DAY 4 HIGHLIGHTS AUSTRALIAN YOUTH WATER POLO CHAMPIONSHIPS

The all important semi finals were today held at the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships, as teams put it all on the line to book a spot in tomorrow’s important gold medal playoffs.

After more than 600 games, it all comes down to Monday’s medal playoffs to determine who will be the Australian champions and who will walk away with the medals on offer and the minor placing bragging rights.

Watch today’s replays from some of the matches via News Corp Australia >> CLICK HERE

Read how the action unfolded across the Gold Level semi final matches throughout the day.

18&U BOYS

SF1 I Sydney Uni 9 d ACU Cronulla Sharks 6

A tight knit Sydney Uni Boys team took out the first semi final after a 9-6 victory over ACU Cronulla Sharks. The team that has won the 14&U and 16&U AYWPC titles, will have their chance to go for the triple crown when they line up in tomorrow’s Gold Medal playoff.

Setting up a handy 4-1 lead after the first quarter, the Lions didn’t allow red card infringements against two of their players to impact their game plan. Leading into the final quarter the Lions held a three point lead, and despite the Sharks staging a strong comeback to outscore the Lions three to one, it wasn’t enough.

Sydney Uni Lions’, Ryan Goldschmidt said: “It feels pretty good to get the win. Cronulla came back pretty strong in the fourth quarter there but it was good to hang on and excited to play tomorrow.

“Having a bit less depth on the bench because of those boys getting out [red cards] was a bit tough, I know myself personally I was getting a bit tired at the end but the boys really showed good effort staying in the game.

“We spoke at half time about staying composed and not letting anything get to us.

“This team won 14&U and 16&U at AYC… pretty much stayed the same team since U14s.”

SF2 I UQ Barracudas 11 d Melville 10

Brisbane locals UQ Barracudas staged a stunning last minute goal to defeat Melville 11-10 and book their spot in the gold medal playoff.

The defensive effort from both teams was impressive throughout, with no more than one goal in it at any point throughout the game.

With scores locked 8-8 leading into the final quarter, it was a true test of fitness and defence with the teams going goal for goal.

With under a minute left on the clock, the UQ Barracudas were able to score the final goal to advance to the gold medal match.

Barracudas Will Valentine said: “It was bloody tough, it was a big slog all the way down to the last minute.

“We stuck in there, our key was counter defence and we nailed that. There were a few lapses in it but when we needed to we were there.

“We lost the last three [AYWPC] in a row so we are very pumped to get in there [to the gold medal game].”

18&U GIRLS

SF1 I Mermaids Pink 11 d Sydney Uni Lions 8

A tightly fought contest between local side Mermaids Pink and NSW rivals Sydney Uni Lions, delivered another close semi final tussle. Closely matched sides coming into the semi, it was Mermaids who were able to edge out the Lions 11-8.

Having won the 14&U and 16&U titles together, Lulu Elliott from the Mermaids is hoping her team will make it an AYWPC trifecta.

“We are stoked! It has been a lot of years with the same team and it is really exciting to finally get there.

“We knew they [Syd Uni] would be tough in the water…. they have very strong lefties that we have to work with and a very strong centre forward. But we kept to our game plan and we had a few players step up, so across the board a good game from everyone'

“We are happy to be playing at home in all the pools we know so well and it's great to show our pools to the interstate players we know,” she said.

SF2 | UTS Balmain Tigers 12 d SNB Breakers 7

After almost a decade playing together, the 18&U Balmain girls have finally earned a spot in the gold medal playoff after a convincing 12-7 win over SNB Breakers.

Having won numerous minor placing matches over the years, Lily Dunn said she is looking forward to the chance of bringing home a medal this time.

"It's very good considering we have always missed out on top four, we’ve won spoons, plates and we’ve all been together since we were like 8 years old so it’s good we are finally getting the results after such a long time.

“I think it helped getting the opportunity to play with older girls, my defence improved and it was helpful for me,” she said.

16&U Girls

SF1 | Mermaids Pink 10 d UTS Balmain Tigers 8

The first 16&U Girls semi final went to a penalty shoot out - featuring Mermaids Pink and UTS Balmain Tigers.

Having watched on their younger club mates earlier, Mermaids were inspired to take back-to-back penalty wins. And that they did, with Molly Dyer crucial in goals for her team, and Mermaids winning 10-8.

“The energy in that game was so intense, and for it to go down to a penalty shoot out was so exciting,” Dyer said.

“I’m just really proud of the girls, they played so well, we kept going the whole game - I’m so happy and so proud.

“All the girls were so encouraging, we know that we’re a good team, and we know that we can come back from anything.

“I love taking penalty shoot outs, so I was just ready. This is my moment, I’m going to do my best. And saving those goals, I just knew I belonged in goals,” she said.

16&U BOYS

SF1 I Sydney Uni Lions 11 v Melbourne Collegians 5

Sydney Uni Lions dominated the first half of the 16&U Boys semi final, leading 5-0 at half time to Melbourne Collegians.

Melbourne came out strongly in the third quarter, narrowing margain to be within four goals at three quarter time. But Sydney Uni maintained their composure leading into the final quarter, finishing out the game 11-5.

Lions play Zac Izzard said: “It was a great game, the boys trained really hard for this over the last four months. In our local competition we played up a division in the U18s and all our practice has come down to this.

“We can't relax, the job is not finished, we have to go into the gold medal match to get that gold.”

SF2 I UWA 13 v Sunshine Coast 9

UWA started the match how they wanted to finish, dominating in their attack and defence to keep the Sunshine Coast on the chase.

The West Australians set up a solid 3-0 lead at the end of the first quarter and managed to hold the three point margin at half time.

While the third quarter went goal for goal with Sunshine Coast on the comeback, UWA held firm in the final stages of the match to round it out with a 13-9 win.

UWA’s Timothy Lonnqvist said: “It’s very exciting, the boys worked extremely hard and I am very proud of them.

“It was very close but in the middle of our timeout we reminded the boys to stay focused, keep playing how we were playing and mainly focus on defence.

“We were expecting it [AYWPC] to be pretty tough, so before coming over we had a few weeks of very intensive training just to get in the right mindset.”

14&U BOYS

SF1 I SNB Breakers 10 d UQ Barracudas 9

Another close match for the 14&U Boys semi final, with a heart stopping final that saw SNB Breakers jag a one point win over locals UQ Barracudas to secure their gold medal start.

There was never more than one goal between the teams, with scores locked at half time and leading into the final quarter.

As tensions ran high, SNB Breakers were able to jag a last minute goal that secured them the win and a chance to play for gold.

13 year old Lachlan Davies, said he was on edge until the final moment when Jett Semmens scored the winning goal.

“That was so stressful… in the last quarter my heart was jumping out of my chest when Jett scored that last goal, the feeling was just so good.

“In 2020 we won by one against Sydney Uni in U12s and that was a really good experience. We have the same team and we know each other inside out at this point.

'I have enjoyed every single second of it [AYWPC]. The team has just been amazing, the environment… after two years it's good versing the other teams and seeing where they are at, especially WA, it is good seeing them,” he said.

SF2 I Hunter Hurricanes 11 vs Sydney Uni Lions 10

The Hunter Hurricanes took the victory in a tightly fought contest in the 14&U Boys semi final against the Sydney Uni Lions. Syd Uni got off to a flying start in the first quarter scoring 4 unanswered goals to lead 4-0 at the first break.

The second quarter saw the Hurricanes gain their composure, scoring the opening two goals, with Syd Uni extending their lead 8-2 at half time.

The Hurricanes came out firing in the third quarter to narrow the lead to be within three goals with solid defence from their goalie.

Coming into the final quarter trailing by three goals, Hunter Hurricanes came out in the last quarter like their lives depended on it, taking the lead in the final minute of the game that was enough to earn them the spot in tomorrow’s gold medal match.

Hurricanes Goalkeeper Adam Handley, said: “I wasn't too good in goals at the start but it was a great finish.

“I always believed we could come back… you’ve got to believe in the boys, they can do anything. I knew we could do it, now we just have to win the gold.”

14&U GIRLS

The atmosphere was electric at Somerville House for the 14&U Girls semi finals, with All Hallows matching up against SNB Breakers, and Mermaids Pink playing Polo Bears.

SF1 I Mermaids Pink 8 vs Polo Bears 6

The first semi final went down to the wire, with Mermaids Pink and Polo Bears inseparable after regular time, teams were sent into a penalty shoot out.

Mermaids’ goal keeper Nadia Comben proved the winning difference for her team, making some crucial saves to help her team to an 8-6 win.

“It was so exciting, I was terrified but at the same time excited. My teammates were on the sidelines, cheering me on which was so good,” Comben said.

“A lot of hard work goes into getting here, we’ve made so much progress. Toby [coach] has helped me along the way, teaching me new skills and game play which is really good.

“It’s going to be a tough game, but we’ll be ready,” she said.

SF2 I All Hallows 3 d Polo Bears 1

The second semi final was a close match up between All Hallows and SNB Breakers, with one spot in the gold medal match up for grabs.

With scores locked 1-all at quarter time, both teams were eager to get an important win under their belt.

But it was the added edge of a passionate home crowd, cheering home All Hallows to a 3-1 victory, booking their spot in the gold medal match.

All Hallows’ Claudia Booth said: “That was so much fun just playing with the girls… the crowd were insane, it was so nerve racking.

“It was just all about defence, because no one scored in the second half which was terrifying… it was good pressure.

“We came here for gold, and now we get to go for gold…that win means we can play in the finals - and we’re just going to go out there tomorrow and have fun,” she said.
 

FINALS LIVE STREAM SCHEDULE - MONDAY 18 APRIL

CLICK HERE to catch all of the following games tomorrow

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BRISBANE AQUATIC CENTRE - OUTDOOR 1