Otter won their first-ever British League title by defeating reigning champions City of Manchester 16-14 in a pulsating Super 5s decider at the Surrey University pool, Guildford (26 January).

The London club led 5-4 and then 10-6 at the end of the first two quarters and were only briefly under serious pressure when Manchester fought back to trail 12-11 towards the end of the third.

Otter captain Lex Higlett, who finished the match with seven goals then struck a decisive blow. With 30 seconds of Otter possession almost completed and the defence anticipating the ball would be dumped, the Australian whipped a fine shot into the net from an acute angle. Another Otter goal early in the final quarter stretched the lead to 14-11, effectively ending the Manchester challenge. Victory clinched a special double for the Otter club - their Lutra team won Championship 1.

Congrats to the whole Otter Super 5's championship team. Sarah Tollefson, Liz Dunn, Vicky Bowen, Fran Leighton, Tracey Allen, Brooke Tafazolli, Sarah Bennett, Michelle Sazama, Emma Shkurka, Rox Hargraeves, Lex Higlett, Vivi Castagna, Sammy Owen & Coach Nick Buller.