SYDNEY UNI LIONS AND FREMANTLE MARLINS PRIMED FOR TOP OF THE TABLE AUSTRALIAN WATERPOLO LEAGUE CLASH

The Australian Waterpolo League reaches the pointy end this weekend, with only four rounds remaining in the regular season before the Finals Series in Sydney. Click here for tickets. 

As the competition heats up, so does the race for the top four in the Championship division.

Two teams that have their sights set on the Finals Series are the Sydney Uni Lions and Fremantle Marlins women. 

After four rounds, the Fremantle Marlins remain the only undefeated side, something Sydney Uni Lions are determined to put an end to this weekend.

“I think they are going to be very close games this weekend,” said Sydney Uni co-captain Isobelle Pamp.

“Fremantle are a very strong attacking team…we both are. I think people can expect some good goals this weekend.

“Because of that, I think it will be the team that brings the best defence that will get the win,” she said.

Sydney Uni Lions women won their last Australian Waterpolo League title in 2017, and will be looking to repeat history in 2023.

“Our plan was to go hard from the start of the season, to put ourselves in the best possible position at the end of the season,” Pamp said.

“As a team, our philosophy is and always has been about focusing on the next game…the small stepping stones before we can look at the bigger picture,” she said.

To bolster their premiership quest, Sydney Uni Lions recruited strongly in the off season, bringing in Spanish captain Anni Espar and Dutch Olympian Maud Megens.

“They bring so much more than just their experience - they are great team members and offer so much in and out of the pool,” Pamp said.

“Their playing ability speaks for itself, considering they are the two highest goal scorers in the league,” she said.

Before her team jumps into the pool this weekend, Pamp said her words of advice will be simple.

“I always take the last words in the team talk and this weekend will be no different,” Pamp said.

“I’ll be telling the girls to go hard and be confident.

“It was a massive deal having one win against Griffith University Queensland Thunder last weekend, and if we are confident again this weekend we’ll be able to pull off another win against another good team,” she said.

Fremantle Marlins’ captain Zoe Arancini said she’s excited for the challenge that lies ahead this weekend.

“They’re going to be quite close games - they [Sydney Uni] will be at full strength this weekend, as will we,” Arancini said.

“It should be an exciting weekend and tight games…they’ll be crucial ones too for us and our finals chances.

“Another two wins this weekend ensures that we’ll make the final four, which is what we’re aiming for,” she said

Arancini said the momentum they’ve built in the opening four rounds will hopefully carry into this weekend.

“Winning our first four games gives us confidence, but at the same time it’s a tough competition.

“Returning to the league this year, and playing a full season has been great. Last year was difficult for Fremantle and UWA given we were cut off from the rest of Australia.

“The league this year has seen so many quality and close games, which has made it quite interesting.

“If our team all play their role this weekend, and execute it well, then we will be successful,” she said.

Weekend three of the Australian Waterpolo League gets underway on Friday 24 March.

The KommunityTV live stream games of the weekend will feature two intense match ups between UWA Torpedoes and ACU Cronulla Sharks. CLICK HERE to find out more.

Water Polo Australia can confirm that this weekend’s scheduled men’s matches between Fremantle Mariners and Hunter Hurricanes in the AWL Southern Cross Cup, will be a forfeit by the Hurricanes. 

Due to some players from the Hurricanes being unavailable to compete across both days of competition the Hurricanes will declare a forfeit.