MEDAL MATCHES DECIDED FOR AUSTRALIAN WATERPOLO LEAGUE AFTER EPIC SEMI FINALS BATTLES

The gold and bronze medal match ups for the 2022 Australian Waterpolo League Finals Series have been set, after some epic battles in the semi finals at Pymble Ladies’ College.

Having made their way through the home and away season undefeated, UNSW Wests Magpies kept their unbeaten streak alive, defeating UTS Balmain Tigers 15-9 in the first semi final of the Australian Waterpolo League.

In a physical match, UNSW Wests kept their cool throughout the four quarters, maintaining the early lead they set up for themselves.

This season the Magpies were bolstered by the return of Aussie Sharks co-captain Nathan Power who has spent the last few seasons abroad.

Power was crucial to the Magpies success in the semi final, scoring three goals.

“It was a really good finals style game - I think we responded really well early on, we were moving the ball well and we were getting the blocks in defence,” Power said.

“Towards the middle of the game it turned into more of a grind, but I’m happy with how we responded to that.

“It’s going to be another tough day tomorrow, that’s what we expect, that’s what we like, and we’re going to enjoy it,” he said.

In the second men’s semi final, Drummoyne Devils defeated Sydney Uni Lions to earn their spot in tomorrow’s gold medal match, 10-9.

The Devils welcomed the return of Tokyo Olympian Lachy Edwards, who spent the season on the sidelines due a knee injury.

Drummoyne will now have a chance to win the clubs first ever National League title, when they face off against premiership favourites UNSW Wests Magpies tomorrow in the gold medal match.

“Yeah I’m so proud of the boys, we were challenged right from the start to the end,” captain Blake Edwards said.

“There was a lot of emotion in that game, the boys have worked so hard all season to get here. I’m super proud and couldn’t be happier right now.

“It was great to have Lachy back in the pool today, you could tell by the emotion in him today how much that meant.

“He’s been so frustrated being on the side of the pool, and was so eager to get in. He played an amazing game today,” he said.

Edwards said it would everything to the team to win the premiership title tomorrow.

“A lot of these blokes have played in a lot of finals but haven’t quite got there,” Edwards said.

“So we’re as hungry as ever, and we’re going to play the team who has been the best in the competition all year in Wests.

“They’re going to be ready for it, but we just need to play our game, play with the same level of intensity we did today and I think anything is possible,” he said.

The Queensland Thunder women also managed to keep their winning streak alive, advancing to the gold medal match after their win against Fremantle Marlins in the semi finals, 10-9.

Heading in to the second half down, Queensland upped the ante in the last two quarters to claim a crucial win.

Captain and Tokyo Olympian Gabi Palm proved crucial in goals for the minor premiers.

“It feels great to get a win - we were down heading in to half time but the girls really came through in the third quarter and we got the win which is really exciting,” Palm said.

“It’s not easy watching the teams play a couple of games below, and being a little bit cold going in to that game. But it didn’t affect us and we were able to go through and get the win.

“We’re looking forward to the gold medal game tomorrow. Not much is going to change, we’re just going to go in there and play our game, really bring it in defence which should flow through to our attack,” she said.

The last semi final of the 2022 Australian Waterpolo League season went down to the wire, with a goal in the last 40 seconds of the match putting ACU Cronulla Sharks into the gold medal match.

Having made their way through the WA Challenge Series, and winning their elimination final, the build up to the gold medal will be all about momentum for the Sharks.

With their last premiership title won 10 years ago (2012) the Cronulla Sharks are hungry for another win tomorrow.

“I can’t even describe what this means, it’s such a euphoric feeling. As I said after the last game, we had momentum and if we just keep using this momentum I have no doubt that we can take it all the way,” captain Michaela Davies said.

“We’ve been saying the whole Series that we have to keep going until the last whistle, and everybody just stayed so level headed. I knew going in to that last play, we had all the chances in the world.

“We met Queensland in one of our last games of the regular season, so we have a good idea of how they play. They’re always going to be a hard match up, but I think we’ve got the team to do it,” she said.

The medal matches will be played at Pymble Ladies College tomorrow, first up the men’s bronze medal match at 10am.

MEDAL MATCHES SCHEDULE

10am - MENS BRONZE - Sydney Uni Lions v UTS Balmain Tigers

11.30am - WOMENS BRONZE - UTS Balmain Tigers v Fremantle Marlins

1pm - WOMENS GOLD - Queensland Thunder v ACU Cronulla Sharks

2.30pm - MENS GOLD - Drummoyne Devils v UNSW Wests Magpies

For full results – click here

To watch the semi finals replays via News Corp Australia – click here