SWIM Bournemouth exceeded their own expectations to come fifth in the National Arena League’s Premier Division West final.

The result represented a one-place improvement on last year and lifted them to sixth in the league table – also one place higher than in 2011.

It also qualified them for the virtual gala between the top six teams from each of the seven leagues across England and Wales, which helps to decide the 20 qualifiers for the national finals in April.

Bournemouth came 30th out of 42 teams, compared with 25th last year.

Plymouth Leander, Millfield and Taunton Deane respectively finished first, third and sixth in the virtual gala, underlining the strength of Bournemouth’s opponents in the West.

Coach Emma Richards said: “Making the final was a great achievement after a tough first round draw. Going into the final ranked eighth and coming out fifth against some of the best teams in the country was exceptional.”

Izzy Pryce’s win in the 10-11yrs 50m breaststroke in 40.25 was Bournemouth’s only race victory.

Second places came from 11/u swimmers Ethan Bell (breaststroke) and Ben Samuel (freestyle), Alan Wong in the 15/u 100m backstroke and the girls’ 11/u freestyle team of Pryce, Danielle Case, Alesha Gibson and Hannah Stonier.

Result (at Millfield): Plymouth Leander 329, Millfield 292, Taunton Deane 290, Swim Swansea 195, Swim Bournemouth 185, City of Cardiff 182, Exeter City 168, Bridgend 152.

  •  Premier Division debutants Seagulls found it hard going in a mid-table final in which only 29 points separated all five clubs. Fifth place leaves them 13th in the final table.

“This was just short of our target but against the best clubs in the South West and South Wales, it’s something to be proud of,” said coach Barry Alldrick.

Individual wins came from Bournemouth Collegiate School academy swimmers Christian Tai in the 11/u 50m breaststroke and butterfly (40.62 and 32.96) and Beth Aitchison in the 15/u 100m breaststroke (1:14.14).

Aitchison was joined by Bethan O’Hara, Maisie Gormley and Eve Goldsack to win both the 15/u relays, while 15/u boys Dan Walker, Zak Aitchison, Andrew Botros and Jamie Holmes won their freestyle relay.

Result (at Keynsham): Nofio Sir Gar 166, Soundwell 161, City of Newport 144, Keynsham 139, Seagulls 137.

  •  Poole recorded a handsome victory in the bottom gala but paid the price for the three-point deduction incurred after their first round withdrawal due to illness and injury.

The third round win at Bath moved them two places off the bottom rung but with the relegation places now increased to three, they will find themselves in Division One next year – and favourites to win it, as they did in 2010.

Coach Robin Armayan said: “Relegation is unfortunate but Poole coaches and athletes are trained to be positive at all times and this is no exception.”

Naomi Vides provided three of Poole’s 22 victories, winning the women’s medley in 2:22.67 and the 100m breaststroke and freestyle in 1:15.64 and 1:00.64.

Dan Speers and Dan Monk were both double winners, Speers taking the 15/u 100m freestyle and breaststroke in 52.99 and 1:11.32, Monk the 15/u and open 100m backstroke in 1:04.91 and 1:07.75.

Other individual winners: Matthew Cochrane (11yrs backstroke), Jessica Richens (13yrs breaststroke), Emily Clarke (15yrs backstroke), Henry Bramwell-Reeks (13yrs backstroke), Maddy Kemp (15yrs butterfly) and Harry Kemp (13yrs 100m freestyle).

Poole won 10 of the 16 relays, while Speers, Harry Kemp and Todd Price all broke club records.

Result (at Bath): Poole 201, Weston-super-Mare 150, West Wilt Force 5 138, Bath 136, City of Cardiff B 122.