Water Polo Finals Week Update
After two days of initial finals round play, both Fremantle National Water Polo League Teams have remained unscathed and still in the finals hunt.
The Fremantle Marlins have won both games and are in the Semi finals to be played on Friday.They looked very convincing in their win over minor premiers Balmain in yesterdays game.
WAIS men’s water polo coach, Paul Oberman is in Sydney and said the men’s Mariners team showed solid improvement as finals week unfolds.
“The Fremantle Mariners had a sluggish start, mainly due to not playing a competition game for nearly a month, but fired uplast nightfor an improved performance and commanding win over Sydney University, Oberman said.”WAIS athlete Jamie Beadsworth showed exceptional skills in last night’s game scoring 5 or 6 goals, whilst James Stanton (WAIS goalkeeper) has played very well so far.The boys play the KFC Breakers tonight for a spot in the semis.”
The Marlins were first to hit the water. In a clash of two teams with a lot of history at this level, Fremantle was the team making the waves and commanding the leading position.
Fremantle’s rattling start and second-quarter dominance proved crucial to the victory, gaining direct entry to Friday’s semifinals, along with Sealevel Croa Sharks.
Even when star WAIS-AIS athlete Gemma Beadsworth was ejected on three major fouls in the third quarter, Fremantle still maintained the pressure with Katie Finucane working tirelessly in centre forward while Glencora Ralph (WAIS-AIS) was deadly accurate with her outside shooting.
Balmain never gave up but when Jemma Dessauvagie, Balmain’s main centre back, gained her third major foul midway through the fourth, the game stalled in favour of Fremantle.
Balmain’s loss means that it will clash with VICI Brisbane Barracudas in tomorrow’s elimination final to make the semifinals.
In the men’s clash between Fremantle and Sydney, the Mariners started the way they wanted to finish – scoring three goals on the first three attacks.
The game was an excellent spectacle but Fremantle was always going to win.
In the latter stages, there was some classic play and some wonderful action from massive centre forward Luis Crus, from Cuba.
He gained an ejection and a superb turn to spray the goal in the first half and had trouble with Fremantle goalkeeper James Stanton on counter-attack and cherry picking. His tangles with Tim Cleland were also worthy of Hollywood.
Both teams play elimination finals tomorrow with Fremantle to take on the KFC Queensland Breakers and the Lions in a contest with Drummoyne Devils.
– with Water Polo Australia
