NSW Teams bring home plenty of Gold, Silver & Bronze after 2018 Easter Nationals!

Photos courtesy of SPA Images

The 2018 Easter National Club Championships came to an end on Monday 2 April for the 14U & 18U age groups. Once again, NSW teams were dominate across the four championship age groups that took place over 6 days of competitions, securing 11 of 16 places in medal matches – a great week of water polo for NSW!

The 14U Girls National Championships, which was held in Albury/Wodonga, saw 25 teams flock to the southern-most point of NSW for 6 great days of polo, of which 11 were from the home state.

Going into the tournament as second seed the Sydney University Lions Blue team went through to the Gold Medal match undefeated to take on Mermaids Pink of QLD. Unfortunately, the Mermaids were too good for the Lions (9-1) with Sydney Uni coming home with the silverware. UNSW Wests Killer Whales managed to topple St Rita’s (7-5) for the Bronze.

Individual Awards: Congratualtions to Lily Frater (UNSW Wests Killer Whales) who was named Tournament MVP

Congratulations to the following NSW referees appointed to Finals matches
Gold Medal: Conor Davis
Bronze Medal: Matthias Jancic & Mark Cleland
Plate Final: Brendan Dickie & Ambrose Mills
Bowl Final: James O’Brien & Lexie White

14U Girls Nationals – Final Placings
2nd Sydney University Blue (Silver); 3rd UNSW Wests Killer Whales (Bronze); 6th ACU Cronulla Sharks; 7th Hunter Hurricanes; 8th SNB Breakers; 15th UTS Balmain Tigers; 16th Ovens & Murray; 18th Central Coast (Bowl Runner-Up); 19th Tamworth; 21st, Ryde Rhinos; 24th Sydney University Gold (Shield Runner-Up)

The 14U Boys Nationals Championships were held in Canberra (along with the 18U Boys & Girls) at both the AIS and Canberra Olympic Pool. NSW made up 13 of the 31 teams in attendance and were dominate from day one in their respective pools. The Championship final saw the undefeated Sydney University Blue take on the ACU Cronulla Sharks for the third time this season. the Lions were going for the ‘triple’ (Metro, State & National) while the Sharks wanted to get one over them at Nationals. The 4th quarter saw the Sharks come back hard and fast to within one Goal, but the Lions were too strong, taking home the National Gold 7-6.

Individual Awards: Congratulations to Harrison Miller (Sydney University Blue) who was named as Tournament MVP.

Congratulations to the following NSW referees appointed to Finals matches
Bronze Medal: James Miranda
Bowl Final: Steff Jelic & Matt Goldman
Shield Final: James Miranda

14U Boys Nationals – Final Placings
1st Sydney University Blue (Gold); 2nd ACU Cronulla Sharks (Silver); 10th Hunter Hurricanes (Plate Runner-Up); 11th SNB Breakers; 12th UNSW Wests Magpies; 13th UTS Balmain Tigers; 14th Sydney University Cubs; 15th Drummoyne Devils; 16th Tamworth; 18th Ovens & Murray (Bowl Runner-Up); 20th Central Coast; 23rd Ryde Rhinos; 29th SHWP Honey Badgers

The 18U Girls & Boys National Championships were also held in Canberra at CISAC & Gungahlin respectively with all Finals at the AIS.

In the 18U Nationals Girls competition, NSW teams took the top three seeded spots and didn’t disappoint at the pointy end of the competition, with top 4 positions being and all NSW affair! Tournament favourites and undefeated SNB Breakers found their way into the Gold Medal match to take on the lower ranked but silent assassins Sydney Uni. The Breakers were too strong, downing the Lions 5-2 in the Finals. In the Bronze, top-seeded UNSW Wests Killer Whales took on a persistence Drummoyne Devils, but were able to silence them to take home the bronze 6-3.

The 18U National Boys competition had a few more surprises when tournament favourites UNSW Wests Magpies just weren’t able to do enough to secure a semi-final place and finished just outside in overall 5th. Strong and consistent games paid dividends for the Drummoyne Devils as they fought their way into the semi-finals. They found themselves on the other side but managed to walk away victors with the National Bronze. Early losses for Sydney University seemed to work in their favour as the win’s that mattered got them through to the semi-finals, only to be toppled by the eventual National Championships and by Drummoyne Devils to finish 4th overall. With only 2 early losses, the ACU Cronulla Sharks swam their way into the Championship group and stayed there, with two big wins over Melville (8-3) and Drummoyne (6-1) to secure their place in the Champiosnhips Final against the UWA City Beach Bears. A team full of class and a gutsy finals performance saw the Sharks take the Silver medal back to the Shire after a tough fought Nationals - congratulations!

Girls Individual Awards: Congratualtions to Lily Hawthorn (Sydney University) who was named Tournament MVP Goal Keeper, to Halyley Ballesty (SNB Breakers) who was bames as Tournament MVP, and to Kate Hughes (Hunter Hurricanes) who was awarded the Think.Act.Play Sportsmanship medal.

Boys Individual Awards: Congratualtions to Hayden Molla (ACU Cronulla Sharks) who was named Tournament MVP Goal Keeper.

Congratulations to the following NSW referees appointed to Finals matches
Girls Plate Final: Gail Salter
Boys Gold Medal: David Gerrie
Boys Bronze Medal: Liam Ireland

18U Girls Nationals – Final Placings
1st SNB Breakers (Gold); 2nd Sydney University (Silver); 3rd UNSW Wests Killer Whales (Bronze); 4th Drummoyne Devils; 7th UTS Balmain Tigers; 8th Hunter Hurricanes

18U Boys Nationals – Final Placings
2nd ACU Cronulla Sharks (Silver); 3rd Drummoyne Devils (Bronze); 4th Sydney University; 5th UNSW Wests Magpies; 10th UTS Balmain Tigers (Plate Runner-Up); 13th Hunter Hurricanes