Monday Wrap | Rnd 7 OVO Australian Waterpolo League

Round seven and mental health round of the OVO Mobile Australian Waterpolo League wrapped up yesterday with a few surprise results.

As part of the round, all OVO Australian Waterpolo League clubs were raising awareness around the need for conversation to help those affected by mental health.

The FYFE Adelaide Jets have been able to establish a strong link in the pathway from juniors to seniors as demonstrated by the halftime junior games as part of their OVOPlay live stream and Adelaide Cup match against Queensland Breakers on Saturday.

Adelaide Jets men’s manager, John Harmer was proud of his club’s facilities and efforts in creating that strong link between juniors and seniors.

“We are pleased we have been able to develop that part of the sport [junior pathway]. By having them here they can clearly see where they can get to when they get older.

“Whilst overall, we are a small contributor to water polo in Australia, we do think we’re also an important part,” he said.

In the men’s match between Jets and Breakers, it was a seesawing affair.

Momentum swung from team to team with Breakers leading 2-1 at quarter time, but a 3-nil second quarter gave the Jets a 4-2 advantage at halftime.

Jets men’s head coach Dusan Damjanovicc acknowledged the turn around.

“It was a good response from the boys, but the most important thing for the rest of this match is our timing and starting in counter attack.

“I hope we finish the game in the way we want,” he said.

The match ebbed and flowed with scores locked at 5 all heading into the last quarter.

Jets lifted, and a four-goal final term led by a double from Caelan Grooby secured Jets an important 9-6 victory.

Jets goalkeeper, Joseph Parnis spoke about the constant shifts in momentum.

“We dropped off a bit in the third quarter which was disappointing, and they had the momentum going into the last quarter. But we picked up a few counter attacks which was good to finish off strong and get a win which I think we deserved.

“That’s been our goal since early in the season to get into the finals. We know if we get the results here [at home] that we should and pinch a few wins away from home we can be there at the end.

“For me finals would be a dream for this team, we started together really young and struggled for a few seasons, but we’re really starting to show good things,” he said.

In the Jets versus Breakers women’s match, a focused Queensland outfit was dominant from start to finish and swam away with it in the last quarter with a 6-nil fourth quarter effort.

Breakers players Bridget Leeson-Smith, Alice Williams and Ashleigh Roberts each scored four goals, followed closely by a triple goal effort from captain coach Bronwen Knox.

Jets will look to take positives out of this match including young and upcoming players Sophie Hill and Sophie Hall getting on the scoreboard with a goal each.

Jets women’s head coach Eddie Dennis understands what his team needs to do to step up in these particular matches.

“We need to be more aggressive, step into space, take our shots.

“We talk about it every game, trying to be aggressive it’s a young team, sometimes they come with that energy and sometimes they don’t but me as a coach somehow has to find that,” he said.

PERTH

Sydney University Lions headed west to square off against Fremantle and UWA Torpedoes in four highly anticipated matches.

Fremantle Mariners provided the best match up against the Lions with a big effort on Saturday from the Mariners.

Nicholas Elphick led Mariners attack with four goals in ordinary time, supported well by teammate Will Mackay’s triple.

However, an even spread of goal scorers in the opposition forced the game into a penalty shootout.

Penalties finished at 3-all and both teams were made to had to split the points, no doubt this won’t be the last Lions Mariners match up we see in the season.

In arguably the match of the round Lions and UWA Torpedoes women played out an epic match ending in a penalty shootout.

Four goals from Lions Danielle Morrisey in regular time was not enough for the away team, with Torpedoes Michelle Martinelli’s four goals supported by doubles from Jakie Kohli, Tayla Walsh and Alyssa Diacono forcing the match into a penalty shootout.

Torpedoes standout performer on the night was goalkeeper Claire Durston who was critical in Torpedoes successful shootout, winning 14-13 after penalties.

Overall both Lions women’s and men’s finished their road trip with three wins from four matches and will rate their efforts in the west high considering the tough opposition.

SYDNEY

At Drummoyne Devils and Brisbane Barracudas Saturday fixture, LIVIN was heavily involved as match day charity partner.

LIVIN is a charity all about living your life at the top and breaking the stigma on mental health. Connecting, supporting and encouraging one another to talk about their feelings and challenges because “It Ain’t Weak to Speak.”

In a Friday night clash between UTS Balmain Tigers and Brisbane Barracudas women it was a case of two young sides going head to head, both keen for a much needed victory.

Second half of the match was nothing but tight, with Tigers scoring the only goal in the third quarter going into the last quarter down 7-5.

Tigers created ample opportunities and closed the gap to one goal early in the fourth quarter but could not execute all opportunities in the last quarter.

Barracudas held on to win the match 7-6 and walk away with the points boosting the side on a four-match road trip.

Barracudas head coach Mel Rippon used all her national and international experiences to help guide her team through momentum swings and cleverly used her timeouts throughout the match.

The Tigers and Barracudas men’s match was a great display of team work from a Tigers side excited to reach double figure on the scoreboard.

The teamwork on display at Auburn Aquatic centre was exemplified by the penultimate goal finished off by Tigers Sean O’Shea.

Tigers goalkeeper James Clarke was solid as usual and a great voice from the back for his team.

Clarke’s directions were supported by head coach Martin Callaghan who was passionate until the end never stopping with directions for his team who won 12-4.

For full results from round seven please click here.