12&U Medal Matches decided for 2020 KAP7 Australian Youth Water Polo Championships

Published Wed 22 Jan 2020

After 11 days of quality competition, it all comes down to this with the final day of the 2020 KAP7 Australian Youth Water Polo Championships to be held in Brisbane tomorrow.

While there will be plenty to play for right across Brisbane tomorrow, all eyes will be on the Championships finals at Brisbane Aquatic Centre with the medal matches for both age groups to be streamed live on OVO Play.

The 12&U division, the youngest competitors at the tournament, have shown the future of the sport is in great hands with teamwork and loads of fun the order of the day for these youngsters.

It will be the Sydney Northern Beaches Breakers (SNB) looking for a golden finish to their 2020 KAP7 Australian Youth Water Polo Championships, with teams in both the 12&U Boys and 12&U Girls finals. The stands were filled with Breakers fans cheering on their young stars.

Lining up in the gold medal playoff tomorrow for the 12&U Girls will be Brisbane locals All Hallows School (AHS) who’ll meet Breakers. Both sides contested closely fought semi finals to book their spot in the main dance.

In semi final one, it was cross town rivals All Hallows School (AHS) and Mermaids that battled it out.

AHS Coach Phoebe Powell, said she was proud of her team for playing a full four quarters and not letting the finals pressure get to them.

“It was a little stressful (semi final), but the girls stayed calm and got there in the end. They didn’t give up, which is really good,” said Powell.

“We knew we couldn’t go into this game complacent because yesterday we had a 5-1 win against them (Mermaid’s), and we knew they would come out hard so I’m glad the girls could stay composed and get the win.

“To be able to get experience in a competitive environment like this (Australian Youth Water Polo Championships) is so good and it sets them up for the future,” she said.

Semi final two saw Sydney Northern Beaches Breakers (SNB) score the deciding goal in the last minute of the match to steal a victory from Brisbane Polo Bears.

SNB Coach Chris Smith couldn’t be happier with how his side has played today and throughout the tournament.

“I’m ecstatic! I think that (semi) was absolutely fantastic, I had no expectations coming into this tournament, every game they’ve got better and they’re having a ball.

“They’ve loved it (AYWPC), they’re enjoying being on the bus every day, we’ve had activities… I think the whole thing has been run flawlessly so it’s a fantastic experience for all of them,” said Smith.

Fellow Breakers coach Sean Turner, coaching the 12&U Boys, echosed Smith’s comments.

“They love it, it’s a good time to bond as a team, to come up and see different States enjoy Brisbane… it’s been a really cool tournament,” said Turner.

“It’s been great, really good. We’ve enjoyed coming up here, it’s been a full on week but we’re looking forward to seeing either Sydney Uni or Mantas in the final… it should be an epic finish,” he said.

Turned out they would face fellow New South Wales rivals in Sydney Uni Lions who defeated Mantas in the second semi final. The Lions have made it through to the gold medal game playing in their first tournament together as a team.

“It’s a good result, they’re slowly getting better because they haven’t played together before this tournament. We’re hoping for a good performance to follow through to the final,” said Sydney Uni Coach Troy Racklyeft.

“This competition is fantastic, they’re getting better each game so I’m happy with that… we thought we’d challenge Breakers in the final,” he said.

Tune in live from 9:00am AET (Qld) for the live stream of all medal matches for 12&U and 16&U divisions on OVO Play or download the OVO Play APP.