In a repeat of last year’s Men’s final, 2009 Champions Lancaster took on Rotherham Metro in what was set to be a competitive match.

After a tight first period both teams were level with three goals on the score board but it was the second period that saw Lancaster break away.

GB International Tom Curwen scored six times in the first half to help Lancaster on their way to a 7-4 lead assisted by some strong tactical play by the rest of the team but the penultimate quarter saw Rotherham’s Elliot Kelly taking them back to within two.

Going into the final period, great defence from the defending champions allowed Lancaster to extend their lead and secure their place in the final with a 13-8 victory.

 In the other Men’s semi-final Bristol were looking to make an impression on the rest of the field after a three year absence from the British Championships as they took on last year’s fourth-place finishers City of Manchester.

ominating the first period Bristol stormed into a 5-0 lead with GB International team captain Craig Figes finding the back of the net twice.

 But it wasn’t until the second period that Manchester’s strong tactics and great attacking play saw them get on the score board and reduce the deficit to just one goal.

Sean Ryder scored his third goal for Manchester to level the match at five-all before Bristol hit back twice to give them a 7-5 advantage. Two goals apiece in the final eight minutes allowed Bristol to maintain their lead to see them go through to tomorrow’s final.

Pleased with the result, Bristol player and GB International squad captain Craig Figes said: “It’s great to be in the final after three years away. “Obviously coming into today we were probably expected to lose but we’ve got a team of ‘old heads’ and a number of ex-internationals and the team held it together and use their experience to come out on top.”

 Looking to tomorrow’s match-up Figes added: “Lancaster are clearly the best team in the country so we are going in as underdogs but I think that if we can keep it close we’ve got a chance.”

Source: Swimming.org