The most unusual and striking of BWPL trophies is about to go home to Wales after a gap of almost three decades! The beautifully created Peter Olson Memorial Trophy was expertly carved by former men’s National League chairman Bob Davies, of Newport, and presented to the League in the 1990s on behalf of the Birkenhead and Newport & Maindee clubs as a tribute to Olson, an outstanding forward who played for both teams and passed away at a young age. For many years, the trophy was presented  to the leading goalscorer in the former men’s National League and now goes to the top Super 5s ..read more

​City of Manchester and 20023 champions Polytechnic may have drawn their first Super 5s clash of the season, but it was Manchester who deservedly triumphed 15-12 in the crunch second meeting at Coventry to take the title for the fifth time. Manchester built an 8-3 lead during the second period, a buffer that kept them in control for the rest of the game, despite a spirited Poly attempt at recovery which, at different stages, saw them pulling up to 8-5, then 13-10. In the end, Manchester's finishing was much sharper.  Manchester goalie Malachy Byrne made several saves but crucially he w ..read more

City of Manchester won the women's Super 5s title for the seventh time - and fifth in a row - by defeating Liverpool Lizards in the winner-takes-all finale at Coventry today. The game was effectively all over before the end of the second period when Manchester's runaway start had built a 7-0 lead thanks to goals by Harriet Dickens (2), Brooke Tafazolli (2), Izzy Howe, Isabelle Robb and Lucy Blenkinship. To their credit, Liverpool battled back to reduce the Manchester advantage to 8-5. But, despite some excellent saves by Liverpool goalkeeper Hayley Price, Manchester eased clear in the final ..read more

Champions Polytechnic set up a men's Super 5s title decider against City of Manchester tomorrow when they defeated Welsh Wanderers 16-10 at Coventry today. The win avenged Poly's only defeat so far this season (Wanderers won a thriller, 21-20) and put them level on points with Manchester, who began day one with an 18-10 victory over Sutton & Cheam. Kimon Haralambous, Poly's skipper, scored four, as did Liam Neill. Dan Laxton contributed five for Wanderers, taking his total for the season so far to 28. Later, in their second match of the day, Sutton & Cheam beat Cheltenham 9-5 to comp ..read more

Otter, women's Champions Cup winners in 2023, took an important step towards qualifying for this season's competition when they defeated Sheffield Sharks 14-13 in the Super 5s at Coventry today. Before the start, both teams were stranded at the bottom of the table without a point - but with Sheffield holding a key advantage of superior goal difference. Otter led for much of the game, although Sharks battled with great determination to draw level after trailing 5-3, then 10-7. Briefly, Sheffield led 11-10 at the start of the last - a goal by Anna Motley (Photo: Trevor Hyde) after Otter had a ..read more

Penguin carried off the men's Championship 1 title when they defeated Sheffield 13-9 in a winner-takes-all finale to an exciting weekend at East Manchester. Sheffield had travelled to East Manchester knowing they could steal the trophy if they won both their matches against Watford and Penguin, the teams that began on day one in the top two places. Watford were beaten. But the double was a tall order -  Penguin proved too great a challenge, taking charge during the third period when goals by Andre Savic and Albie Duffy improved a tenuous 6-5 lead to 8-5. The points were virtually assur ..read more

​Sedgefield (Photo: Trevor Hyde)  withstood a terrific challenge from Southampton in men's Championship 2 at Eton College to win 20-17 and secure the title with a proud 100 per cent record. Key moment in the game came in the third period when Southampton, leading 12-10, lost a player to a violent conduct incident. By the time the four-minute penalty had been played out, Sedgefield were level at 14-14. To Southampton's credit, they immediately went ahead again - a powerful shot from eight metres by skipper Charlie Roberts, one of his seven goals in an outstanding individual display. But ..read more

The clash between Penguin and Sheffield at East Manchester tomorrow (10 March) in the final match of the men's Championship 1 season will decide which team clinches the title. Sheffield brought themselves back into the picture by defeating Watford - who started the weekend in second place - 9-7. A close match saw Watford trail 6-5 early in the final period, only for goals by Corran Bradley, Arshia Keyghobadi and Connor Carpenter to take Sheffield clear. Five goals by Telemachos Pissas (Photo: Trevor Hyde) led Penguin to a comfortable 10-4 victory over Lancaster.  ​ Whatever the outcome ..read more

Hucknall defeated Cheltenham 11-8 at Grantham today to win women’s Championship 1 for the third time in six years. They held a lead throughout after going 4-1 up the opening quarter with goals by Cara Dunsbee (2), Helen Reader and Helena Batey. Exeter beat Rotherham Metro 14-12. A late rally saw Rotherham cut Exeter’s lead to 12-11, but Felicity Tuckett’s fourth goal and another by Jessica Garrad ensued success for the Devon team. Third-placed Tyldesley finished with a 16-11 win against Liverpool Liver Birds, including five goals by Amelia Crompton. ​ In the women’s Super 5s at Sandwell, Mi ..read more

It’s all set for a nail-biting finale to the women’s Championship 1 programme as the two teams with 100 per cent records – Hucknall and Cheltenham – clash in a title decider at Grantham tomorrow (3 March). Hucknall eased to a 15-4 victory today (2 March) over Liverpool Liver Birds, including six goals by Helena Batey, while Cheltenham beat third-placed Tyldesley 18-10. Amelia Perkins was again a key performer for Cheltenham, a haul of six goals taking her Championship 1 tally for the season to a remarkable 41. ​ Tyldesley are guaranteed a third-place finish. They will join Hucknall and Chelte ..read more