CITY of Southampton's dream return to the top division of Speedo League swimming must wait another year - after they missed the second promotion slot by a tantalising two points.

If it's possible to be frustrated and philosophical at the same time, then city coach Alan Ayles was just that.

He said: "It just makes last year when City won the division but were denied promotion by a league restructuring even more frustrating. We were so close, it was a good team effort and we were in second place all the way until the last five or six events, but it just wasn't to be.

"That said, everyone tried hard and we've had loads of personal bests in Speedo this year. We'll get good galas again next year in this division, we'll be up there fighting at the top again and that's good for a team".

Student Tom Ward picked up wins in the open 100m medley and butterfly, and the in-form Emma Wicks won the 13 years freestyle and butterfly.

In the 11 years' category, personal best swims brought wins for Angela Fu (50m breaststroke - 41.79) and Emma Macey (butterfly - 33.18); while 15-year-olds Joe Tellett (backstroke) and David Bywater (breaststroke - 1.18.73pb) rounded off City's individual successes.

That left City a fraction ahead of Elmbridge going into the relays, but it wasn't quite enough.

Result: Windsor 221, Elmbridge Phoenix 178, City of Southampton A 176, Havant & Waterlooville 167.5, Basingstoke A 159.5, Newbury 143.