BATTLING Sedgefield men's water polo team took on undefeated Carlisle in the Northumberland and Durham league at Newton Aycliffe leisure centre and scored a resounding 6-6 draw.

Carlisle, unbeaten in the league for three years, found Sedgefield, who only entered the league last year, a rapidly improving team.

The Sedegfield mix of veterans and exciting junior talent has seen them remain unbeaten at home all season and this was their final home game.

Carlisle opened the scoring but George Carpenter equalised and just as the first period was coming to an end, Carlisle regained a 2-1 lead.

A couple of controversial decisions in the second period allowed Carlisle to stretch their lead to 4-1 at half-time. The third period saw both teams score two apiece with Sedgefield's goals coming from Carpenter and Lee Cooke.

With a 6-3 lead going into the final period, Carlisle looked home and dry. However, Sedgefield's determination and fitness started to tell in a storming final period which had the home crowd on its feet.

Rob Woodcock made the score 6-4 with an excellent counter attack then, astonishingly, Sedgefield scored two more goals by Matthew Bowden, their junior polo and swimming international, to leave the score at 6-6 as the game entered the final minute.

Sedgefield pressed for the winner but, despite two near misses, Carlisle held on for the draw at 6-6.

This result probably means Sedgefield cannot win the league but have an excellent chance of the runners-up spot.

This will consolidate their position in the North as the most exciting newcomers to water polo at all levels in the last two years.

Danny Johnson in goal was the pick of Sedgefield's senior players with some brilliant and crucial saves. Pick of the juniors was Mark Jones, who played with intelligence and great tenacity for a 15-year-old.

The rest of the Sedgefield team was David Farmer, Peter Atkinson, Adam Burton, David Morgan and Oliver Metcalfe