A leading Brisbane school has won gold at the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships

The All Hallows’ School under 12 girls are the national water polo champions after a thrilling defensive shut-out this morningat Chandler.

The All Hallows’ School under 12 girls are the national water polo champions after a thrilling defensive shut-out this morningat Chandler.

All Hallows edged out SNB Breakers 3-1, producing a resolute effort with and without the ball at win the coveted AustralianYouth Water Polo Championships title.

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All Hallows goalie Charlotte Blain was named goalkeeper of the tournament in her age group and it was her save late in thefourth quarter which prevented Breakers from closing the gap and setting up a last minute cliffhanger finish.

Blain extended her left arm high to the corner after Breakers’ Sophie Dix had taken a shot.

Coach Phoebe Powell praised the composure and desperation of her team.

“In the under 12s anything can happen and it is a matter of making sure the girls are not complacent, not over excited andkeeping calm and playing our game without worrying about other teams,’’ Powell said.

She said the team’s defensive effort was excellent.

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“When we are up it is just about protecting the ball and defending well, but also not forgetting we have to attack and thatis what the girls did really well in that third quarter.’’

It was a tense final between two evenly matched teams.

All Hallows opened the scoring courtesy of Sara Connors but Dix from the Breakers hit-back to level the scores.

Blain again saved a goal in the first half while on the cusp of halftime Connors stopped a shot from Breakers’ Kiera Mironova.

Into the second half and the left handed Connors successfully scored from a penalty and All Hallows had inched ahead 2-1.

Then came the decisive goal by All Hallows’ Ellie Sefton who retrieved the ball after it had fallen favourably from her head.She quickly recovered possession to score, stretching All Hallows advantage to 3-1.

Breakers tried hard to bridge the gap but the All Hallows defence refused to yield.