OVO AWL | OVO Australian Waterpolo League returns for 30th year

Published Fri 01 Feb 2019

The country's premier water polo league, the 2019 OVO Australian Waterpolo League, returns tonight for it's 30th year, as teams from Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia prepare to line up.

One of the Australian sports longest consecutive leagues, the OVO Australian Waterpolo League will see teams battle it out across 11 rounds with the top six men's and women's teams going through to the finals Series in May.

The first round, the Cole Miller round, will hold special meaning for water polo community as it will remember former Brisbane Barracudas player Cole. The young aspiring water polo player tragically lost his life as the victim of one punch assault. All clubs around the country will honour the Cole Miller round retiring the number 10 cap - Cole’s cap number.

OVO Mobile are once more back streaming games across the competition, kickstarting with the Grant Simms Cup between UTS Balmain Tigers and Sydney University Lions on Saturday 2 February.

In a clash of the cats, sparks will surely fly with new rosters on display and the Sydney Uni Lions Men's team beginning their title defence, while home side Balmain will be eager to grab the perfect start to the new season.

UTS Balmain women’s captain Louise Hoban says the first game back, the local rivalry and playing for the Grant Simms Cup all combine to make this an event worth watching.

“It’s always a really big game. With the Grant Simms Cup, the Club gets a lot of the old members coming down making it extra special.

“Being the first game of the season against the arch rivals we are all very excited,” she said.

Some strong off-season recruitment netted the Balmain women Aussie Stingers veteran Rowie Webster and young gun Alice Williams.

In addition to player recruitment, the group also welcomed Danielle Bower as their new head coach and has helped shape the team into strong title contenders on paper.

“We’ve had a good off season and trained really hard. A lot of juniors have developed and are starting to push seniors for positions.

“Danielle has refined our approach to training. She is a very particular coach, she has set goals and will tick each goal off that we get. Every session has a specific reason why we’re doing something,” said Hoban.

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A post shared by Sydney Uni Women WPC (@suwomenswpc) on Jan 29, 2019 at 9:30pm PST

Looking to defend their 2018 title and back up their undefeated season, Sydney Uni Lions men’s captain Michael Rosenthal said the group are ready to fight all the way again.

“We’ve been training hard since September, we’ve had some new players come in and we’re trying to keep the momentum from 2018 going as we head into the opening round.

“Last year we learned a lot and we did a lot of team exercises and we’re keeping a lot of that cultural infrastructure we've developed but we know it’s a new year and we’re going to take each game as it comes.

Rosenthal knows Saturday’s match will be tough and the Tigers cannot be taken lightly.

“Playing Balmain at Dawny (Dawn Fraser Baths) is always a fun game, but they will have a strong home pool advantage and with great players like James Clarke in goals, we will have to bring our A game.

“This year Tigers are just one of a number of strong teams. Drummoyne and UNSW Wests both have improved their rosters, Fremantle is always tough, but you have to take each Club seriously,” he said.

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A post shared by UTS Balmain Tigers WPC (@utsbalmainwpc) on Jan 22, 2019 at 11:50pm PST

In other matches, Drummoyne Devils will open their 2019 campaign against ACU Cronulla Shark and UNSW Wests, with their clash against the Shire teams on Friday, 1 February officially opening the new season.

The the new look Queensland Thunder outfit will have its first run against Hunter Hurricanes at home.

While FYFE Adelaide Jets are set to host Fremantle in a tough encounter, with both sides from Perth finishing on the podium at the conclusion of 2018.

HOW TO WATCH UTS BALMAIN TIGERS VS SYDNEY UNI LIONS LIVE ON OVOPLAY

UTS Balmain Tigers vs Sydney University Lions

WHEN: Saturday 2 February
WHERE: Dawn Fraser Baths
MEN'S MATCH: 4:15pm (AEDT)
WOMEN'S MATCH: 5:30pm (AEDT)

Get excited for the return of Australia’s national water polo league and download the FREE OVO App today in three easy steps – you can watch the whole 2019 OVO Australian Waterpolo League season live.