A YOUNG Lancaster team played well but was unable to add the ASA National Knockout trophy to its league championship in Manchester at the weekend.

With several senior players missing - notably Campbell, Bowers, Burgess and Bush - the city swimmers were beaten 11-14 by Cheltenham.

Lancaster started the game slowly, allowing Cheltenham to gain an early two goal lead. And though the gap was closed by goals from McIlquham and Hartley at the end of the first quarter, Cheltenham pulled away again during the second quarter to make the score 6-3 by half time.

In the third Lancaster gave a gritty performance that saw Cheltenham struggle to score, typified by the defensive performances of Pinington and Squires.

BUT the weakness in the Lancaster game began to show, with a poor percentage of goals scored in man-up situations when they were on top - allowing Cheltenham to stay 7-6 ahead at the end of the third and then score three times in the first two minutes of the final quarter.

McIlquham and Curwen both added to their goals total but it was too late to bring Lancaster back into the game.

CITY: Z. Sly, P. Haworth, R. Detko, J. McIlquham, C. Hartley, R. Pinington, T. Curwen, K. Worthington, A. Squires

* Having been knocked out of the cup competition, Lancaster had little trouble in disposing of Sutton and Cheam 17-8 in the plate.

Two opponents were sent out for fouls during the first two attacks of the game and first Curwen and then Squires fired home with Sutton a man down. During the second quarter Lancaster drew away, scoring five goals to their opponents two through Curwen, Detko, Pinington and McIlquham (2) to effectively kill off the.

The final tally of goals was Detko (3), McIlquham (2), Hartley (1), Pinington (2), Curwen (7) and Squires (2)