17
|
8
|
0
|
9
|
211
|
204
|
16
|
7
|
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2007 Season : Phase 2
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PLD
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W
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D
|
L
|
F
|
A
|
PTS
|
GD
|
|
Penguin
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17
|
8
|
3
|
6
|
149
|
172
|
19
|
-23
|
|
Welsh Wanderers
|
17
|
9
|
1
|
7
|
201
|
189
|
19
|
12
|
|
Polytechnic
|
17
|
4
|
1
|
12
|
117
|
183
|
9
|
-66
|
|
Portobello
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17
|
2
|
0
|
15
|
158
|
251
|
4
|
-93
|
|
Otter
|
17
|
4
|
1
|
12
|
161
|
255
|
3
|
-94
|
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2007 Season : with GB
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PLD
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
F
|
A
|
PTS
|
GD
|
|
Lancaster
|
10
|
7
|
1
|
2
|
136
|
86
|
15
|
50
|
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Bristol Central
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10
|
7
|
0
|
3
|
112
|
104
|
14
|
8
|
|
Cheltenham
|
10
|
5
|
1
|
4
|
119
|
113
|
11
|
6
|
|
Rotherham
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10
|
5
|
0
|
5
|
114
|
119
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10
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-5
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GB Juniors
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10
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3
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0
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7
|
85
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111
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6
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-26
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Manchester
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10
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2
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0
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8
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97
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130
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4
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-33
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By defeating Manchester 15-7 and Rotherham 16-13, Bristol Central finished two points clear of Lancaster, the runners-up. In reality, however, the victory over Manchester on day one was sufficient to ensure top spot because, in the very next match, the other title challengers, Cheltenham, went down 16-15 to Rotherham.
Bristol Central’s superior record in matches against Lancaster this season – two wins, one defeat – also meant at that stage that they could not be caught by their arch rivals.
Rhys Tamlyn, Bristol Central’s coach, pinpointed his team’s 9-8 victory over Lancaster on 18 November as the result that made all the difference. “In October,” he recalled, “I thought that playing in the European LEN Trophy would boost our league prospects. But on our return we lost both matches against Lancaster and Cheltenham at Loughborough and it dented confidence.
“We then did some work in training and began to play well again. We believed we could win the title after that vital win over Lancaster in their own pool.”
Rhys added: “People know that we have established match-winners like Craig Figes, Matt Thresher, Danny Williams, Jon Hutchings and John Sissons in our squad. But this has been a real team effort, with Paul Morris scoring a hatful of goals in recent weeks, goalkeeper Andy Crawford outstanding and bench players such as Sean Coles, Brad Poole and Greg Harper all making a significant contribution.
“Our target now will be to win the British Championship. In the longer term, I would like to think we can improve sufficiently to at least get through the first round of a European competition.”
Bristol Central saved one of their slickest performances of the season for the clash with Manchester at Loughborough University. They were 4-0 up after the first period and 7-1 ahead at half-time before eventually running out winners 15-7.
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