SOUTHERN Junior League champions Bournemouth Dolphins put the politics behind them and returned to swimming as they took on the champions of other leagues in the south of England final and national semi-final at Ipswich.

Dolphins were missing several members of the title-winning team, "for various reasons", some due to the club's recent turmoil and subsequent departures.

They finished fifth out of six and will not be heading for next month's national final in Wolverhampton.

But coach Graham Bassi said the contest did much to restore morale.

"It was a brilliant performance with the passion, commitment and atmosphere that I have been trying to create," he said.

"It was a total team performance against very tough opposition and I am proud of them all.

"It showed what this club is all about and that's the future."

Dolphins' results included eight wins, six second places and five thirds.

Joe Poynter and Vicky Adams were both double winners in the individual events.

Poynter won the 12/u 50m butterfly in 31.31 and breaststroke (35.95), Adams the 10yrs 50m butterfly (37.69) and freestyle (32.97).

Amelia Maughan came first in the 11/u 50m freestyle (30.09), second in the 11/u backstroke (35.48) and third in the 12/u free (29.88).

The other wins came from the relay teams of Samantha Bush, Lucy Carter, Maughan and Abigail Axe-Browne (11/u girls' freestyle), Harry Thorpe, Poynter, Darren Price and David Gallagher (12/u boys' freestyle) and Nathalie Carter, Vicky Adams, Amelia Maughan, Charlotte Blow, Matthew Allen, Daniel Speers, Jackson Mullins and Poynter.

Individual seconds: Nathalie Carter (9yrs 25m free 17.68), Daniel Speers (10yrs 50 breast 45.18) and Samantha Bush (11/u butterfly 35.37).

Individual thirds: Daniel Speers (10yrs fly), Ryan McCormack (10yrs free) and Jack Burton (11/u back 44.16).

Result: UEA City of Norwich 189.5, Northampton 187, City of Derby 183.5, Thurrock 172.5, Bournemouth Dolphins 146.5, Teddington 146.

OTTERS SET NEW BEST

FERNDOWN Otters achieved a best-ever third place in the Hants and South Coast Junior Cup, improving two places on last year.

They were beaten only by two much bigger clubs, City of Guildford and Haslemere.

Individual winners were Sam Bates (u/14 100 breaststroke), Zoe Taylor (u/12 50 butterfly), Fiona Hardie (u/14 100 fly), Clodagh Dear (u/12 50 breast) and Danni Burry (u/12 50 back).

Dear, Taylor and Burry teamed up with Lucy Kirkham to win the u/12 freestyle relay while Noah vides, Mikey Kingsley and Todd Price won the boys' u/12 medley and freestyle relays.

Result: Guildford 280, Haslemere 253, Ferndown 209, Beau Sejour 203, Bracknell 180, Woking 147, Basingstone 147.

  • Seagulls' A team finished 15th after coming second in the third final.

Result: Portsmouth 215, Seagulls A 206, Alton 191, Locks Heath 170, Wey Valley 151, Woking B 123.

DOLPHINS' MASTERS

Bournemouth Dolphins' masters team took home the Hunts Cup after amassing the most points at the Poole Masters Open Meet at Rossmore.

But Poole won three of the four mixed relays including the 120yrs medley and freestyle through Rachael Potter, Karen Yendole, Matt Penny and Chris Monk.

Penny, 27, was also the fastest man in all age groups in five individual events - the 25 and 50m freestyle (11.66 and 25.78), 50m butterfly (27.82), 100m medley (1:09.27) and 50m breaststroke (33.35).

But he was pushed hard in the 50m butterfly by Ferndown Otters' European masters medallist Nic Vaughan (27.96), who won all four of his events in the 40-44 age group.

Dorset's newest club, Laurie's Littledown Masters, coached by Laurie Dormer, had some impressive results on their first outing, including third places in both 120yrs relays.

ACADEMY TRIO

THREE players from Christchurch and New Milton Seagulls have been selected for the South West England water polo academy after trials at Millfield School.

Chris Chamberlain was selected for his second year with the squad while Anand Vathilingham joins up for the first time after missing out last year.

Fellow Dorset League player Sam Webber, 12, was selected for the younger section of the academy.

Coach Barry Alldrick said: "The progress these players have made is a tribute to their own commitment and the work of our coaching staff.

"The club can now boast regional standard swimmers in both swimming and water polo."