JUNIOR water polo stars from Lancaster have been crowned as England's top team once again.

A team of seven boys and two girls, all aged under 10, took on and beat 11 teams from around the country to claim top spot at the National Mini-Water Polo Tournament at Manchester at the weekend.

In the first match was against Royton, the young Lancaster team won 9-0, while match two saw Halton Widnes beaten 5-0.

In fact Bedford were the only team to put one over on the City kids, winning 4-2 in one of the remaining group games.

Lancaster met Rochdale in the semi- final, taking an early lead with a goal by Elliot Trafford and holding a 2-0 half time advantage as Sophie Wilson found the target. And with second half goals from Decland Ellwood a place in the final - against Bedford again - was assured. In a tight game where both defences played well, Sophie Wilson found space to score the only goal of the first half, and though Bedford equalised at the start of the second half it was Elliot Trafford who swam up the pool to put the winning goal into the net to seal Lancaster's championship.

o EVERY one a winner: Pictured are the triumphant Lancaster youngsters following victory in Manchester. Back row, left to right, are Jake Starkie, Adam Bateson, Oliver Carter, Chris Everette and Decland Ellwood. Front:Stefan Detko, Sophie Wilson, Sophie Cocker and Elliot Trafford.