Water Polo replays: Grand final day - part 1
The first of two grand final days of action have been run and won. WATCH ALL THE REPLAYS HERE
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The first of two grand final days of action have been run and won - all livestreamed at www.couriermail.com.au.
The titles are being staged in two parts - with today featuring under 12s and under 16s.
SCROLL DOWN FOR TODAY’S REPLAYS
Part two starts on Friday with the under 14s, under 18s, open matches continuing until January 25, when grand finals will again be livestreamed at couriermail.com.au and on News’ affiliates.
RELATED LINKS
To watch replays of any of our livestream action, look for the story that is hosting the streams on the day, late in the day.
When the headline changes from WATCH LIVE to WATCH THE REPLAYS, all replays have been attached.
Or find our livestream hub here.
THE GRAND FINALS
MERMAIDS PINK v ALL HALLOWS’ SCHOOL
UNDER 16 GIRLS
(WATCH THE REPLAY IN THE MEDIA PLAYER ABOVE)
Arguably Australia’s most successful sporting team has done it again, with the Mermaids Pink under 16 water polo claiming another state title at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre tonight.
Mermaids stretched its unbeaten run to six years across club, state and national titles events after beating All Hallows’ School that never caved in despite trailing early.
The team is coached by Lance and Nicola Johnson, a husband and wife team who started the club in 2014-15.
What started as a group of seven or eight girls merely looking for quality training has turned into a junior sport powerhouse.
Lance Johnson said the most impressive thing about the side is their attitude.
He said “we beat a lot of teams by a lot of goals’’ but when they come up against a good team like All Hallows, the team’s strong attitude comes fo the fore.
“We had a plan and we stuck to the plan,’’ he added.
Things went to plan for Mermaids despite the best efforts of a spirited All Hallows.
Mermaids led 5-nil after being helped along by an Olivia Muir double, then Lousia Downes added Mermaid’s seventh and eight goals.All Hallows dug deep.
Trailing 5-0 the side was heartened by Lucy Hales’ goal, and after threatening several times Grace Gallagher found the back of the net as well.
All Hallows’ defence also displayed great tenacity and spirit which was a credit to the girls’ and coaching staff.
The win was a grand finish to a fantastic day for Mermaids.
So dominant was Mermaids that in today’s finals the club was represented in four of the five finals - including the club’s under 12 boys (Mantas).
Mantas coach Toby Fitzgerald praised Nicola and Lance Johnson. “What they have been able to put together is incredible and it is great to be a part of,’’ he said.
BARRACUDAS v KAWANA
UNDER 16 BOYS
The Brisbane Barracudas overcame the loss to star goalie Declan Brady to beat a big-hearted Kawana 12-7 in the under 16 boys grand final tonight.
Brady withdrew from the state titles after a blood clot was discovered in his shoulder.
While he is resting comfortably and on the road to recovery, the squad is upset for their mate.
Downes praised his team’s ability to battle through adversity and also the brave effort of stand-in goalie Marcus Moncur.
“It was a massive ask, we had to step up and help him out,’’ said Barras coach Will Downes.
Barracudas positioned itself within sight of the title with a convincing first half performance, and then their goalie Moncur was called upon for some game saving efforts in the second half.
After Barras (James De Stefani) and Kawana (Matt Schuil) traded early goals, Barras settled first.
Barras established a 3-1 first quarter lead, and then a 7-1 advantage late in the second quarter after goals to Noah Glifford, Tom Brentnall, Bill Fairley, Jack French.
But slowly, surely, Kawana inched their way back and with four minutes remaining they had reduced the margin to 10-6 and with two minutes left it was 10-7.
“It was a bit tighter than I wanted it to be, but it was a good first three quarters,’’ said Downes.
“Kawana rallied back in the fourth and it was up to us to stop their run, and we did.’’
Kawana were given heart on the stroke of halftime when Matt Bonser scored, trailing 7-2 at the break.
Barras then struck first in the vital third quarter and it seemed a long way back for Kawana despite the Sunshine Coast-based club striking back almost immediately to make it 8-3 after Brin Watson scored.
A superb save by Barras goalie Marcus Moncur was then needed to repel Kawana’s Joshua Eyles in the third quarter, although Kawana’s Matt Bonser scored soon after.
With the scores at 10-7, Moncur again made a grand save just two minutes from fulltime and Barras needed every bit of his skill to keep Kawana at arm’s length.
UNDER 12 GIRLS
With Chloe Barrett finishing superbly, Mermaids placed one hand on the under 12 gold medal by establishing a 5-nil led by halftime before winning 5-1.
All Hallows’ School rallied gallantly after halftime, scoring the only goal of the second period of play courtesy of Charlotte Brown.
Indeed Mermaids’ goalie Jessica Wiley was forced to make two goal saving saves late in the fourth quarter, such was All Hallows’ rallying effort.
But the better side won.
“They just played really well as a team,’’ said winning Mermaids coach Jules Astone.
“They don’t want to let any goals in, every player has played their part to get us here and they are just great mates,’’ he praised.
Barrett opened the scoring for Mermaids and scored a second time with seconds to the halftime break, while match MVP Poppy Lochran also scored twice for the winners.
Lochran’s her second goal came after lovely teamwork from Georgia Green.
Mermaid’s fifth goal of the first half came courtesy of Madeline Knight, while Mermaids’ goalie Wiley was forced to make a sharp one-handed save after All Hallows threatened.
MANTAS v BARRACUDAS
UNDER 12 BOYS
A hat-trick from Archie Rogers helped put Mantas on the road to a 8-2 state title victory.
Rogers, named MVP, scored in the first, second and third quarters for Mantas to give his side a 6-2 advantage entering the final term.
Barras’ Joshua Lambert broke Mantas scoring run with a late third quarter goal, but Mantas were on track to victory and went on with the job.
Coach Toby Fitzgerald said he was proud of the team and their selfless manner.
“They have an ability to look to someone else to pass to in order to get the goal,’’ Fitzgerald said.
“It has become the mantra of what we did throughout this tournament and they really hit the nail on the head.’’
Earlier, it was a frenetic start to the boys 12 years grand final, with Mantas rising 2-1 marginally above their rivals to lead at quarter time.
Tom Elliott and Rogers scored for Mantas, while Henry Mellick emerged out of the pack of players to shine for Barras.
Mellick scored one goal, then watched his classy backhanded effort denied by brilliant reflex goalkeeping from Mantas’ Finn Collins.
UNDER 16 GIRLS (WHITE DIVISION)
Mermaids Rose v Mermaids White
It was a thrill-a-minute start to a free-flowing final, with Mermaids White ending the first quarter 4-2 leaders.
Pia Hatzipetrou, Astrid Thomas, Jazmyn Green and Dasha Osadchuk found the back of the net for the early leaders, with goalkeeper Osadchuk leaving her goals to score with a shot from near halfway.
First quarter scorers for Mermaids Rose were Circe Ware and Abbey Moten.
The white side then progressively asserted itself on the scoreboard, scoring an additional three goals in the second quarter to lead 7-2 through Lauren McInally, Meg Nasser and Emily Hourigan.
The match eventually came to rest with Mermaids White winning 11-2.
BRONZE MEDAL PLAY-OFFS
In bronze medal action, the North Brisbane Polo Bears under 16 girls defeated Rockhampton in the white competition, while in the 16 years maroons playoff for third, Barracudas defeated a gallant St Rita’s.
In the boys 16 years semi-final, the Sunshine Coast gold team beat North Brisbane Polo Bears to claim the bronze.
In under 12 action, St Rita’s girls enjoyed bronze medal success against the Barracudas, while in the boys’ clash, Sunshine Coast defeated North Brisbane Polo Bears.
LIVESTREAM SCHEDULE
Thursday
Under 12 Girls: 2:30pm - Mermaids Pink v All Hallows’ School
Under 12 Boys: 3:30pm - Mantas v Barracudas
Under 16 Girls White: 4:30pm - Mermaids Rose v Mermaids White
Under 16 Boys: 5:30pm - Kawana v Barras Green
Under 16 Girls Maroon: 6:30pm - Mermaids Pink v All Hallows’ School
January 25
Under 14 Boys Maroon: 12:00pm
Under 14 Girls Maroon: 12:50pm
Under 18 Girls White: 1:40pm
Under 18 Boys: 2:40pm
Under 18 Girls Maroon: 3:40pm
Under 14 Boys White: 4:40pm
Under 14 Girls White: 5:30pm
Open Boys: 6:20pm
Open Girls: 7:20pm
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