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11/25/2008 - Chris Ducker |
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Lancaster claim tenth UK title |
Foto: ww |
Lancaster have clinched their tenth UK National League title in 13 years – with two full weekends of competition still to be completed. Hard-fought victories in their home pool against City of Manchester and the 2007 champions Bristol Central took them six points clear of nearest challengers Rotherham Metro.
Lancaster and Rotherham both still have three matches to play - and they meet each other at Loughborough University on 6 December. But as Lancaster have already won twice against their Yorkshire rivals, they cannot be overhauled. Manchester´s GB goalkeeper Ed Scott did his best to keep the Lancaster forwards at bay but eventually Scott Carpenter´s sharp shooting - he bagged five - was the difference between the sides.
Lancaster won 8-5 – and then also beat Bristol 8-5. Bristol started badly, trailing 4-0 in the first quarter, but held their own after that. Carpenter was again on target with three goals and the other Lancaster scorers included GB junior Matt Little. Possibly the best game of the weekend came in the final match when Manchester charged into a 4-0 lead against Rotherham but then lost the scoring touch, allowing their opponents gradually to stage a recovery. Eventually, a Mark Wade goal just 20 seconds from the end gave Rotherham a 6-5 victory.
There was plenty of last minute drama at the bottom of the table. Polytechnic and Portobello, battling to avoid the drop, drew 12-12 when Portobello´s Fraser Rutherford equalised, also with 20 seconds to play. Poly then threw away a point against Invicta. There were 24 seconds left when an Alkis Voliotis goal brought them level at 6-6. Then a slip-up by Poly goalkeeper Tom Wall gifted the ball to Marc Stephenson and he claimed an Invicta winner almost at the final whistle.
Cheltenham´s Rob Parker scored nine against Welsh Wanderers. But Wanderers had their own star forward, Dan Laxton, who notched seven - all leading to another 12-12 draw. Yet again, it was a goal seconds from the end that levelled the match - from Wanderers´ Gabor Aliban. GB Juniors again impressed, building an 8-3 lead against Rotherham before winning 12-10. Lancaster´s Glen Robinson netted four of the GB goals. Two late goals from Robinson completed an 8-6 GB victory over Penguin.
Tyldesley won the Division Two title while the Division Three champions are Croydon Amphibians. Results from Lancaster:
Manchester 5 Lancaster 8, Polytechnic 12 Portobello 12, Cheltenham 12 Welsh Wanderers 12, Bristol 15 Penguin 5, Rotherham 10 GB Juniors I 12, Invicta 11 GB Juniors II 9, Penguin 6, GB Juniors I 8, Welsh Wanderers 17 GB Juniors II 10, Cheltenham 13 Portobello 5, Invicta 7 Polytechnic 6, Bristol 5 Lancaster 8, Rotherham 6 Manchester 5.
For the latest league tables and divisional results, click on www.nwpl.co.uk.
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