English women finish fifth at EU Nations Cup in Prague

England’s U19 women saw off Switzerland in their final game to finish fifth in the EU Nations Cup water polo competition in Prague, Czech Republic.

Competing against senior teams from across Europe, as well as South Africa, the English junior squad emerged with credit from the three-day tournament, recording three victories.

The English team, who will now continue their build-up for September’s European U19 Championships in the Netherlands, kicked off their campaign with group stage wins over Scotland and Austria on the opening day in Prague.

A nail-biting one-goal defeat to Slovakia on day two was followed by a second loss, this time to eventual winners South Africa, before the English girls finished on a high in their fifth place playoff.

Your England U19 team pic.twitter.com/Knlb24upNf

— England Water Polo (@ENGWaterPolo) June 17, 2016

All 13 English outfield players found the net at least once with Otter’s Hannah Patchett and Manchester’s Rosie Huck finishing top scorers for the English girls with nine goals each.

“This EU Nations senior tournament was a great opportunity for our very young U19 team to play against some strong opposition and see if we are heading in the right direction ahead of the European Championships in September,” said head coach Theo Nousios.

“All players showed good understanding of the tactics that we practised in previous training camps and we can now move forward adding new aspects to our game.

“We have another training camp is in few weeks time. All the players are expected to come in top physical condition ahead of a very intense preparation camp where all the team will be training together in our base in Manchester for six to seven hours a day and abroad facing top opposition.”

• Click here to watch a video replay of England’s fifth place playoff victory over Switzerland.

England U19 results from EU Nations Cup 2016 in Prague

Friday 17 June

England 11 – 2 Scotland (3-2, 3-0, 2-0, 3-0)
Goalscorers: Rogers (3), Howe (2), Turner (2), Huck (2), Patchett, Bolton

England 22 – 6 Austria (8-0, 5-2, 6-2, 3-2)
Goalscorers: Huck (5), Patchett (4), Turner (3), Greenslade (3), Howe (2), Cutler (2), Lee, McCoy, Rogers

Saturday 18 June

England 9 – 10 Slovakia (3-2, 1-4, 4-2, 1-2)
Goalscorers: Howe (3), Patchett (2), Rogers (2), Huck, Turner

England 4 – 12 South Africa (1-2, 1-5, 1-4, 1-1)
Goalscorers: Patchett, Rogers, Turner, Bolton

Sunday 19 June

England 14 – 6 Switzerland
Goalscorers: Clapperton (3), Cutler (3), Howe, Patchett, Bolton, Huck, Whittaker, McCoy, Wordley, Rogers

England U19 squad

• Kate Read (gk) – Liverpool/Cheltenham
• Hayley Price (gk) – Tyldesley/Liverpool
• Hannah Patchett – Otter
• Izzy Howe – Manchester
• Rosie Huck – Manchester
• Beth Bolton – Liverpool
• Kathy Rogers – Otter
• Verity McCoy – Liverpool
• Steph Whittaker – Manchester
• Milly Wordley – Exeter
• Robyn Greenslade – Devonport
• Katy Cutler – Basingstoke/Exeter
• Lily Turner – Crawley/Otter
• Anya Clapperton – Manchester
• Becky Lee – Manchester

Photo credit: Richard Clapperton / England Water Polo