Exeter and Sedgefield lead way in U19 Prelims

Exeter and Sedgefield finished on top as six teams negotiated their way through the Boys’ U19 Prelims of the 2017 National Age Group Water Polo Championships.

Defending champions Exeter won all four Group A matches in Grantham, progressing ahead of Watford and Croydon Amphibians.

Sedgefield, who have won the boys’ U17 title for the past two years, also progressed with an 100 per cent record from their three matches.

City of Manchester were the other team to go through from Group B, held in Manchester.

Cutting scores 11 as Exeter progress in style

Exeter were in impressive form as they dismissed their opponents in style in Grantham.

Jack Cutting, a member of last year’s title winning team, lead by example with 11 goals across the four games while James Spencer-Boyce also scored nine.

Croydon Amphibians – winners of the U17 Championship in 2014 – were the only team to finish within three goals of the defending champions, suffering a 9-7 defeat, having been trailing 9-4 earlier in the game.

Sedgefield came through two tight matches against Carmarthen and Manchester to finish top of their group.

Welsh outfit Carmarthen were winning 5-4 with less than two minutes on the clock before Sedgefield turned the match on its head with two late goals.

It took a late goal for the North East side to see off hosts Manchester as well, as Kris Egginton’s second goal of the game with a 1:40 to go handed Sedgefield a 5-4 victory.

The next stage of the event will be the Qualifiers on the weekend of 8 – 9 April 2017.