LANCASTER City Swimming Club's water polo maestros won the top of the table clash with Bristol, the only other side in the National league with an unbeaten record.

Victory came after a tense, thrilling and physical battle - with the points only finally being assured in the final quarter when Bowers and Burgess for Lancaster and Bristol's Spaniard had been excluded from the match.

At half time Lancaster led 6-4 and they managed to extend their lead to 8-5 by the end of the third quarter. But with key players out of the competition the contest still hung in the balance until a solid final period from the Lancaster defence, ably marshalled by Chris Hartley, made sure that it was the home side who ran out winners.

Later that evening they saw off a spirited Birkenhead side, winning by 17 - 7, and then finished the weekend with their 100 per cent record intact following a 9-5 win over Yorkshire side Rotherham after a shaky first half which saw the scores tied at 5-5 at half time.

Lancaster now enter the second phase of the League in a strong position, four points clear of their nearest rivals Bristol and Cheltenham as they bid to retain the title so thrillingly won last year.

The next games take place at Salt Ayre Leisure Centre in Lancaster on October 23 and 24. with Lanc-aster facing Bristol on Saturday at 4.30pm and London side Penguin on Sunday at 11.15am.

Penguin surprised everyone last weekend, sneaking a narrow 5-4 win over Rotherham who now lie in fourth place in the table with penguin fifth.

CITY: D Bush, R Davis, C Burgess, J McIlquham, C Hartley, R Pinington, T Curwen, S Carpenter, A Squires, Z Sly, D Campbell, N Bowers, R Detko