WA Make Strong Start to Water Polo U20 Champs

Published On: 12 May 2015

Coach Georgina Kovacs addresses her players at the U20 Championships in Sydney

The Western Australian U20 men’s and women’s squads have made successful starts to their national championship campaigns in Sydney.

The women’s squad – coached by WAIS coach Georgina Kovacs – recorded a hard fought 12-8 win over New Zealand, whilst the men’s team eased to a 22-13 win over New South Wales.

WAIS scholarship holder Jessica Zimmerman hit a hattrick in the women’s win over New Zealand, with fellow scholarship holders Dayna O’Leary (two), Kate Abbey-Wardale (one) and Pia Rodgers (one) also on the score sheet.

Western Australia had led by as much as four goals in the first half of the game, with the score reaching 5-1 early in the second period, before New Zealand turned the game around to only trail by two (7-5) at the main break.

An even third quarter saw both sides convert three goals apiece, before the Western Australians kept New Zealand scoreless in the final term whilst scoring two of their own to secure the points.

The WA men’s side proved far too strong for the NSW Waratahs, piling on 22 goals to earn a first up win in Sydney.

Fraser Smith and Jordan Kremers-Taylor both featured prominently with Smith scoring six and Kremers-Taylor five, with hauls to fellow WAIS athletes Andrew Ford (four) and Will Mackay (three).

The Championships continue through to this weekend at the SOPAC facility in Sydney.