City of Liverpool crowned U15 Female National Age Group Champions

City of Liverpool have reclaimed the Swim England Water Polo U15 Female National Age Group Championship title after defeating Otter in a thrilling final, winning 6-3 to secure the gold medal.

After finishing runners-up last year, Liverpool produced a composed and confident performance to regain the national crown they last held in 2023.

Throughout the tournament, they demonstrated exceptional teamwork and quality that once again set them apart on the big stage.

On the win, Head Coach Alice Byrne said: “It feels amazing and I am just really really proud. We’ve come a long way in the last few months.

“We are very lucky as we have got a couple of experienced players in the squad who played the year before and to carry that experience and mix that with our newer junior players is great.”

Liverpool struck first through Aisla Kaye, who opened the scoring early to give her side the lead. Otter responded well, with Freya Bullock finding the back of the net in the second quarter to bring the game level and keep the pressure on.

The decisive moment came in the third quarter when Olivia Ramirez Nievas scored twice in quick succession, establishing a three-goal advantage that Liverpool defended resolutely until the final whistle.

Otter, who were not among the top four last season, put up a fantastic fight in the final and fully deserved their place in the title match after an outstanding campaign across the two days.

Cheltenham triumph West London Penguin in penalty shootout

While the gold medal decider brought plenty of excitement, the bronze medal match between Cheltenham and West London Penguin was equally dramatic.

In one of the most thrilling games of the tournament, Cheltenham edged past last year’s champions in a tense penalty shootout to secure third place.

The match began at a fast pace, with Alice Ross inspiring Cheltenham early on with a first-quarter hat-trick. However, Penguin fought back strongly, with Darya Kakari and Allegra Fondelli leading a spirited comeback in the later stages.

In the last quarter, with just 37 seconds remaining, Rosie Atkins struck to level the scores (8-8) and send the match into penalties.

The shootout was full of tension and precision, as both teams traded successful efforts. Ultimately, Cheltenham prevailed 5-4 on penalties, with Edith Clarke converting the winning shot to seal a memorable bronze medal.

The result marks an impressive rise for Cheltenham, who finished fifth last year but now stand proudly among the top three.

Special acknowledgement

The Top Goalkeeper award was presented to Isobella Taylor from City of Liverpool, recognising her excellent shot-stopping ability and composure under pressure. Her consistent performances were key to Liverpool’s success throughout the tournament.

The Most Valuable Player (MVP) award went to Alice Ross of Cheltenham. Ross stood out for her leadership and impact at both ends of the pool, guiding her team to a well-deserved third-place finish.

Finally, the Top Goal Scorer award was claimed by Tarryn Lewis from Otter. Lewis demonstrated remarkable attacking instinct across the two day competition, consistently finding the back of the net and proving a constant threat to opposing defences.

Strong finishes across the field

In the other play-off matches, Rotherham Metro secured fifth place with a 9-6 win over West Edinburgh, producing a composed performance built on defensive strength and efficient finishing.

Exeter finished their campaign on a high, securing seventh place with a well-earned victory over Solihull. In a competitive match, Exeter showed their attacking intent, winning with 13-5.

City of Manchester earned a 7–5 victory over Tyldesley in a tightly contested fixture highlighted by superb goalkeeping displays from Ruby Spencer (Manchester) and Siyona Patel (Tyldesley).

Worthing closed their campaign in style with a dominant 15-3 win over Lewisham, thanks in part to a first-quarter hat-trick from Scarlett Dore. Faversham also impressed in their final match, defeating City of Cambridge 10–3 to round off their weekend on a high.

To view all results, please visit our live scoreboard page here.

All photography by Will Johnston Photography.