Lancaster were drawn in the Preliminary Round of the ASA Youth Boys Competition against Cheltenham, Hinckley and City of Birmingham

Lancaster first game was against Cheltenham a team like Lancaster with their Men’s team in the 1^st Division of the National league

The game started tensely as each set of players assessed the opposition. Lancaster were 1^st to score through Mathew Calvert .Captain Elliott Trafford added a 2^nd minutes later. Mathew continued the scoring as Cheltenham seemed to struggle against the Lancaster press. A fine goal from Mathew to completed a fine hat trick inside 3 minutes. Cheltenham was unable to create a scoring opportunity thanks to the hard work of the team with strong defensive play by Elliott, Ben Walker and Scott Sharpe. Another fine counter attack saw Mathew increase his tally to 4 as Lancaster led by 5-0.Elliott completed the scoring in the first half as the score finished Lancaster 6 Cheltenham 0

The 2^nd half started well for Lancaster as they maintained the pressure on the Cheltenham defence with Sam Smith increasing the lead. As Lancaster continued to make changes to the line up concentration was lost for a few seconds and Cheltenham capitalised and scored their 1^st goal. Elliott soon regained Lancaster’s dominance with a fine goal. Sam scored his second as Lancaster dominated play. Lancaster’s continued pressure was rewarded with a Cheltenham exclusion which Noel Howson converted to give Lancaster an unassailable lead with 2 minutes of the match remaining. Cheltenham exclusion gave James Alker chance to get his name on the score sheet. Cheltenham did manage a late goal to leave the final score Lancaster 11 Cheltenham 2

Lancaster second game was against Hinckley a new team to Lancaster.

Hinckley playing in the ASA Youth Boys for the first time found the competition a bit daunting. Lancaster’s press was too much for the Leicestershire side as Lancaster dominated play.

Goals flowed at regular intervals, Hinckley were unable to create chances as Lancaster continued to counter attack at every opportunity. Lancaster playing of 11 players for the tournament changed the team regularly without affecting the performance.

Lancaster got of to a flying start with goals from Mathew Calvert (3), Sam Smith (2). Luke Saul score a fine counter attack goal followed by 2 well taken 5 metre goals from James Alker .Another fine swim and shot from Luke gave Lancaster a 9 goal lead. Noel Howson registered his first goal of the game, a further 2 goals from the prolific Mathew gave Lancaster a 12 goal lead at half time.

Lancaster continued to rotate their players and score freely. Noel scored 2 early goals, Elliott Trafford playing a steadying defensive role with Ben Walker. Scott Sharpe scored his first of the game. Luke showing his prowess as a swimmer repeated his first half goal. Sam scored a further 2 goals as Lancaster completely dominated play. Elliott 2 and James 1 completed the Lancaster scoring

The score at the end of the game was Lancaster 22 Hinckley 0.

Lancaster’s last game of the Tournament was against City of Birmingham.

These 2 teams had gone through the tournament undefeated dominating all their games.

The game started well for Lancaster with Mathew Calvert scoring a fine goal to get Lancaster up and running. The game was far from easy as Birmingham made the Lancaster defence work hard. Good centre forward play saw Lancaster awarded a penalty; alas they failed to convert the shot. Lancaster continued to forge forward and was soon rewarded with a Birmingham exclusion, Scott Sharpe pounced quickly to score from the man advantage. Another Birmingham exclusion gave the same player the opportunity to increase Lancaster’s lead which he duly obliged. The first half finished Lancaster3 City of Birmingham 0

Birmingham determined to get back in the game scored early in the 2^nd half. Lancaster continued to harass the Birmingham defence and forced a Birmingham exclusion. Noel Howson scored from the resultant man advantage. Mathew scored a well taken counter attack goal followed by a powerful swim wrestle and shot from Noel. Lancaster was building a commanding lead as Lancaster’s coach started to rotate the team. Lancaster’s defence was dominating the Birmingham forwards Led by Elliott Trafford who was keeping a close eye on Birmingham’s main threat. Ably supported by the astute Ben Walker, excellent cover play by Luke Saul, Scott Sharpe and James Alker allowed Noel, Sam and Mathew to press forward. Dominic Lock and Andrew Burch played their part in the Lancaster cause maintaining a tight press. Kamil in goal coped with the goal threats from the Birmingham forwards with great confidence. Lancaster continued to press forward as Birmingham rallied, Fine counter attack goal by Noel Howson gave Lancaster a 6 goal lead. Birmingham not giving up the cause scored to make the score 7-2 to Lancaster with 2 minutes to play. Elliott Trafford completed the scoring to give Lancaster a well earned victory of Lancaster 8 Birmingham 2.

The final score Lancaster 8 Birmingham 2

The Lancaster team Kamil Plucinski, Ben Walker(1), Noel Howson(7), James Alker(4), Elliott Trafford(6), Scott Sharpe(3), Luke Saul(3), Dominic Lock, Mathew Calvert(11), Andrew Burch, Sam Smith(6)

The team’s next game is on 27^th and 28^th March where Lancaster will meet Birmingham, Dunfermline and Watford in the Qualification round.

Finals

Lancaster verses Dunfermline is the ASA Youth Boys Water Polo Final 2010

The game started well for Dunfermline as they scored on their first attack after Lancaster exclusion. Lancaster responded with Sam Smith scoring. Dunfermline hit back with their 2^nd goal, Lancaster replied with their 2^nd goal from Noel Howson. Both sides pressing forward at every opportunity, Lancaster force a Dunfermline exclusion and score through Sam. Dunfermline bounce back and awarded a penalty, they score to finish the quarter level at 3 goals apiece

Dunfermline out of the blocks the quickest and take an early lead, Lancaster react positively as Mathew Calvert scores. Lancaster under pressure suffers exclusion and Dunfermline retakes the lead. Dunfermline under pressure as Lancaster fights back. Lancaster gain 2 quick Dunfermline exclusions, but fail to convert their chance. Lancaster continues to pressure the Dunfermline defence and is awarded a penalty. Lancaster fail to score the penalty, are they going to rue these early advantages? Lancaster continues their assault on the Dunfermline goal and is rewarded with a fine goal from Ben Walker. Dunfermline having taken battering fights back and are clinical in their finishing with a goal to retain the lead. They are unable to establish control as Lancaster equalise through Mathew Calvert. Dunfermline returns to attack and force Lancaster exclusion, they retake the lead and in the last seconds of the quarter they increase their lead to 2 goals. The quarter finishes Dunfermline 8 Lancaster 6.

Lancaster starts the 3^rd quarter with the team talk ringing in their ears. First Sam Smith scores and then Captain Elliot Trafford score to level the score. Lancaster now needs a period of control, as they continue to press forward they are awarded Dunfermline exclusion but are unable to score. Dunfermline calls a time out on their possession and score. Lancaster press forward and score to level the scores through Mathew Calvert as he scores his 3^rd of the game. As Lancaster seems to be getting back into the game they concede an unfortunate penalty, Dunfermline score and nose back into lead. With 4 seconds to go of the quarter Dunfermline score again to extend their lead to 2 goals. Score at end of quarter Dunfermline 11 Lancaster 9

The last quarter promises to be a tense and exciting affair. Lancaster starts positively as they are awarded a penalty on their 1^st attack. Sam Smith scores to reduce the deficit. Dunfermline determined not to let Lancaster get a toe hold in the game force Lancaster exclusion; they score to retain their 2 goal advantage. Lancaster surge forward and the prolific Sam Smith score his 5^th of the game quickly followed by Mathew Calvert scoring to level the scores with 4 minutes of the game remaining. Dunfermline pressing even harder forces Lancaster to concede a penalty. In one action Lancaster suffer a double blow as they lose one of their influential players and a goal. Lancaster drive forward and force Dunfermline exclusion, Lancaster calls a timeout but fail to score from the man advantage. Still only one goal in 25 separates the 2 teams. Lancaster calls a 2^nd timeout but fail to score from the set play. With less than 1 minute of the game to go Dunfermline call a timeout and score from the set play to leave the Final score Dunfermline 14 Lancaster 12

The Lancaster team worked extremely hard and were unfortunate to lose in such dramatic circumstances as the game was not settled until the last minute of the game. Lancaster were level in 3 of the 4 quarters of the game Praise must go to every one, good goalkeeping by Mathias, stalwart defending by Elliot, Ben and Scott, forceful attacking play by Mathew, Sam and Noël, excellent support play from James , Luke, and Tom .Kamil ready all the time to get in and play his part in the goal. The players have worked extremely hard all year for this tournament and disserve great credit for all their endeavours.

The Lancaster team Matthias Reichel, Ben Walker(1), Noel Howson(1), James Alker, Elliott Trafford(1), Scott Sharpe, Luke Saul, Tom Grieve , Mathew Calvert(4), Sam Smith(5) Kamil Plucinski