Torpedoes Make History

It was the final no one predicted, yet it delivered the biggest finish, with the UWA Torpedoes winning a maiden National League title via a penalty shoot-out win (13-11) over the Victorian Seals in Melbourne last Sunday.

Both the Torpedoes and Seals dominated their semi-finals, toppling the top two sides from the year to book their spot in the final.

It was an even match-up between the teams with the Seals coming out strong to score the first goal in the opening minutes through captain Matt Gronow.

But the Torpedoes didn’t let them get too far away, trailing by no more than a single goal throughout the entire game.

The Torpedoes fought back to take the lead in the dying seconds of the final quarter, but with two seconds left on the clock, the Seals netted a dramatic equalizer to force the game into a penalty shoot-out after an 8-8 full-time score-line.

The Torpedoes got an early break when captain Luke Quinlivan saved Seals skipper Matt Gronow’s penalty.

Quinlivan revealed he’d spotted some form, in the Seals’ earlier shoot-out success over Croa.

“I watched Victoria against Croa in their penalty shoot-out and I saw the way Matthew Gronow took his penalty,” he said.

“I’d seen him take his penalties like that previously in the season so I bated him and jumped to the top right corner hoping he’d go there because that’s his most comfortable shot… and he did,” Quinlivan said.

As goal keeper, Quinlivan was always going to be influential, but he had to overcome a small issue just to ensure he lasted the distance.

“My team physio and team mate Brett McGhie had to help me get a cramp out of my leg, so I was a little bit nervous.

“I never thought we were home until the final siren sounded.  The closest we’ve ever come, is runner up in 1996 and 2013.  What can I say? I’m absolutely stoked,” he said.

The 2016 National Water Polo League had returned to Melbourne for the first time in more than 25 years and the Victorian Seals were hoping for the fairy-tale ending following what had been an amazing finals campaign run for the home team.

“That can only do good things for our sport when you have a final like that, it’s disappointing but I’m proud of the guys, we can hold our head up high we made it to the Final, we had an amazing crowd, an amazing game,” said Seals captain Matt Gronow.

WAIS scholarship athlete Andrew Ford was named Tom Hoad Medallist for his performances over the finals series, capped by converting three goals for the Torpedoes in their grand final win.

Ford was joined in action by his brother George, who himself is a national team representative and in firm contention for Rio Olympic selection. Fellow WAIS athletes Lachlan Pethick and Nicholas Hughes along with current train-on athletes Tom Powell and Tim Rigoll were also a member of the victorious Torpedoes squad.

In the women’s competition, the Fremantle Marlins missed out on third place, after losing 9-6 to the Croa Sharks.

WAIS athlete Gemma Beadsworth hit a hattrick in the Marlins’ defeat and was named – along with fellow WAIS scholarship athlete Glencora McGhie – in the NWPL All Stars team.

In the gold medal match, Sydney University Lions defeated 2015 champions the Brisbane Barracudas 12-8.

-WaterPoloAus