Otter completed the defence of their girls’ U15 ASA National Age Group Water Polo Championship title with an impressive display in Manchester.

Otter conceded just four goals across their five games, storming through their group with comprehensive victories over Cheltenham (9-0) and Rotherham (16-0), then defeated 2010 champions Tyldesley (9-2). A repeat of last year’s final saw Otter see off City of Liverpool in the semis (12-2).

A dominant display saw Otter storm to a 6-0 lead at half-time in the final vs Newton Abbot before adding another five goals in the second half. They also secured their third shutout of the day as they finished 11-0 winners, with Otter captain Erin Andrew finishing tournament top scorer with 14 goals.

“We have worked so hard for this and done loads of training so it feels really good,” said Andrew. “We worked really well as a team and I think we’ve bonded as the tournament has gone on. Before the final, we just talked about having fun and think about what we’d done in training.”

Manchester outfit Tyldesley secured the bronze medal with a 9-4 victory over local rivals City of Liverpool.

Otter's younger development team Otter Futura was also in action. The team gained valuable match experience in the group stage against some of the best teams in the country. Taking on finalists Newton Abbot (9-0), Semi finalists City of Liverpool (6-2) & beating City of Machester (5-0). The girls went down in the classification match vs Rotherham (8-1) before ending on a high with a (5-0) win vs Manchester City to finish 7th.

London Otter ’01s claimed the girls’ title after a thrilling day of action at the ASA National Age Group Water Polo Championships (U15) at the Manchester Aquatics Centre.

Otter entered two teams in the championships the older Otter ’01s & the younger Otter '02s. It was the first time either team had played in the Championships and it was another brilliant result for our Otter juniors, who now hold the 2015 U/15, U/17 titles, and were runners up in the U/19s age group.

The Otter '01s opened their 2015 campaign with an immediate display of strength, a commanding 21-1 victory over last year’s champions, City of Manchester, before posting posting emphatic wins in all remaining group games, Cheltenham (23-2), Rotherham Metro (7-2), and Tyldesley (13-2), to finish top of the Group A

The semi-final action saw London Otter ’01s overcome Welsh Wanderers 12-5.
Before coming up against City of Liverpool in the final. Liverpool jumped out to an advantage, scoring two quick-fire goals in the first three minutes of the final before London Otter ’01s responded quickly, equalising in less than a minute before scoring a further two goals to set the scores at 4-2 heading into the break. Despite strong attacks from City of Liverpool in the second half of the match, London Otter ’01s held their nerve & scored 3 more times sealing their U15 Girls Water Polo Championships 2015 title 7-3 with a final goal in the last 10 seconds from Drew Goold.

Otter '01 captain Lily Turner was named Most Valuable player of the tournament, with Barbola Toth named best Goal Keeper. “I am delighted. I couldn’t be happier for the team,” said Lily Turner. “This is the first time we have competed here so it feels great to leave as national champions. ”Our older age group won the Under 17 championships earlier this year and I think that really spurred us on as team.”

The Otter 02's also performed extremely strongly, finishing 6th overall after posting wins over City of Manchester (10-1) & Cheltenham (9-1) in the 5th-9th Place Playoff Group. A brilliant result from a very young team in their first National Championships.

U15 GIRLS WATER POLO CHAMPIONSHIPS 2015 OVERALL MVPS:
• Highest Goal Scorer – Nia Sanders (Welsh Wanderers)
• Goal Keeper – Barbola Toth (Otter ’01s)
• Overall Most Valuable Player – Lily Turner (Otter ’01s)