Polo's Mint Performance

Team Northumbria set the seal on a promotion-winning campaign by remaining unbeaten in this season’s Championship Three playoffs.

The Sport Central club headed to Blackpool on the back of a 100% record and with a place in National League Division Three already assured.

But TN refused to take their foot off the pedal as they bagged a 7-7 draw against Manchester Hawks before beating the University of Bristol 11-4.

“For the last three months the focus has been on winning promotion and we’re delighted,” said veteran star Richard MacAlister.

“It would have been nice to go through the Championship Three phase with seven wins out of seven but we’re not complaining.

“We had the chances to kill off Manchester and they equalised for the last time with just a minute of the final quarter to go.

“Bristol had nothing to play for in our final game so it was a bit of a dead rubber. But our attitude was first class and we didn’t allow them to get on the scoresheet until the third period.

“It’s been a fantastic season and I have to pay particular credit to our goalkeeper, James Kirkham, and our full back Rob Holland.

“James has been in sparkling form for some time now and constantly frustrated the opposition in Championship Three.

“Rob has gone through the whole season without committing a serious foul and for a full back at this level that’s unheard of. His commitment and concentration is outstanding.

“He’s a Blackpool lad who’s been with TN for some years now and it was great to see him go back home and lift the Championship Three title.”

TN will now compete in National League Three with the competition kicking off next September.

Prior to that the cream of North East water polo will compete in a powerful Northern League with Division Two stalwarts Sheffield again favourites to lift the regional crown.

“We’ll use that competition as preparation for the National League and it will be an opportunity to test some new players,” added MacAlister.

“The focus has to be on moving onward and upward at the highest level and that’s what we intend to do.”

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