Manchester and West London claim U17 national titles

It was medal day in Gloucester at the Swim England Water Polo National Age Group Championships U17/U19 Finals 2026.

Day two began with the U17 Open title on the line – and it delivered a final worthy of the occasion, as City of Manchester were crowned national champions after a thrilling 14–12 victory over North London.

After falling short in last year’s final in a penalty shootout loss to Watford, Manchester arrived determined to go one step further.

They made a strong start, taking a narrow 4–3 lead into the end of the first quarter thanks to a last-second goal from Harry Peters. The intensity continued into the second period, with Alex Pinto-Palin extending the lead and Carter McMillan pushing the score to 6–3 as Manchester tried to take control.

North London, however, refused to let the game slip away. They responded superbly in the third quarter, scoring four goals from three different players to close the gap to 9–8 heading into the final period. The last quarter proved just as dramatic, with North London drawing level multiple times in a tense, end-to-end battle.

When it mattered most, Manchester found their edge. Key goals at crucial moments saw them pull ahead and hold on to secure a 14–12 win, sealing the national title in front of an electric crowd.

Despite being on the losing side, North London’s Rafael Kragiannis was named MVP after an outstanding individual performance, while Manchester’s Caelan Mathewson picked up the Top Goalkeeper award for his saves throughout the match.

Head coach Seb Long praised the collective effort behind Manchester’s success, saying:

“I think we were really well prepared going into the Finals. The team this year really just worked for each other and pushed every single moment. We had 13 players in the water—usually you have one or two star players and, yes, we have that, but every player that went in worked really well for one another.”

He also highlighted the trust placed in the squad, adding:

“As coaches we have to step back and give them the opportunity to run the game and run the clock and make those decisions.

“It’s really important how each player individually supports one another and how we work together.”

Earlier in the day, the bronze medal match saw Caledonia claim a deserved 17–11 victory over Sedgefield. Charlie Grey led the scoring with six goals after opening the match, while seven different players found the net in a strong all-round team display.

Caledonia built a 9–3 lead by half time and maintained their advantage despite a resilient effort from Sedgefield, who finish fourth at national level.

West London Penguin win Female U17 title

West London Penguin turned last year’s result on its head to claim the national title with a 10–4 win over City of Liverpool. The match was a rematch of the 2025 final, where Liverpool had won 12–6, but this time it was Penguin who came out on top.

Liverpool made the stronger start, leading 2–1 after the first quarter, but the momentum shifted in the second period. Emily Barea equalised for Penguin before Mila Champney gave them the lead for the first time. Liverpool captain Lily Watson responded quickly to level the score, but Penguin continued to build their advantage, heading into the final quarter with a two-goal lead.

They carried that momentum into the closing stages, with Ioanna Mouratidis extending the lead to 6–3 as Penguin took control. From there, they continued to add to their tally and secure a convincing 10–4 victory, sealing their revenge and becoming national champions.

West London Penguin’s Kaila Saltman was the standout performer, claiming both the MVP and Top Goalkeeper awards after an exceptional display.

Head coach Rumen Kurtev praised his side after the final whistle, saying:

“I’m very proud of my girls but it’s more important what it means for them. They’ve worked really hard for many years to develop themselves and come to that kind of competitive way.”

Reflecting on the macth, he added:

“It takes a strong opponent, they were really tough all the time and this kind of game is actually most exciting not just for me personally but for the spectators as well.

“We got a lot of individual talent but this is about coming together as a team. They play for each other and they well deserve that first place, so I’m really proud of the girls.”

Kurtev also acknowledged the wider support network behind the team’s success:

“I got really good support from my assistant coach, from the team managers, everything’s been so well organised and we feel like a big family which is really important when it comes to supporting each other.”

The bronze medal was awarded to Beckenham after their win over Cheltenham.

The clash proved to be one of the closest of the competition, as the sides were level at 12–12 at the end of regular time, forcing a dramatic penalty shootout.

It took eight rounds to separate the teams, before Issy Rayes scored the decisive penalty to secure a 20–19 victory for Beckenham. Cheltenham, despite a strong showing, finished fourth.

View all results below and head to our live scoreboard to find details on goal scorers.