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Phoenix Women take Championship

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Manchester Phoenix Women are Northern Division One champions after a resounding 6-0 victory over Coventry Phoenix.

Sunday night’s win means they are two points ahead of second-placed Whitley Squaws, with Nottingham a further five points adrift.

An 11-game unbeaten run - stretching back to their last defeat at the end of last year - was key in Manchester’s title success. And they sealed victory with a champions performance on Sunday.

Phoenix captain, Charlene Chapman, said: “I am over the moon and for this side to come so far has been just amazing. I couldn’t be more proud of the team.

“Last season, we were third from bottom, so to win the league tonight and to do it in style, is a great achievement for this team.

“We’ve only lost one game all season and that was against Whitley, so I’ll take that.”

Sunday’s encounter at Oakfield Road saw the Phoenix take a three-nil lead in the first period, thanks to goals from Chapman, Leen De Decker and Rachel Cartwright. The Manchester women survived a barren second session to secure victory in the third period, thanks to Katie Hills, Cat Bowen-Fell and Chapman.

They face a play-off showdown against either Chelmsford or Invicta at Ice Sheffield next weekend, before meeting Swindon or Whitley in the final.

“We’ll definitely be going for the play-off title when we travel to Sheffield,” Chapman added.

“But they are just another couple of games to us. Throughout the season, we have said we need to win our games to take the title. These two matches will just be an extension of that.”