Western Australian teams have suffered finals defeats in both the men’s and women’s gold medal matches of the 2013 Australian National Water Polo League.
UWA, competing in its first final since 1996, was outclassed 10-5 by a red hot Victorian Tigers side in the men’s match, whilst the Fremantle Marlins were headed by the Brisbane Barracudas, who claimed their fourth title in five years with a 10-7 success.
The Tigers led from start to finish to ruin UWA’s Cinderella story that saw them begin the year as long shots to make the final six before going on to finish within one win of the club’s maiden national crown.
The two teams fought out the inaugural National League title 24 seasons ago, a two game gold medal series won by a solitary goal on aggregate by the Tigers – but today was never that close.
A 5-0 head start to the Victorian outfit that finished the regular season with a 22-0 record was always going to be a tough ask, but UWA held its own in the second half, with young WAIS scholarship holder George Ford again impressing.
The Fremantle Mariners side claimed the bronze medal, following a 13-9 win over the Brisbane Barracudas men’s side, with WAIS athletes Joel Swift (four goals) and Tim Cleland (three) both pivotal.
In the women’s showpiece event, the Brisbane Barracudas were on fire in the first quarter with three time Olympian Kate Gynther leading by example with two spectacular finishes – the second coming off a blistering counter attack set up by star keeper Kelsey Wakefield.
Madeline Coburn, Ash Southern and Nanda Stoltz then pitched in with one each to hand the Barrucudas a five goal term, with Ebony Neesham providing the only avenue to goal for the Marlins.
Neither team found a breakthrough early in second with both defences working well. Wakefield continue her strong game making a series of fine saves, before the Marlins’ attacking pressure shone through earning consecutive extra man opportunities.
Neesham landed her second after a sweeping five on six play saw her convert from the right pocket, with Gemma Beadsworth flicking home from centre forward after a post pass from Neesham.
That did little to stop the Barracudas momentum though, with Hannah Robinson, Jamie Lee Lewis and Southern combining for three straight goals to give Brisbane an 8-3 lead at half time.
Fremantle started to get the better of the Barracudas in the third term and had a number of chances to reduce the margin, but Wakefield pulled out consecutive one on one saves to deny the Western Australians.
It was a constant sight in the second half with Wakefield thwarting dozens of Fremantle attacks in what was a classy display. Her fantastic work paid dividends in attack with Bronte Colenso netting a double and Gynther scoring her third to give Brisbane a 10-4 advantage.
The fourth quarter was a mere formality with the Barracudas netting one goal on their way to a memorable win. WAIS athlete and 2012 London Olympian Glencora Ralph did provide some late resistance netting three straight goals to put the Barracudas on edge, but Robinson’s second capped off fantastic performance.
– Water Polo Australia
