YORK City Water Polo Club are looking to bounce straight back up to British Water Polo League division three after the disappointment of relegation last season - and recent form has given them a chance of doing so.

After taking just one point in their first three games, York needed near-perfection in their following four matches to be in with a shout of going up - and they obliged with four straight wins.

The first of the sequence saw York come from 4-0 down inside six minutes to beat Invicta Marlins 8-6 thanks to goals from Nick Boaz (4), Ben Pacey (2), George Mack and Paul Floyd to get their first win of term in classic comeback style.

Target man Chris Burns then took the onslaught to Bedford, netting four in a 19-10 demolition.

Next up were Grantham, and the clash was all but wrapped up by half-time, with City leading 8-2 thanks to another Burns hat-trick.

York had previously been made aware that complacency in division four would be punished, so remained in control to the final hooter, running out 11-7 winners.

Grantham’s misery was made even worse after their goalkeeper Steve Pembridge suffered an eye injury after a collision with Boaz’s index finger.

Heading into the last game of the first phase of the competition, York needed only one point to mathematically secure their place in the promotion battle for phase two of the season but in any case hammered Cheltenham Spartans 14-7, with nine York players getting on the scoresheet.

The Minstermen had had a disappointing start to the new season, back in September.

They were unlucky to only draw their opening game with Bridgefield, 11-11, Boaz and Pacey leading the way with four and three goals respectively.

York’s second game of term was an agonisingly narrow 11-10 defeat to Otter, having led 5-1 during the first quarter.

Edward Clarkson produced a contender for goal of the season, scoring a lob from the half-way line in the dying seconds of the game. The spinning beauty was his first goal for the club since winning his battle against leukaemia last year.

City’s early season frustration continued in their third match of phase one, as they lost 10-8 to champions-elect Portobello.

Boaz’s hat-trick acted as compensation for missing target man Burns and defensive rock Toby Clarkson, both unavailable.

Phase two of the league campaign is now imminent, with York set to take on historic rivals Castleford, in a fixture which is banned locally.

They will also face Manchester Hawks, Hucknall, Portobello, Otter, Bridgefield and Cheltenham Spartans, all battling for one of the three promotion spots.

For details on York City WPC, email Kevin at contact@yorkwaterpolo.org