Mermaids too strong in 16&U gold medal match

Brisbane locals, Mermaids Pink, proved too strong for Sydney Uni, taking out the gold medal at the KAP7 Australian Youth Water Polo Championships with a 10-6 win.

The first quarter saw Sydney Uni on top early, but Mermaids came out firing in the second quarter. 

It was in the third quarter that the Mermaids went from strength to strength, scoring four unanswered goals.

Sydney Uni attempted a last quarter comeback, but it was too little too late for the visitors.

Mermaids’ Chelsea Johnson said it was great the win over interstate rivals Sydney Uni in another grand final.

“We won against them two years ago and it feels good to come back and do it again,” Johnson said.

“We went out today with the aim of shutting their good players down and I think we managed to do that.”

Johnson said that it was great to be one of eight Brisbane teams playing in today’s medal matches.

“It’s been good to see so many Brisbane teams in finals today, and we’ve all been cheering each other on which has been great,” Johnson said.

Fellow Brisbane team St Rita’s defeated UNSW Wests Killer Whales in the bronze medal match 9-5.

Mermaids’ Tori Kininmonth was named Most Valuable Goal Keeper, with Mermaids’ cap #2 Molly Nasser the Most Valuable Player.

Final standings

Gold - Mermaids Pink
Silver - Sydney Uni Blue
Bronze - St Rita's
4 - UNSW Wests Killer Whales Yellow
5 - SNB Breakers
6 - All Hallows White
7 - UWA Bears
8 - Mermaids Blue
9 - BGGS
10 - UTS Balmain Tigers Gold
11- ACU Cronulla Sharks
12 - ASH Blue
13 - Hunter Hurricanes
14 - Melville Marlins
15 -Sydney Uni Gold
16 - Canberra Dolphins
17 - Richmond Tigers
18 - Brisbane Barracudas
19 - Adelaide Jets
20 - UWA Gold
21 - UNSW Wests Killer Whales Black
22 - Melville Mermaids
23 -Central Coast
24 - Essendon
25 -Mermaids Aqua
26 - Honey Badgers/Mermaids
27 -Sunshine Coast
28 - NYP Dragons
29 -Drummoyne Devils
30 -Tamworth
31 - Mermaids White
32 - WPQ Barbarians
33 - Ovens and Murray
34 - River City
35 - UTS Balmain Tigers Black