Lancaster played Watford and Cheltenham in the 1st round of the ASA Academy Championships’ played in Manchester at the Aquatic Centre.
Lancaster’s 1st game was against Watford.

Lancaster started very positively and was ahead through Adam Woods inside the 1st minute. Goals flowed at a steady pace in the 1st half as Lancaster chased Cheltenham’s score of 11-2 against Watford. Goals from Scott Sharpe, Adam, Noel Howson, 2 from Sam Rout ledge and Adam ensured the total was attainable.

Lancaster 7 Watford 0.was the score at the end of the 1st half.

The 2nd half could’t start quick enough for this goal hungry Lancaster side. They knew they were well on the way to overhaul Cheltenham’s score. The half started well as Adam added to his tally and Noel saw Lancaster achieve their 1st target. Further goals from Noel and Sam caused Lancaster to think the game was won by the required margin.

Watford had not really trouble Kamil Plucinski in Lancaster’s goal. In a moment of slack play Watford had pulled 2 goals back, this woke Lancaster up with goals from Luke Saul and 2 more from Sam giving Lancaster a 13 goal advantage.

The final score, Lancaster 15 Watford 2.

Lancaster’s 2nd game was against high scoring Cheltenham.

Lancaster started well with Adam Wood on target again. This time the opposition was stronger and equalised with their next attack. Adam looking a goal threat every time he got the ball put Lancaster in front again. Sam Routledge put Lancaster further ahead only to see Cheltenham score on their attack.

The game flowed from end to end, luckily for Lancaster when Lancaster attacked they scored but when Cheltenham attacked their efforts were stifled by the Lancaster defence.

Goals from Sam, Adam and Tom Grieve gave Lancaster a half time lead of Lancaster 7 Cheltenham 2.

Cheltenham came out more determined and pulled a goal back with their 1st attack, Sam restored Lancaster’s advantage. This time Cheltenham was determined to get back into this game as they could see their chance of playing in the final slipping away. Cheltenham scored twice without Lancaster replying.

Lancaster saw their lead slip to 3 goals and Cheltenham were attacking with more force.

Sam Routledge scored to ease the nerves only for Cheltenham to score to reduce Lancaster’s lead to 3goals.
Time was running out for Cheltenham as they pressed forward .Lancaster took advantage of the forward press and scored a good counter attack goal by Sam Routledge

The final score Lancaster 10 Cheltenham 6

Lancaster had now qualified for the final to be played later in the day.

The final was between 2 old club adversaries Lancaster and Manchester

The game started with both sides unable to make the initial breakthrough.
Lancaster was the 1st team to score with Sam Routledge scoring after fine team play .
Manchester quickly replied .Both sides continued to attack without success .As the half progressed the 2 sides managed to score keeping the scores level at 2 goals each. In the last seconds of the 1st half Lancaster managed another goal to lead at half time Lancaster 3 Manchester 2.

Lancaster started the 2nd half strongly with the defence marshalled well by captain Ben Walker ably supported by Sam Routledge and Tom Grieve. This allowed Noel Howson and Scott Sharpe to push forward. The introduction of Luke Saul in the 2nd half gave Lancaster extra pace going forward. The young Lancaster side started to play good set up water polo this resulted in 2 fine goals scored by Noel Howson following good team play by Lancaster.
Lancaster added a further goal to give Lancaster a 6-2 lead with more than a minute left to play.
Feeling that Lancaster had done enough Lancaster put all the players on the bench in the water to give them a minute of play.

Lancaster won by Lancaster 6 Manchester 2.

Lancaster was presented as the Winners of the 2009 ASA Academy Boys Champions.

Lancaster’s Winning team was:
Kamil Plucinski, Ben Walker, Scott Sharpe, Sam Routledge, Tom Grieve, Noel Howson, Adam Woods, Luke Saul, Andrew Robinson, Kieran Harrison, Andrew Birch, Dominic Lock