Mariners Snare Prize Catch in NWPL Finals

The Fremantle Mariners caused a major upset in the opening match of finals week in the National Water Polo League in Sydney, defeating the previously unbeaten Victorian Tigers 7-4.

The Mariners upstaged the previously undefeated Tigers after producing a spirited effort in defence.

Mariners’ keeper and WAIS scholarship athlete Ed Slade was a standout helping to restrict the Tigers’ three main shooters – Sam McGregor, Scott Carpenter and Dan Lawrence – to just one goal.

James Fannon and import Marko Bratic both bagged first half doubles to give Fremantle a 4-2 lead, before WAIS athlete Joel Swift and Jarrod Gilchrist extended that advantage at three quarter time.

The Tigers continued to fight and found hope through James Woods, but when ex-Tiger Gilchrist netted his second of the game the match was all but over.

Star keeper Slade said it was a great feeling to knock off the minor premiers and credited his teammates for making his job easier in defence.

“We played against the Tigers recently and got a good idea of how they score. We’ve been working on that and tried to force them into shooting where we wanted them,” Slade said.

“That made it a lot easier for me to predict where the ball was and I was able to make some good saves and it’s fantastic to get the win.”

In the women’s draw, the Fremantle Marlins began their finals campaign with a spirited performance to vanquish the Croa Sharks 9-5.

A three goal haul to dual Olympian Gemma Beadsworth and teammate Zoe Arancini (WAIS) helped the Longmont Fremantle Marlins to a 9-5 victory over the Croa Sharks.

The Marlins pinched a break late in the first term to lead 2-1, before going on a four goal blitz in the second quarter thanks to a double to Beadsworth.

Croa stormed back in third with Nicola Zagame bagging a hat-trick to reduce the margin to three, but a strike to Kellie Parkes and another to Arancini early in the fourth all but sealed the deal.

Marlins coach David Neesham was happy with the girls’ performance and said it was important to get the opening result.

“We’re very happy to win. Croa knocked us off in the semi-finals last year. We’ll be happy with any win we can get,” Neesham said.

– Water Polo Australia