SEMI FINALS SET AFTER THRILLING OPENING DAY OF THE AUSTRALIAN WATERPOLO LEAGUE FINALS SERIES

The Australian Waterpolo League Finals Series got underway at Pymble Ladies’ College today, with the elimination finals deciding the semi finals berths.

The winners of the WA Challenge advanced to the next stage, matching up against the third and fourth placed teams of the regular season, making for some epic battles in the pool.

ACU Cronulla Sharks put their competitors on notice, after a thrilling penalty shoot out win in the first match of the Australian Waterpolo League Finals Series.

With the teams unable to be separated after ordinary time, they were sent straight back into the pool for a penalty shoot out.

Captain Michaela Davies was crucial in goals for her Sharks, making some crucial saves that ended the Sydney Uni Lions’ finals campaign.

“We knew it was also going to be a tough run coming in after two back to back games (in the WA Challenge), especially against Sydney Uni who are always quite physical and fast,” Davies said.

“We did really well with sticking to our tactics, and went out there playing exactly what we had planned.

“I do not shy away from a penalty shoot out, I’ve been in so many recently. I think it comes down to experience in the end, and who can stay as level headed as possible.

"I’ve been on both ends, the winning and the losing side, and it’s pretty awesome coming off the back of a win like we did just then,” she said.

Having spent the season in Western Australia due to border closures, the Fremantle Marlins made the most of their trip to the east coast, winning their first game of the Australian Waterpolo League (AWL) Finals Series.

In the second elimination final of the day at Pymble Ladies College, Fremantle were eager to progress their tilt at another AWL title.

Both teams were neck and neck for the first half of the game, before Fremantle put their foot down, blowing it out to an 11-6 victory at the end of full time.

Fremantle captain and dual Olympian Zoe Arancini said it was a bittersweet victory for her, having spent the home and away season playing for Drummoyne.

“It started off pretty close, but in the third quarter we were able to get a way a bit and then hold on until the end,” Arancini said.

“The girls did so well, we just kept chipping away. In the third quarter, counter attack came into play, and that’s what made the difference for us. Also Lil Hedges had a blinder today in goals which makes a huge difference for us, so well done to her.

“It was tough playing against Drummoyne, but a game is a game, so you just gotta get in and play. I do feel for them, but at the same time I want to win as well,” she said.

Sydney Uni Lions men roared as one, opening their Australian Waterpolo League Finals campaign with a win in the elimination final over Queensland Thunder, 11-9.

In a closely fought battle at Pymble Ladies College, it was experience on show with London Olympian Billy Miller and four time Olympian Rhys Howden bolstering a young Queensland Thunder side. Tokyo Olympians Anthony Hrysanthos and Goran Tomasevic, teamed up with dual Olympian John Cotterill for the Sydney Uni Lions.

Sydney Uni goal keeper and Tokyo Olympian Anthony Hrysanthos said his side are glad to have the game out of the way.

“That was a good victory for us - it was probably going to be our most difficult game coming up against a strong Queensland side,” Hrysanthos said.

“We just needed to tidy up a few things in the last quarter, but the win gets us through to the top 4 and we can have a crack at Drummoyne tomorrow.

“Tomorrow is going to be all about focusing on ourselves, we just need to stick to our systems and stick to our game play. With strong defence, we can go into our counter attack and put the pressure back on Drummoyne,” he said.

UTS Balmain Tigers claimed a thrilling win in a penalty shoot out over ACU Cronulla Sharks in the last elimination final of the 2022 Australian Waterpolo League Finals Series.

It was a game of two halves, with the scores favouring Balmain 7-1 at half time before Cronulla made a comeback to level the scores 9-9 at the end of regular time.

But in the penalty shoot out, it was Balmain who managed to claim the win, a feat which Balmain goal keeper and London Olympian James Clark was proud of.

“That was really a game of two halves in the end there - we came out really strong and had a lot of energy, whereas Cronulla had just played two games in two days leading in,” Clark said.

“Obviously they were going to be a little bit depleted, but credit to them they really put it to us in the second half. But we’re just really happy with the win.

“Fortunately I’ve done a few penalty shoot outs in my day, and really it could have gone either way its 50/50. Fortunately we were on the better day today,” he said.

The action will continue at Pymble Ladies’ College tomorrow (Saturday) with the semi finals set to decide who will play in the gold and bronze medal matches.

SEMI FINALS SCHEDULE

1pm - MEN - UNSW Wests Magpies v UTS Balmain Tigers

2.30pm - MEN - Drummoyne Devils v Sydney Uni Lions

4pm - WOMEN - Queensland Thunder v Fremantle Marlins

5.30pm - WOMEN - UTS Balmain Tigers v ACU Cronulla Sharks

For full results - click here

To watch the replays via News Corp Australia - click here