Monday Wrap | Rnd 10 OVO Australian Waterpolo League

The penultimate round before OVO Mobile Australian Waterpolo League finals has concluded and we may have witnessed one of the potential finals much up as the OVOPlay live stream match of the round between Fremantle and ACU Cronulla Sharks.

After extended breaks for both teams, Sharks were in Perth for their western road trip and much anticipated clash against Fremantle.

In the women’s match, it was a battle between some experienced heads with Marlins Erin Redbond and Sharks Amy Ridge leading the way in the pool for their teams.

The always reliable and hardworking Redbond ended the match with three goals, whilst Ridge ended the game as the highest goal scorer with five goals.

Ridge used a versatile mix of powerful and skilful shooting option continues to show the competition what a reliable player she is for her team.

The Sharks 11-6 victory on Friday night as well as their clean sweep in Perth has put them in outright third on the premiership ladder.

Whilst the Marlins will head to Queensland for round 11 in sixth position just above Brisbane Barracudas making for an interesting clash between them next round.

The first half in the men’s match, saw Joe Kayes put on a dominant display of shooting and net himself five goals at the main break before closing the game with eight goals to his name.

Midway through the third quarter the Sharks were still on top with a five-goal buffer, but the halftime chat from Fremantle’s head coach Laurie Trettel began to kick in and Fremantle mounted a comeback.

Joel Swift’s early flurry of goals was supported in the third quarter by young Mariner’s player Nicholas Elphick who scored three consecutive goals on his way to a five-goal haul providing him with a good boost of confidence before finals.

Mariners fought hard and pegged the Sharks lead back to a single score at three quarter time, but could not keep the momentum going in the last quarter going down 14-12 in a big win for the Sharks men.

Mariners regrouped quickly to turn around their Friday night disappointment and show why they’re a force to be reckoned with on the eve of finals winning 11-9 and giving the Sharks their only loss on their Perth trip.

NEWCASTLE

Hunter Hurricanes were back in action at Lambton Pool for their two matches against Brisbane Barracudas.

The Hunter men were searching for two wins to help land a top two ladder position, whilst the Hunter women were aiming for a positive end to their season at home.

Saturday went to plan for Hurricanes with both teams grabbing a win, 9-8 in a tough encounter for the women and a more comfortable 16-6 victory for the men.

In Sunday’s return match, Barracudas put on a dominant display to respond with a 11-5 win.

The Hunter men carried Saturday’s form to Sunday and again played confidently, winning 11-4.

SYDNEY

Queensland Breakers found themselves south of the border this week for matches against inner west teams, Drummoyne Devils and UTS Balmain Tigers.

First game against the Devils on Thursday night didn’t provide the start Breakers were searching for when the women went down 17-6 and the Breakers men suffering the same fate 15-5, after Devils sharp shooter Mitch Emery sunk six goals on his own.

Breakers experienced success against the UTS Balmain Tigers, grabbing all four wins across both men’s and women’s matches.

Breakers’ present and future combined to outscore Tigers in their Friday night fixture with captain-coach Bronwen Knox and Born 2000 squad member Sophie Miliken scoring a double each and securing their first win in Sydney, 8-4.

The Breakers men secured their match in tougher circumstances going to a penalty shoot out after they led late in the match until Tiger Jay Houlias scored a goal to level it at 6-6 with under two minutes to go.

With neither side unable to break the deadlock, a penalty shoot out was required.

Tyler Sinclair, Kieran Mulchay and Bastion Schmellenkamp successfully converted their penalty attempts, whilst the Tiger’s first three were not as successful and did not convert giving Breakers a 9-6 win.

In their second match since the 2017 AWL grand final, Lions hosted UNSW in two hotly contested games.

The Lions women squared off against the top of the ladder Killer Whales and a double from the always Danielle Morrisey as well as teammate Emma Lewis was not enough for the Lions women.

Killer Whales’ Daisy Carter top scored for the match with three and was well supported by Alicia Brightwell and Fiona Walsh proving Killer Whales’ versatility and quality across the pool.

Lions’ man Ben Stevenson scored a hattrick, but was matched by Magpies Lachlan Hollis.

Lions were led at every break winning 8-6 in an important test before the finals and keeping their undefeated streak intact.

For all results from round 10 please click here.