Surrey U14 are water polo champions (From Your Local Guardian)

Surrey U14 are water polo champions

9:54am Wednesday 21st December 2011 in Local Sports Round-up

Surrey were crowned U14 intercounties Water polo champions last weekend having beaten the best from the counties of Kent, Sussex and Middlesex.

The team made up of players from Croydon Amphibians and Sutton and Cheam Water polo clubs were tournament favourite as many of the squad from Croydon Amphibians are part of Nick Bellur’s elite Beacon programme who train at Crystal Palace however it was the manner in which they won the title that impressed.

Their first game against Middlesex was won 14-2 which was followed by a tougher encounter against Kent which required determined defensive performances from Dylan Nurse and Joe Phillpott-Clark before Surrey became eventual comfortable winners 9-2.

This set up the final match again last season’s champions Sussex and saw an excellent man marking display by Ashley Castle and Captain Matthew Helps marshalling his team well to keep the pressure on throughout the game to ensure an 8-1 victory.

Goalscorers over the three games were Ashley Castle (11), Matthew Helps (6), Mhairi Nurthen (6), Rhys Singleton (3), Adam Smith (3) Ross James (1) and Kane Nurse (1) and of equal note were impressive goalkeeping displays by team junior Tom Webster who shared the goal keeping role during the tournament.

Mhairi Nurgen energetically played in the Girls U16 tournament in parallel with the U14 intercounties.

After the tournament Surrey coach Mickey Helps said: “The individual abilities of the squad were never in doubt but what impressed me was how they came together as a team, stuck to the game strategy, and got three quality free flowing team victories their excellent attitudes deserved.

"They are a credit to their clubs.”