AUSTRALIAN WATER POLO LEAGUE - ROUND 9 WRAP

The finals series is nearing, and the competition in the 2022 Australian Waterpolo League is heating up. With Round 9 wrapped up, and three rounds remaining, the race is well and truly on to finish in the top four. We’ve got you covered with all the results from around the grounds in Round 9.

DRUMMOYNE DEVILS V FYFE ADELAIDE/HOBART JETS

FYFE Adelaide/Hobart Jets headed north for their Sydney roadtrip this weekend, with back-to-back games against Drummoyne Devils. On Saturday, the women opened the weekend with a thrilling game and plenty of goals scored. Adelaide’s Tayla Dawkins scored three goals of her own, but it wasn’t enough to hold off the Drummoyne Devils who took an 11-5 win. In the men’s game, Rio Olympian Tyler Martin led with experience and scored four goals of his own to help his team to an 11-7 win.

On Sunday, it was Samuel Slobodien who led the charge for Drummoyne, scoring an impressive six goals, and Drummoyne claiming a 17-11 win. In the women’s match, it was also raining goals with Australian Junior women’s squad member Macy Hansford scoring five, captain Morgan Baxter with three, and Erin Moodie, Tasma Woolley and Alex Brown all scoring two each.

For full results - click here

ACU CRONULLA SHARKS V HUNTER HURRICANES

At Sutherland Leisure Centre on Saturday, ACU Cronulla Sharks matched up against the Hunter Hurricanes. In the first game of the day, it was the Cronulla Women who played a consistent game of water polo that earned them a 14-6 win.

In the men’s game, Cronulla were all class and a myriad of players put their names on the scoresheet. Ben Matthews was the top scorer with five goals, followed by Ugljesa Mihailovic with three, and Tristan Glanznig, Milos Maksimovic, Daniel Davis with two, and James Dickson, Jesse Taylor, Mason McQuet and Maxwell Churchyard scoring one each.

For full results - click here

To watch the replays via News Corp Australia - click here

VICTORIAN PHOENIX V UNSW WESTS

UNSW Wests headed to Melbourne for Round 9 of the Australian Waterpolo League, to play against the Victorian Phoenix. Saturday’s matches were closely fought, with only a couple of goals separating the teams. In the women’s game, UNSW Wests Killerwhales managed to push slightly ahead of Victoria to win 9-7. In the men’s game, UNSW Wests Magpies continued their unbeaten run with a 15-11 win.

On Sunday, five players scored three goal hauls - Daisy Carter (UNSW), Carla Traplin (UNSW), Kiara Holden (UNSW), Rowie Webster (Victoria) and Emily McGowan (Victoria). In the high scoring game, it was UNSW Wests Killerwhales who were the eventual victors, end scoreline being 15-11.

For full results - click here

QUEENSLAND THUNDER V SYDNEY UNI LIONS

Sydney Uni Lions also had a roadtrip on their schedule for Round 9, heading to Brisbane to play Queensland Thunder. Both clubs were missing some key players who are currently in Peru for the FINA World League Intercontinental Cup, but weren’t going to let that stop them from playing some great water polo.

The women played first on Saturday, in what ended up being the highest scoring game of the weekend. Queensland Thunder women continued their unbeaten streak, with a 17-15 win courtesy of four goals from Kate Blew and two goals each from Sophie Milliken, Kasey Dalziel, Jessica Emerson, Lulu Elliott and Taafili Taoso.

The men’s game was a milestone game for many reasons, with Dual Olympian Johnno Cotterill playing his 250th Australian Waterpolo League game, and his Sydney Uni side managing to topple an in-form Queensland Thunder 9-6.

On Sunday, Queensland Thunder women again proved unstoppable, outsourcing Sydney Uni 13 goals to 10. Young gun Kasey Dalziel scored four goals, four time Olympian Bron Knox fired in three and Lulu Elliott scored a two goal haul.

Queensland Thunder men managed to reverse Saturday’s result, claiming a 13-12 win on Sunday. Highest goal scorer of the match was 2012 Olympian Billy Miller who scored an impressive five goals. Tokyo Olympian Anthony Hrysanthos played his 150th Australian Waterpolo League game on Sunday.

For full results - click here

To watch the replays via News Corp Australia - click here

UTS BALMAIN TIGERS V ACU CRONULLA SHARKS

In the last games of Round 9, UTS Balmain Tigers hosted ACU Cronulla Sharks at Ashfield Aquatic Centre.

Both games were close, with only a small margin separating the teams in the final score. In the men’s game, Balmain grabbed the vital championship points on offer with an 11-8 victory. The Balmain women cemented their position in second on the overall ladder with an 11-9 win ove Cronulla.

For full results - click here

To watch the replays via News Corp Australia - click here