The 2023 Australian Waterpolo League resumed on the weekend, with the first games of the Championship and Southern Cross Cup divisions taking place across the country.

The opening weekend was also known as ‘Pride Round’ - with the Victorian Phoenix celebrating the round at their home games at Caulfield Grammar School.

CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION

WOMEN | SYDNEY UNI LIONS v UTS BALMAIN TIGERS

The Clash of the Cats opened up a blockbuster weekend of action, with UTS Balmain Tigers travelling across the harbour to the Lions’ den at Sydney Uni for their Friday night fixtures. 

In front of a passionate home crowd, the Sydney Uni Lions claimed a four goal win, 14-10. On Sunday afternoon, the match up moved to Dawn Fraser Baths, where the Sydney Uni Lions again roared as one to deliver another win, 10-8.

MEN | SYDNEY UNI LIONS V UTS BALMAIN TIGERS

The Sydney Uni Lions men also had a dominant performance in the opening rounds of the Championship division, getting two Australian Waterpolo League wins on the board over the weekend.

On Friday night, the Sydney Uni Lions powered home to deliver a two goal win over the UTS Balmain Tigers, 12-10. In their second game of the weekend, the Sydney Uni Lions triumphed by six goals over the UTS Balmain Tigers.

Congratulations to UTS Balmain Tigers’ Daniel Lawrence who played his 350th Australian Waterpolo League game over the weekend.

WOMEN | ACU CRONULLA SHARKS V FREMANTLE MARLINS

The ACU Cronulla Sharks women welcomed their west coast rivals Fremantle Marlins to the Sutherland Shire for the first weekend of the Australian Waterpolo League Championship competition.

The Fremantle Marlins managed to get two wins on the road, both by three goal margins - 12-9 on Saturday before going on to win 11-8 on Sunday.

Dual Olympian Glencora McGhie was a stand out player of the weekend, scoring a total of five goals, closely followed by Aussie Stingers captain Zoe Arancini scoring four.

MEN | ACU CRONULLA SHARKS V DRUMMOYNE DEVILS

Cross town rivals ACU Cronulla Sharks men and Drummoyne Devils men met at Sutherland Shire Leisure Centre on Saturday night in their first match up of the Australian Waterpolo League Championship.

Former Australian representative Nic Brooks was crucial for the ACU Cronulla Sharks in their 11-7 win on Saturday, scoring four goals of his own.

Triple Olympian AJ Roach made his return to the Australian Waterpolo League on Sunday, in the Drummoyne Devils draw with ACU Cronulla Sharks, 7-7.

WOMEN | GRIFFITH UNI QUEENSLAND THUNDER V UWA TORPEDOES

It was a mixed weekend of results at the Fortitude Valley Pool in Brisbane for the Griffith University Queensland Thunder and UWA Torpedoes.

On Saturday night, the Griffith Uni Queensland Thunder women continued their unbeaten streak, with an 11-9 win over the visitors.

But on Sunday, UWA Torpedoes managed to put an end to Queensland’s unbeaten run, claiming a 5-2 win.

SOUTHERN CROSS CUP

WOMEN | UNSW WESTS KILLERWHALES V FYFE ADELAIDE/HOBART JETS

UNSW Wests Killerwhales managed to get their Southern Cross Cup campaign off to a successful start, with two wins against FYFE Adelaide Jets over the weekend.

Carson Broad scored four goals on Saturday to guide her team to a five goal victory, 12-7.

On Sunday, the experienced pair of Daisy Carter and Katie Sverchek proved invaluable for UNSW, scoring five and four goals respectively to claim a 16-12 win.

WOMEN | VICTORIAN PHOENIX V HUNTER HURRICANES

Victorian Phoenix women and Hunter Hurricanes women met in Melbourne over the weekend, in celebration of Pride Round.

On Saturday night, Victorian Phoenix delivered an impressive seven goal win courtesy of three goals each from Poppy Phillips and Emily McGowan.

Sunday proved a closer battle, Victorian Phoenix managing to run away with a one goal victory.

MEN | GRIFFITH UNI QUEENSLAND THUNDER V FYFE ADELAIDE/HOBART JETS

The Griffith University Queensland Thunder started strong on the first weekend of the Southern Cross Cup.

On Saturday, the Griffith Uni Queensland Thunder men claimed a five goal win, with 10 players adding their names to the scoresheet with goals.

Sunday followed in a similar fashion, the Queenslanders this time edging ahead by nine goals to get a 15-6 win.

MEN | VICTORIAN PHOENIX V HUNTER HURRICANES

The Victorian Phoenix men followed in the footsteps of their female clubmate, adding two wins to their Southern Cross Cup campaign.

Daniel Magasanik was the leading goal scorer in the Phoenix’s 17-14 victory on Saturday, scoring four goals of his own.

On Sunday, Victorian Phoenix again claimed the win, 11-9.