We were promised a dramatic showdown in Northampton at the weekend – and boy, did we get one!

Our top of the BWPL Div 3 table clash with Liverpool Water Beetles; the group’s only other unbeaten team, got off to the best possible start with Selene Chew’s swim-off winning burst and then a string of precise passes that set up a crafty surge and well-taken opening goal for Louise Boaz.

First blood for Leeds stirred Liverpool’s talented predator Molly Boniface-Ashton, who quickly continued her 15th birthday celebrations with an astonishing turn of speed that produced the first of her 9 goal personal haul. Astonishingly, the only Liverpool goals she didn’t claim were scored while she was taking a break from the action.

Leeds ploughed ahead with a sequence of robust and thoughtful attacks and counters that produced a clever goal for Shevonne Lowth - quickly followed by a second strike for Louis Boaz.

Not to be left behind, Liverpool responded by neatly dispossessing our ladies twice in quick succession in the centre of pool in manoeuvres that were both rewarded with fairly soft goals.

Equipped with her A-Game, Jas Littler was busy at both ends of the pool throughout the weekend. Some great defence work and two perfectly-timed passes set up another two goals for Louise Boaz and a crafty goal-mouth lob for Selene Chew. Tit-for-tat responses from Liverpool levelled the scores at half time.

The third quarter brought with it a new gear for Liverpool. Robust defence work and a sequence of thoughtfully planned and flawlessly executed set pieces produced five quick goals. Leeds’ only response was a nifty solo effort from Jas Littler.

An early fourth quarter strike by Liverpool that confronted the Hammerheads with a mountainous five goal deficit also triggered a fearsome Leeds backlash that sent Liverpool reeling. A flurry of swift strikes within as many minutes from Shevonne Lowth and Louise Boaz - followed by two missiles from Lisa Marshall narrowed the margin to a single goal. Unrelenting, the Merseysiders bounced back and were it not for two inspired defensive moves by Lauren Richardson; both of which thwarted talented teen Ms Ashton - Leeds would have ended the match more than just that single goal adrift.

The weekend’s second encounter brought with it the Hammerhead’s first match against a notoriously physical Birmingham side – and another dramatic battle.

First quarter goals for Shevonne Lowth and Jas Littler and some great defence by Lauren Richardson and Ellie Sowerby gave the Hammerheads a three goal lead upon which they continued to build up to the half-way mark; at which point they enjoyed a commanding 8-3 advantage.

More solid defence work and four goals from Terri Millington, Ellie Sowerby, Seleve Chew and Shevonne Lowth – all of which followed Birmingham fouls, enabled Leeds to maintain the upper hand and swim into the final quarter with what felt like an unassailable 12-8 lead.

Getting a taste of their own Fightback Cocktail, Leeds came under a deluge of well-worked attacks that brought Birmingham to within two goals and switched the game’s run of play in favour of the Midlanders. Indeed, only some exceptional defence work from Sophie Sowerby, Kate Harrison, and Selene Chew – and goals in the dying minutes from Lisa Marshall and Jas Littler gave Leeds a two goal upper hand when the curtains came down on another very creditable Hammerheads performance.

Leeds, Liverpool and Birmingham all now progress to the Championship 2 second phase along with English Roses and Southampton.