Sedgefield Water Polo club’s under 17 boys team travelled to the Manchester Aquatic Centre for the National finals. Sedgefield had qualified for the semi finals after being runner up in their group in the previous round of qualifying at Walsall.
They were up against tournament favourites Exeter in the semifinal on the Saturday who were unbeaten. Exeter scored the first goal but Sedgefield soon equalised. It was very close at 3-3 at half time. In the second half Sedgefield gradually edged ahead with some strong attacking play and didn’t allow the favourites back into the game, running out winners 11-9.
John Pratt and Isaac Wass both scored 4 goals each, Aaron Mason got two goals and Mike Kelly the other goal.
Sedgefield were now against the home team and one of the big city giants in GB polo City of Manchester who have huge resources and an Olympic size pool in the final on the Sunday.
Sedgefield were 3-1 behind after the first period but stormed back to lead 4-3 at half time. In the third period Sedgefield increased their lead to 6-4 after 2 great penalty saves from young goalkeeper Richard Murray. In the final period Sedgefield went into a four goal lead. Manchester roared on by a big home crowd of over 500 stormed back and scored 3 quick goals to leave it 8-7 to Sedgefield with 2 minutes to go. Despite some intense pressure the Newton Aycliffe based team held on to win by one goal to bring the championship back to County Durham for the first time since 2006 to the delight of their supporters. The Sedgefield scorers were John Pratt with 4 more goals, Isaac Wass with 2, Jake Plant and Connor Keeble with one each.
This was Sedgefield’s second National Championship win in 6 months after winning the under 15 title in October. Sedgefield are the only club side ever to win a National Polo title from Northumberland, Cleveland and Durham and have now won 5 since they were formed in 1997.
John Pratt the captain recieved the most valuable player of the finals trophy and Richard Murray the outstanding goalkeeper award.
Coach Richard Cousins led the team with distiction through 9 games to win the trophy.
The other members of the Sedgefield team were Michael Cousins, Ben Stephenson, Mathew Alderson, Daniel Armstrong and Kris Egginton.
