LANCASTER City water polo team may be National League champions - but their dream of winning every game of the season has been dashed.

City were weakened by the absence of Colin Burgess through suspension and Neil Bowers due to work and that didn't help their cause against a Rotherham side they have often struggled to beat in the past.

The weekend was also a swansong for Australian Ritchie Davis, who is travelling around the rest of Europe.

The first quarter of the match was a fairly even affair, with Dougie Campbell scoring the opening goal but Jamie McIlquham being excluded twice in quick succession.

City managed to defend the first man-down situation but Rotherham capitalised on the second opportunity to level the match.

From this point the two teams traded goals, Tom Curwen scoring twice but weak defending letting Rotherham back into the game.

Ritchie Davis scored his first goal but Lancaster's defence then crumbled as

Rotherham scored three unanswered goals to lead 5-4 at half time.

The outcome was still very much in the balance as veteran Rysz Detko brought his side level with a long-range shot, and Campbell then put the locals back into the lead after good interplay with Ryan Pinington.

But the game was level going into the final quarter after Lancaster goalkeeper Dave Bush was sent out of the game - and Rotherham then took the initiative as poor defending of again cost Lancaster dearly.

Curwen led his team in a fightback as he powered a shot past the Rotherham goalkeeper and Lancaster missed two good chances to win the match.

But Rotherham gained a man-up and scored with only 18 seconds remaining in the game to steal the glory.

Lancaster did not have much to play for in the final match against Cheltenham and ran out comfortable winners - although Davis ended this spell of his Lancaster career by being sent to the stands after a run-in with one of the referees.

CITY (Goals): Bush (Gk), Davis (2), Lawlor, McIlquham, Hartley (1), Pinington, Curwen (5), Carpenter (1), Squires (5), Sly (Gk), Campbell (2), Detko (1)