LANCASTER water polo team showed their intent to defend their National League title with good wins against London Polytechnic, Cheltenham and Manchester at Loughborough at the weekend.

Improved individual play was the base for a better all round display with Colin Burgess (8), Neil Bowers (11), Chris Hartley (5) and Dougie Campbell (6) all among the goals while stints at centre forward from Hartley and Jamie McIlquham gave City a useful variation to their play.

In the opening game, Poytechnic included ex international Gary Simons and the experienced Neil Drinkwater but went down 2-12 to Lancaster.

The locals set off at an intense pace and looked far the more dominant side, with Jamie McIlquham converting the first opportunity with a powerful shot within two minutes.

On the very next attack Lancaster were awarded a penalty when Dougie Campbell was fouled in front of goal, easily converting it himself to make it 2-0. And three more goals in three minutes left Lancaster with a 5-0 lead first quarter lead which was never to be threatended.

Lancaster were expecting a challenging encounter from Midlands side Cheltenham, but tight marking wore down the opponents resolve and allowed Lancaster to end 17-4 winners.

The first quarter was level at 2-2 after Lancaster took a two goal lead courtesy of Burgess and Bower, and at half time it was still only 7-4. But the rest of the game belonged to Lancaster as Pinington and Knowles kept up the tempo - and the goals.

Manchester proved the toughest of the opponents at 6pm on Sunday evening, limiting Lan-caster to a 14-7 triumph.

Manchester took the lead on 30 seconds and then went 3-1 up with two goals in two minutes - but Bowers, Hartley and Burgess were all on target as Lancaster established a 5-3 lead by the end of the first quarter and went on to win comfortably.

This weekend Lancaster face London Penguin, Tyldesley and Invicta at Manchester.