TN Make A Splash

The Team Northumbria water polo party has started after the Sport Central club clinched promotion with room to spare.

Neil Bowers and company returned from Newport tonight with two more wins in the bag – and a place in Division Three to boot!

In the third round of Championship Three central venue clashes TN maintained their 100% record with victories against Bedford and Cambridge.

And that means the Tynesiders have secured promotion from Division Four ahead of next month’s final round of fixtures in Blackpool.

“It feels great but we don’t want to stop now,” said TN’s Richard MacAlister. “We want to go up unbeaten and head into next season on a roll!”

TN travelled to Newport in pole position at the top of Championship Three knowing two wins would seal promotion.

Game one saw MacAlister and his team-mates batter Bedford 17-7. And less than 24 hours later TN repeated the trick to crush Cambridge 13-7.

“The star men over the weekend were Neil, who scored five against Bedford and three against Cambridge, and Stuart McManus who scored four and five respectively,” added MacAlister.

“Everybody knows all about Neil but Stuart’s had a superb season. He’s a Northern Irish player who also captains Newcastle University and he’s a real asset.”

Veteran MacAlister might be plotting a 100% record in Championship Three.

But the experienced campaigner admits he already has one eye on next season as TN water polo goes from strength to strength.

“I think the combination of Neil joining us three years ago and the move to Sport Central has given the club real impetus,” he added.

“The higher we advance up the leagues the more of a draw we become but right now those are the factors that have helped us get this far.

“I’m confident we can maintain the momentum in 2012 given the addition of a few more younger players.”

TN tackle Manchester Hawks and University of Bristol on the weekend of December 10-11 looking to end a successful 2011 on a high.

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