2023 AUSTRALIAN YOUTH WATER POLO CHAMPIONSHIPS COMES TO A STUNNING CLOSE IN PERTH

The 2023 Australian Youth Water Polo Championships has come to a stunning close in Perth, as the 12&U and 16&U champions were crowned on the final day of competition.

After more than 500 games across five venues and 11 days of competition, it all came to a head at HBF Stadium.

To watch all the replays of today’s gold medal matches - click here

Catch up on all the action from today’s gold medal matches below…

12&U GIRLS GOLD | ALL HALLOWS 6 d UWA 3

The youngest age group at the 2023 Australian Youth Water Polo Championships, 12&U started the finals day strong.

Brisbane’s All Hallows defeated home side UWA in the 12&U Girls, to win the gold medal match.

All Hallows’ players Celia McMeniman and Claudia McCahon said they couldn’t have been happier to have won gold.

“It feels amazing - I love that little title, first in Australia, I’ve never had that before,” McMeniman said.

“It’s been a great opportunity to be here and play against different teams from right across Australia.

“When you’re playing with your friends, and maybe you make a mistake, they are there to pick you up and we have some really great friends in our team who all support each other which is really amazing,” she said.

“To win that is amazing, but never in a million years did I expect that we would have been able to do that,” McCahon added.

12&U BOYS GOLD | MANTAS 8 d SYDNEY UNI 7

The 12&U Boys final went down to the wire, both teams tied 4-4 at the end of regular time.

The teams then went into a penalty shoot out to decide the 2023 Australian Youth Water Polo champions.

In the end, it was a magnificent goal from Mantas’ Max Hansen that secured them the win and the gold medal.

“I’m very proud of our team, I think we played amazing and I’m really excited to see what’s going to happen next year,” Hansen said.

“I was extremely nervous because I saw Nate save that goal and I knew the pressure was all on me to score the winning goal.

“It was amazing to get the win with these boys - I’ve been waiting for that moment for a very long time,” he said.

UWA defeated Melville Saints 11-3 in the 12&U Boys third place final.

16&U GIRLS GOLD | UTS BALMAIN TIGERS d POLO BEARS

In the 16&U Girls final, UTS Balmain Tigers defeated Polo Bears to win the gold medal.

UTS Balmain Tigers led from the outset, strong in both attack and defence.

Tigers’ Claudia Quinn said she was lost for words for what it meant to get the win.

“I don’t think I can explain it really - this is an incredible feeling,” Quinn said.

“Our team, we’re really strong. We’ve been training day and night, and we’ve really come together at this tournament. 

“Noone can really understand how close we are, because we’ve been through everything together, highs and lows. It’s an incredible team to win with, I’m glad it was with them.

“It’s an amazing experience, we came together around two years ago and we’ve been working towards this moment so it’s good that it’s paid off,” she said.

SNB Breakers finished third after defeating Drummoyne Devils, 9-4, in the third place final.

16&U BOYS GOLD | UQ BARRACUDAS 9 d SNB BREAKERS 7

It was a thrilling finish to the 2023 Australian Water Polo Championships, with the 16&U Boys final going down to a penalty shoot out.

UQ Barracudas and SNB Breakers were inseparable after regular time, the teams sent into a sudden death shoot out.

Outstanding goal keeping work from Barras’ Tian Markart gave them the upper hand, and the accuracy from the shooters sealing the deal.

UQ Barras’ Joseph Cervetto said: “It feels amazing - it was really good. Coming back in the third quarter to tie it up 5-5 and then a win in penalties…you couldn’t ask for more.

“Our goalie, he brings our team together and he brings so much energy…we love it and we love him.

“I saw our coach on the sideline and he was happy, I was so proud of the boys and happy to do it for the boys,” he said.

In the 16&U Boys third place final, Sydney University Blue defeated UNSW Wests 4-3.