2024 AUSTRALIAN WATERPOLO LEAGUE - WEEKEND 10 WRAP

A critical weekend in the pool saw teams make one final play for Championship points, with Saturday and Sunday’s games bringing the regular season of the Australian Waterpolo League to a close.

Catch up on all the highlights…

UTS Balmain Tigers vs UNSW Wests Magpies & Killerwhales

The first fixtures of the weekend saw the UTS Balmain Tigers host the UNSW Wests Magpies and Killerwhales at Dawn Fraser Baths, with the home ground advantage proving true in both the men’s and women’s games.

In the men’s game, the UTS Balmain Tigers defeated the UNSW Wests Magpies 12-9 despite five goals from Olympian Jarrod Gilchrist.

In the women’s, the host side beat the UNSW Wests Killerwhales 14-10 thanks, in part, to Stanford University Alumnae Katie Dudley.

ACU Cronulla Sharks vs Drummoyne Devils

Having not played each other since round 2 of the Australian Waterpolo League back in February, ACU Cronulla Sharks hosted the Drummoyne Devils at Sutherland Leisure Centre on Saturday afternoon.

The ACU Cronulla Sharks brought the fight to the Drummoyne Devils in the men’s game, pushing the top team until the final buzzer. The travelling team ultimately claimed victory 12-11, continuing their weeks-long winning streak.

The Drummoyne Devils won their second match of the day, this time in the women’s game, when they defeated the ACU Cronulla Sharks 11-9.

Hunter Hurricanes vs Sydney Uni Lions

Lambton Pool saw two big score lines on Saturday afternoon when the Hunter Hurricanes played the Sydney Uni Lions.

In the men’s game, the Sydney Uni Lions won 22-10, sharing the goal scoring duties between nine players including Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks squad member Chaz Poot and his Lions teammate Ryan Goldschmidt who scored five goals apiece.

The Sydney Uni Lions asserted their dominance in the women’s game, taking the host side down 23-3 thanks to the goal scoring efforts of 11 different players.

Griffith University Queensland Thunder vs Fremantle Mariners & Marlins

Griffith University Queensland Thunder hosted the Fremantle Mariners at the Fortitude Valley Pool for a double header over the weekend, with the first games taking place on Saturday afternoon.

The west-coast side claimed victory 6-5 in the men’s game on Saturday before the Griffith University Queensland Thunder returned the favour with a 11-7 win on Sunday.

The opposite took place in the women’s games, with ladder leaders, the Griffith University Queensland Thunder defeating the Fremantle Marlins 13-9 on Saturday before going down 9-8 on Sunday morning.

ACU Cronulla Sharks vs Hunter Hurricanes

The ACU Cronulla Sharks and Hunter Hurricanes played their second games of the weekend against each other at Sutherland Leisure Centre on Sunday afternoon.

The ACU Cronulla Sharks (men) won 15-5 with six of their players scoring more than one goal.

In the women’s game, the ACU Cronulla Sharks beat the Hunter Hurricanes 19-11 after nine of their players scored at least one goal.

UNSW Wests Magpies & Killerwhales vs Sydney Uni Lions

Also taking to the pool for the second time over the weekend after playing different opponents on Saturday were the UNSW Wests Magpies and Killerwhales and the Sydney Uni Lions.

In the men’s game, the Sydney Uni Lions delivered a powerful performance at the Ashfield Aquatic Centre to defeat the UNSW Wests Magpies 14-7.

An identical scoreline of 14-7 in the women’s game saw the Sydney Uni Lions claim their second victory of the day, this time over the UNSW Wests Killerwhales.

Drummoyne Devils vs UTS Balmain Tigers

Drummoyne Swimming Pool hosted the final games of the regular season on Sunday afternoon between cross town rivals the Drummoyne Devils and the UTS Balmain Tigers.

In the men’s game, an epic match up saw two of the highest performing teams of the season go head-to-head. After being unbeaten all season, the Drummoyne Devils ultimately lost their final game of the regular season (12-11) to the UTS Balmain Tigers in a thrilling finish.

A great day in the pool for the UTS Balmain Tigers saw them also victorious in the women’s league, beating the Drummoyne Devils 16-15 thanks in part to five goals from Nioka Thomas