QAS AND NSWIS DOMINATE WOMEN’S WATER POLO NATIONAL TEAM CHALLENGE

The Queensland Academy of Sport and NSW Institute of Sport have dominated the women’s water polo National Team Challenge.

The National Team Challenge provides an opportunity for current and future Aussie Stingers to play high quality water polo.

The three weekend competition featured four teams: Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS), New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS), Australian 20&U Women, and a combined team bringing together athletes from Western Australia, Victoria, South Australia and the ACT.

Brisbane hosted the first weekend of competition, with the home state Queensland taking out top spot with an undefeated streak.

The second weekend of competition headed south to Sydney, with the home state again victorious, NSWIS winning three from three games.

Many players who have spent the season abroad returned for the final weekend of competition at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.

A tightly matched game between QAS and NSWIS was used to determine the winner of weekend three. After a 10 minute break due to the pool lights going out, the teams returned to the pool for a penalty shoot out, Tokyo Olympian Abby Andrews scoring the winning goal to seal victory for QAS.

Aussie Stingers Head Coach Paul Oberman said it was great to see so many high quality games of water polo, with the World Aquatics Championships on the horizon.

“We reintroduced the National Team Challenge to ensure our women’s program had an opportunity to keep playing high quality water polo after the conclusion of the Australian Waterpolo League season,” Oberman said.

“I am extremely happy with the tournament and the outcome, and it was great to welcome back some of our overseas squad members for the final weekend.

“With the World Championships less than six weeks away, it was crucial that the women’s program kept up the intensity, and this competition has done exactly that,” he said.

The Aussie Stingers squad will remain at the Australian Institute of Sport for a short training camp, before selection of the World Championships team in the coming weeks.

WEEKEND 1 (BRISBANE)

Winner: Queensland Academy of Sport

Top goal scorers:

• Pippa Pedley - 15 goals

• Elle Armit - 10 goals

• Anneliese Pamp - 8 goals

• Madeline Steere - 8 goals

• Dani Jackovich - 7 goals

• Matilda Moore - 6 goals

• Sophie Milliken - 6 goals

• Kasey Dalziel - 6 goals

• Olivia Mitchell - 6 goals

• Sienna Hearn - 6 goals

WEEKEND 2 (SYDNEY)

Winner: NSW Institute of Sport

Top goal scorers:

• Pippa Pedley - 11 goals

• Ruby Swadling - 10 goals

• Dani Jackovich - 6 goals

• Kasey Dalziel - 6 goals

• Olivia Mitchell - 6 goals

• Elle Armit - 6 goals

• Sienna Hearn - 6 goals

• Madeline Steere - 6 goals

• Bridget Leeson-Smith - 5 goals

• Brooke McClean - 5 goals

WEEKEND 3 (CANBERRA)

Winner: Queensland Academy of Sport

Top goal scorers:

• Tilly Kearns - 14 goals

• Alice Williams - 12 goals

• Abby Andrews - 9 goals

• Charlize Andrews - 9 goals

• Bronte Halligan - 8 goals

• Dani Jackovich - 6 goals

• Pippa Pedley - 6 goals

• Sofie Pontre - 6 goals

• Tayla Dawkins - 6 goals