Our girls’ Water Polo teams have had another amazingly successful year, and we’re only in March!
Our U15 team started our run of success in February by winning all three of their matches in the regional finals against St Marys, Manchester High School for Girls and St Bedes and Joseph, Bradford, making them the Northern Champions.
This was followed by our U18 team who had a very close regional tournament against St Edwards College, Liverpool, St Mary’s Catholic School, Tyldesley and Kesteven & Grantham Girls School. Three teams ended on 4 points with 2 wins each, and all 3 teams went through to the national finals with Crompton House having the best goal-difference.
After our successes last year in the U15 and U18 categories it was decided to enter a team in the U13 tournament and the team consists of some older girls who have played water polo in the past and some younger girls who are good swimmers and wanted a different challenge.
Training for Water Polo took place at Royton Leisure Centre with ORCA, Old Royton & Crompton Swimming and Water Polo Club, coached by CHS parent Peter Darlington.
Another parent, Sarah Lord, was Team Manager organising all the girls’ teams liaising with Mr Upton to ensure everyone turned up at the right place at the correct time.
The U13’s first match was the Northern Regional Finals at Manchester High School for Girls and the girls played matches against MHSG and St Bedes & Joseph School, Bradford. Both Crompton House and MHSG beat the Bradford team, but drew with each other. Our goal difference was higher and for the third time in the space of a month Crompton House became Northern Water Polo Champions! This was a fantastic performance as some of CHS girls had only played the game for a month!
The national finals for the older 2 teams were at Northampton in early March, with the U15’s starting at 9.30 in the morning, meaning a 5.00 am coach from school for both teams. Due to illness and injury the team were down to 7 experienced players, and 3 novice players from the U13’s travelled with the team, and although they didn’t get to play much they gained valuable experience.
The U15’s girls won their 2 group matches against Alleyn’s, Dulwich, and Bedford Modern, and went into the semi-final against St Mary’s who they had beaten in the Northern final a month before. Crompton House won 5-1 to play in the final against KGGS, who they had drawn with in the regional competition.. The final was a close match but despite playing well CHS lost 6-3, but are proud to be National runner’s up.
In the afternoon the U18 girls had to play 3 matches in the group stage, and in our squad of 10, 6 girls had already played in the U15 tournament in the morning.
In the group section CHS and KGGS won 2 matches and drew against each other, but KGGS had a better goal difference. The next time the two teams met again was in the final and it was a tense hard fought match which CHS played probably their best polo of the day, winning 3-1 to become U18 National Champions for the second year running. And for the older girls it was their third year of being National Champions as in 2014 they had won the U15 National Championship.
Many congratulations to all the girls and best wishes to the U13 team who have their final on the afternoon of Tuesday May 10th at Northampton.
Many thanks to Mr Peter Darlington, coach, Mrs Sarah Lord, Team Manager, and former CHS PE teacher Miss Brentano who has accompanied the girls on all their matches. Without their input these fantastic results would not have been possible.
U18 Squad: Anna Lord (Yr13), Roisin Campbell-O’Donnell (Yr13), Niamh Campbell-O’Donnell (Yr11 GK), Lucy Thomas (Yr11), Rachel Milligan (Yr11), Izzy Larder (Yr10), Kate Emmott (Yr10), Nancy Chadwick (Yr9), Katie Richardson (Yr9), Hannah Wilson (Yr8), Kim Burston (Yr8), Evelyn Larder (Yr7),
U15 Squad: Izzy Larder (Yr10), Kate Emmott (Yr10), Josie Stevens (Yr9), Nancy Chadwick (Yr9), Katie Richardson (Yr9), Hannah Wilson (Yr8), Kim Burston (Yr8), Evelyn Larder (Yr7), Ciara Harrison (Yr9), Olivia Rush (Yr8), Mia Radcliffe (Yr7), Ruby Holland (Yr7)
U13 Squad: Hannah Wilson (Yr8), Kim Burston (Yr8), Evelyn Larder (Yr7), Olivia Rush (Yr8) , Hannah Flint (Yr7), Molly Boswell (Yr8 GK), Mia Radcliffe (Yr7), Jessica Hibbert (Yr8), Arianna Makinson (Yr7), Ruby Holland (Yr7), Emily Unsworth (Yr7)
GB Team Squad Members: Anna Lord (Yr 13), Niamh Campbell-O’Donnell (Yr11), Lucy Thomas (Yr11), Izzy Larder (Yr10)
