Day 2 Wrap | KAP7 Cup

All the KAP7 Cup action headed to Sydney Uni Pool for day two of the KAP7 Cup. Old rivalries, new combinations, experienced campaigners and young guns, with close games right across the board for all eight teams.

It certainly was a Good Friday for water polo fans that packed out Peter Montgomery Olympic Pool.

GAME 1: ACU CRONULLA SHARKS V SYDNEY UNI LIONS WOMEN

In the first game on day two, Sydney Uni Lions got off to a commanding start. But the ACU Cronulla Sharks weren’t giving up without a fight.

On the hunt for redemption in the second quarter, the Sharks scored an impressive four goals to level the score heading in to half time.

But the Sydney Uni Lions stood their ground and came out firing in the last quarter, with some formidable defence from Aussie Stingers Hannah Buckling and Tilly Kearns helping their team to a 14-10 win.

Sydney Uni captain and Rio Olympian Keesja Gofers said it was a good contest to start the day.

“That was a tough game, Cronulla put up a really good fight. But I’m proud of the Lions, we really worked together as a team to pull it back in the third quarter, and then held them out in the last,” Gofers said.

“We’ve got Balmain this afternoon, and we’re expecting that to be another tough game,” she said.

GAME 2: DRUMMOYNE DEVILS V UTS BALMAIN TIGERS WOMEN

First of two battle of the bridge matches, with rivals Drummoyne Devils and UTS Balmain Tigers going head to head.

With scores standing at 5-4 favouring Balmain at half time, all eyes were on the second half.

Balmain upped the ante, with Aussie Stingers squad member Alice Williams scoring a four goal haul.

A 10-6 final score had captain Pascalle Casey proud of her Tigers team.

“Drummoyne have a really young and exciting team, and they put together some good plays today,” Casey said.

“I think that the third quarter was really where we put our foot down, and I’m really proud of us for that.

“We’ve got Sydney Uni this afternoon, and they had a good win against Cronulla this morning so we know it’s going to be a tough game,” she said.

GAME 3: DRUMMOYNE DEVILS V UTS BALMAIN TIGERS MEN

A close game from the outset, Drummoyne Devils and UTS Balmain Tigers went head to head in a thrilling match of water polo.

Drummoyne had a handy lead at half time (9-4), but the Tigers came out firing in the second half, pushing their opposition right until the final seconds.

A last minute dash was not enough from the Tigers, with the Devils eventual winners by 1 (12-11).

Captain AJ Roach gave full credit to the boys for holding strong in the dying seconds.

“It’s always a tough fight against Balmain, they’ve got experience right across the pool,” Roach said.

“It’s good to get that first game of the day out of the way, now we’ll regroup and turn our attention to UNSW this afternoon.

GAME 4: UNSW WESTS MAGPIES V SYDNEY UNI LIONS MEN

They met two weeks ago in the Sydney Super League finals, and today’s game played out much the same.

Sydney Uni and UNSW Wests put on a display of water polo, both teams pulling out all their tricks.

Sydney Uni raged rampant in the last quarter, Aussie Sharks squad member Luke Pavillard leading the charge, scoring four goals to help his team to a 10-8 win.

Sydney Uni veteran Scott Nicholson said they knew it was going to be a tough game and it lived up to expectations.

“We played them (UNSW) a couple of weeks ago in the Sydney Super League final, and it was a bit like déjà vu really,” Nicholson said.

“We just really had to focus on our game, and I think we did a really good job of that.

“After a tough loss yesterday, it was good to come out and win that game,” he said.

GAME 5: DRUMMOYNE DEVILS V ACU CRONULLA SHARKS WOMEN

After two tough losses, the Drummoyne Devils were out to prove themselves in their final preliminary game of the KAP7 Cup.

Young gun Brooke McLean took control, scoring a whopping four goals for the Devils, with captain Morgan Baxter the second highest scorer on three.

The end score 13-7 favouring the Devils, seeing them notch up their first win of the competition.

GAME 6: UTS BALMAIN TIGERS V SYDNEY UNI LIONS WOMEN

The Clash of the Cats is always an interesting battle, and today was no different. Scores level at half time proved for an interesting second half.

Young gun Ellena Little, as well as Aussie Stingers Alice Williams, and Pascalle Casey all added two each to the Tigers total, helping their team to a 10-7 win.

The Lions and Tigers will meet again tomorrow afternoon in the gold medal match, live streamed via News Limited - click for more.

GAME 7: UTS BALMAIN TIGERS V SYDNEY UNI LIONS MEN

With the Balmain boys winless, they were bound to come out firing and that they did. Both teams were on top of their game, and the first quarter scores reflected that, an even 5-5.

But in the second quarter Sydney Uni started to get a roll on, with some strong defence seeing their opposition score no goals in the second quarter.

Sydney Uni managed to keep their opposition to just two goals in the second half, while scoring seven goals to help them to an eventual 12-7 win.

GAME 8: DRUMMOYNE DEVILS V UNSW WESTS MAGPIES MEN

The undefeated Drummoyne Devils met their cross town rivals UNSW Wests Magpies in the final game on day two of the KAP7 Cup.

The Magpies were ready to swoop at the chance of an upset, and showed why they are consistently one of the most successful Australian Waterpolo League teams.

The Magpies took a 16-13 win in the end, and will face off against UTS Balmain Tigers in the bronze medal match tomorrow.

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