Brisbane Barras under 14 boys water polo team lost its Australian Youth final today to Collegians

The Brisbane Barracudas under 14 boys water polo team were beaten by a better side, the Melbourne Collegians, in this morning’s Australian Youth Water Polo Championships gold medal match at Chandler.

The Brisbane Barracudas under 14 boys water polo team were beaten by a better side, the Melbourne Collegians, in this morning’s Australian Youth Water Polo Championships gold medal match at Chandler.

Collegians won 10-3, running away with the match in the second half after Barras had closed the gap to 3-1 by halftime.

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Barras’ coach Will Downes said his side did extremely well to come through the hard side of the draw and claim a silver medal after finishing 13th at the nationals in 2019.

“There was progress. A lot of the boys out there played last year and they are just getting better and better,’’ Downes said.

The Brisbane Barracudas under 14 boys with silver medals.

He said the squad would have learned so much being in the pool for the gold medal game.

“They were playing against big, strong boys who know how to play the game, who play the game as good as they do.

“Melbourne played really well and we lacked a bit, but we will fix it up. They (Melbourne) were very good.’’

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Downes said his team’s defence had improved across the tournament.

“Unfortunately it was not too good today, but it has been really good throughout the tournament,’’ he said.

Melbourne were on the board early through Pat Healy and Nicholas Mordes, and then again in the second quarter when Lachlan McNeill found the back of the goal.

THe winning Melbourne Collegians

But Barras actually had three distinct scoring chances, including a deflected shot into the right post and a swatted attempt from a pass. However, the Melbourne goalie was too good.

Barras’ morale was boosted just before halftime when Hugo Buller scored the first of his two goals.

Early in the second half Barras’ Jack Johannesen took a big shot from the outside, but again the Melbourne goal was up to the task.

Brisbane Barracudas versus Melbourne Collegians

Collegians response was decisive when Daniel Magasanik took a big wind up to score. Indeed Magasanik resembled a wind mill, so many times did he wind the ball above his right shoulder, before launching to score.

Into the third quarter and Melbourne expertly swept into six on five attacks and produced two more goals – to Mordes and Magasanik - and it was a bridge too far for Barras.

Blake Jennison got himself on the score sheet late for Barras.