RADCLIFFE Water Polo Club completed a very successful week, winning the U14 heats and U17 final of the Manchester & District Championships.

The U17s were up against a strong Warrington side in the play-off final. They started the game cautiously with Ryan McCheyne scoring two goals in a close first quarter to lead 2-1.

The Radcliffe defence tightened up in the second period as Lee Szymanski and Sam Broadbent increased the score to 4-1.

They applied further pressure in the third quarter with two goals from Ben Jennings and another goal each for Lee and Sam stretching the lead to 8-3.

A couple of errors and lack of composure let Warrington back in the match, but Joanne Long rounded off a great team performance with two goals to finish the match comfortable 10-7 winners. Radcliffe U17s: Mike Deakin, Lee Szymanski, Ryan McCheyne, Laura Evans, Sam Broadbent, Joanne Long, Tom Mason, Eddie Cardwell, Amy Greig, Ben Jennings, Charlotte Lomas, Michael Thomasson. (Paul Whelan, Emily Brown, Megan Hughes and Sam Barrow played in group matches) The U14s put out a very inexperienced team, with eight of the ten players making their debut, facing Tyldesley and Warrington twice as part of the group stages. The first game against Warrington saw Radcliffe take an early lead through Louis Szymanski. Warrington then pulled back and stretched to a 3-1 lead at half time. The young Radcliffe team fought back well with another four goals from Louis giving them a 5-4 lead, but a goal in the last five seconds allowed Warrington to draw 5-5. The next game was more comfortable, with Radcliffe proving too strong for Tyldesley with debut goals for Joe Sillett, Daniel Mackintosh and Alex Ashworth and nine from Louis Szymanski leaving the score 13-6. Radcliffe then faced Warrington again and quickly went 3-0 down with Joe Sillett pulling one back for 3-1 at half-time. The team showed great spirit and determination with two goals from Louis and one from Alex levelling the score at 4-4. An exciting finish saw Louis snatch the deciding goal to win 5-4. Radcliffe continued to their form to win the last match against Tyldesley 9-4 with two goals fro Alice Holden, one from Daniel and six from, the player of the Tournament, Louis Szymanski. They will now play in the finals on Sunday at Varley Street against Royton, Failsworth and Warrington. Radcliffe U14s: Thomas Johnson, Amy Rigby, Callum Smith, Joe Sillett, Jack Coop, Aiden Smith, Louis Szymanski, Alice Holden, Daniel Mackintosh, Alex Ashworth.