Monday Wrap | Rnd 4 OVO Australian Waterpolo League

In the round 4 OVO Australian Waterpolo League fans were treated to two OVO Play live stream matches when UWA Torpedoes hosted Fremantle in the season’s second Western Derby on Friday which was then followed by the Clash of the Cats on Saturday.

UWA Torpedoes had the home pool advantage in this second encounter, however Fremantle cemented bragging rights over their cross-town rivals taking both matches again on Friday night.

The women’s match was a tight affair, with the Fremantle Marlins winning by one goal in a penalty shoot out after the match ended three-all in ordinary time.

Fremantle Marlins women’s head coach Bridgette Ireland conceded it had been a tough start for the Marlins being down by as much as three goals, however she knew what her team could do.

“During the road trip last round, they showed amazing resilience and hard yakka, so I was confident that they could finish the job.

“It’s very much a mental game and we worked on showing urgency and just working really hard late in the game,” she said.

In the men’s match, the Fremantle Mariners were in full control throughout the match, leading 15-6 at the result.

Fremantle Mariners player Clancy Neesham summed up the feeling of his teammates after the result.

It felt good to get the win, they (UWA) have had the wood on us for a while so it felt good to come here and win in front of their home crowd,” he said.

The UTS Balmain Tiger’s head coach Martin Callaghan encouraged his team to apply their process and trust the result in the Clash of the Cats against Sydney University Lions.

This was not enough in the end as the power and experience of the Lions men overran a young Tiger’s team 10-3 largely due to Lion’s USA import and man of the match Ben Stevenson’s four goal haul.

Sydney University Lions women’s team claimed the club’s second win in the Clash of the Cats round 10-5.

Aussie Stingers player Keesja Gofers scored a double in the game and talked about how tough it is to beat UTS Balmain Tigers at Dawn Fraser Baths.

“You come to Balmain and know it is going to be a tough match.

“We finally converted our opportunities in the second half after a tight first half,” she said.

UTS Balmain Tigers will have a chance at redemption when they face Sydney University Lions in the next Clash of the Cats match in round nine.

NEWCASTLE

Hunter locals were treated to another picturesque spectacle on Queens Wharf when their team took on Queensland Breakers.

Queensland Breakers’ women silenced the local fans early in the first match of the day beating Hunter Hurricanes women 10-4.

Locals supporting their team found their voice again when the Hunter Hurricanes men’s team secured victory comprehensively against the Queensland Breakers 10-2.

In Sunday’s return matches, the Hunter women increased their shooting accuracy, but could not apply defensive pressure to stop Queensland from scoring in return, eventually going down for the second time in the weekend 14-9.

The men’s match was more of the same from Saturday, with the Hunter Hurricanes continuing to impress in the men’s competition winning through their well-rounded game 11-3.

SYDNEY

UNSW Wests squared off against Drummoyne Devils in what was predicted to be a tough contest for both clubs.

The UNSW Wests Magpies and Drummoyne Devils played in a fascinating affair where the Devils men appeared constantly to have the upper hand on the scoreboard.

Prior to halftime, Devils player Matteo Sessantini sunk a superb long-range bomb to take the lead 5-4 and keep the upper hand for his team.

Dual Olympian and Magpies goalkeeper Joel Dennerley showed his class with a crucial save two minutes before full time.

In the counter attack following Dennerley’s save, Magpies teammate Jarrod Gilchrist converted to make the score eight all and send the match into a penalty shootout.

Devils Goalkeeper John Hahn was outstanding in the nets all day including in the penalty shootout when he saved the Magpies first attempt.

Devils remained composed and converted all five of their penalty shots to Wests Magpies four, claiming victory 13-12.

In the women’s match UNSW Wests Killer Whales flew out of the blocks with a significant lead early courtesy of an excellent shooting display from Queenslander Ash Southern.

The Drummoyne women fought their way back into the match eventually clinching it in the fourth quarter through a goal with 1:45 left on the clock from young Emma Jones.

UNSW Wests were quick to put these defeats behind them when they versed UTS Balmain Tigers on Sunday.

UTS Balmain Tigers did not experience much joy this weekend leaving Dawn Fraser Baths without a win across both their matches going down to the Magpies 12-7 and to the Killer Whales 10-9.

UTS Balmain Tigers teams will look to learn as much as they can from this round.

Sydney University Lions continue to impress the competition with their strong form across the pool.

The Lions took on ACU Cronulla sharks yesterday, with both Lions teams walking away victorious. Lions men’s won a close and tough encounter 10-9 against the Sharks.

Whereas the Lions women won a bit more comfortably 10-6.

ADELAIDE

The FYFE Adelaide Jets returned to the pool after 13 days since their last OVO AWL match.

The Jets’ men had the wood over the Brisbane Barracudas for both matches in the weekend winning their first match 10-9 and backed it in the second match 9-8.

The Barracudas were too strong for the Jets women claiming both victories over the weekend, giving Barracudas OVO AWL debutantes Matilda Moore and Anna Lenarduzzi a dream start to their careers.
 
To view all results from round four and upcoming fixtures for the OVO Australian Waterpolo League, click here.