Talanted players from Watford Water Polo Club have been celebrating after winning the London Winter League Division One title.

The Under-14 A team bounced back from a poor display against Basingstoke in their first game to beat Worthing, Croydon and Penguin Latymer to win the competition that extends far beyond the capital.

Having finished second in the preliminary rounds, Watford were confident of beating Basingstoke after 8-1 and 3-2 victories in qualification.

However, a 3-2 defeat was to serve as a big wake-up call with games against tougher opposition to come.

The young players responded superbly, beating a Worthing side 7-5 that had been undefeated in the preliminary rounds in London South.

A comfortable 7-1 victory followed against Croydon, leaving Watford to face the only team who beat them up in the preliminaries, Penguin Latymer, in their final game.

Watford’s decision to man mark paid off handsomely as they neutralised Penguin’s best players and claimed an emphatic 9-2 victory.

Meanwhile, Watford secured their first British Water Polo League Championship One victory after a three-minute hat-trick from Josh Barrett turned the tide in his side’s favour.

Having trailed 4-0 to Kent-based Invicta, Watford battled back to level through goals from Andy Page, Andy Holt, George Sadler and Fin Parnell, only to concede twice more to trail 6-4 in the final period.

However, Barrett’s blitz put his side in front for the first time and further goals from Holt and Parnell stretched the advantage to 9-6.

Invicta did score again, but another goal from Jared Baker secured the win.

Watford were unable to build on this win though, going down to narrow 10-8 and 11-10 losses to Sutton & Cheam and Exeter respectively last weekend.