Water polo Queensland Country Championships Sunday finals livestreamed
Enjoy replays of the four finals of the Water Polo Queensland’s Country Championships. Gold Coast claimed two gold medals, while there were also two bronze medal games. WATCH REPLAYS HERE
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The Water Polo Queensland’s Country Championships were held this weekend, with the four finals livestreamed here.
We now have replays of those matches, played at Milne Bay Aquatic Centre, available to watch in this article.
HOW IT UNFOLDED
BRONZE MEDAL MEN
SUNSHINE COAST v SUNSHINE COAST WOLVES
The Sunshine Coast Wolves claimed the men’s bronze medal 13-10 after a willing bout this morning.
Wolves got a fly-start to lead 5-1, were then pegged back by the Sunshine Coast, only to progress again in the vital third quarter to establish a 11-7 advantage.
Back-to-back goals by Sunshine Coast set the scene for a grandstand finish late in the fourth quarter, but Wolves held on in the last 50 seconds.
After both team’s traded goals – by Seth Burrows (Wolves) and Joey O’Brien (Sunshine Coast) – early in the third quarter, the Wolves inched ahead.
A wonderful team goal by the Sunshine Coast’s Simon Daley four minutes from full-time cut Wolves’ advantage to 11-8, but young Josh Eyles stood tall to deliver and Wolves were almost home, leading 12-8.
“The Sunshine Coast region is pretty strong and you will see that today with three out of the four medal games involving the Sunny Coast in some way,’’ said Wolves representative goalkeeper Matt Lenarduzzi.
“It is a good region, a different style of play as well, and it has been strong since I was playing.
“And it is good to get a bit of rivalry going between the coast regions between Kawana and Coast region.’’
The Sunshine Coast swung the match around later in the first quarter and through the second quarter by outscoring Wolves 4-2, but still trailed 7-5 at halftime.
Joey O’Brien and Dylan Coolican were focal points as Sunny Coast dished it up to their rivals.
But two smart goals from Zac Hudson, one from a lovely Seth Burrows pass and another off a penalty shot, ensured Wolves kept their noses in front.
Earlier, Wolves led 5-2 at the end of the first quarter, with Hudson opening the scoring for Wolves with a lovely tap on after a deft pass by Jordan Sheterline.
Hudson then added another courtesy of Hudson following a penalty shot, but in between Hudson’s goals, the Sunshine Coast got on the board when No. 3 Joey O’Brien beat the keeper with his throw.
However it was 3-1 when Wolves’ Seth Burrows steadied and bounced the ball beyond the keeper’s reach, and then 5-1 when Tars Majoro scored.
The promising Joshua Eyles then nailed the shot of the game from a wide angle on the right hand side, making it 4-1, but importantly Louis Brenner found the back of the net for Sunshine Coast just before the break.
SUNSHINE COAST DEVELOPMENT V CAIRNS
BRONZE MEDAL WOMEN
The Cairns Reef Sharks snared a bronze medal this morning with a 7-5 win after a superlative performance from Jacqui Sjogren.
Sjogren stunned the Sunshine Coast early with a succession of goals, then in the sprint to the home post in the final quarter rose again to inch Cairns marginally in front of the Coast.
It was a fantastic final, and when the Coast’s Francesca Earp closed the gap to 6-5, the Sunshine Coast threatened to draw level.
But Sjogren gave Cairns more breathing space as a tight tussle to the final whistle unfolded.
Sjogren praised her teammates for giving her opportunities.
“They were really good at giving me some options and getting the ball free for me.
“We have all had a good time, so it was good to come away with the medal.’’
Sunshine Coast set up an exciting finish with a two goal third quarter effort while keeping Cairns scoreless.
The 5-2 scoreline in favour of Cairns became 5-4 entering the final quarter after Rebecca Simmons and Claire Hu found the back of the net.
The match went up a gear in intensity during this period of play, setting the scene for a desperate race to the full time siren
Sjogren was magnificent in the early stages for her side, scoring all four goals as the coast established a 3-0 and then 4-1 advantage over their rivals.
But after being shell shocked by Sjogren, Sunshine Coast worked its way back into the match and when Juliette Painter scored toward halftime, they had reduced Sunny Coast’s advantage to 5-2.
Camille Reed from the Cairns scored her team’s fifth goal.
The respective goal keepers then produced magnificent saves in the third quarter, which must have lifted the both teams, such was their desperation.
GOLD MEDAL MEN
SUNSHINE COAST FBRD v GOLD COAST
There will be just a little bit more gold on the Gold Coast tonight after the city’s open men’s water polo team claimed top prize at the Queensland country championships staged in Toowoomba.
Gold Coast beat the Sunshine Coast 14-9 in an excellent performance despite Sunny Coast finishing with a flurry of goals.
With goalkeeper Flynn O’Neill outstanding at one end of the pool, the Gold Coast were able to create enough scoring opportunities across the game.
Gold Coast captain Luke Ingwersen said he was most impressed with the team’s evolving cohesion across the competition.
“We played together and we wanted to play for each other,’’ he said.” It is good from the first game to the last game that the team evolved so well.’’
He said the Sunshine Coast-Gold Coast rivalry was a healthy one and it was good for the tournament to have a different winner in 2021.
“If you win it every year it takes the edges of the competition, and the same if you lose.
“We won it this year and I am sure they will try and do something to get it off us next year.’’
A pile driving third quarter effort, which saw successive goals to focal point Jasa Kadivec, Jared Devries and Luke Ingwersen lifted their side to high ground, leading 11-5 entering the final quarter.
The Gold Coast then scored the first and second goals of the last quarter and they were almost home.
The signs were good early for Gold Coast when trio Noah Salter, Kadivec (twice) and Dylan Button scored in the second quarter.
The Gold Coast came out of the blocks with three first quarter goals.
Sunshine Coast FBRD got on the board when Liam Jones found the back of the net as both teams settled into the clash.
Full marks for the manner in which Sunshine Coast finished the game.
GOLD MEDAL WOMEN
SUNSHINE COAST v GOLD COAST
The best was saved until last as the Gold Coast pipped Sunshine Coast in the women’s gold medal thriller.
Caroline Zanussi scored the winner 1.19 minutes from fulltime to break a 5-all deadlock.
It was ever so close for the Sunshine Coast, with two lob shots in the closing stages hitting the cross bars.
Jess Lundgren and Cose Winter both tried the deft shots over the top of the keeper without luck, then the Gold Coast nailed the winning coach.
“It is always a tough game against Sunshine Coast,’’ said Gold Coast captain Peta Schulte.
“They are arch rivals and we know how each other play. It was always going to come down to the wire.
“We are lucky to be going back-to-back.’’
She said the side came together as a team when it counted most and stuck to the game plan.
“We remained composed and fought it out to the end.’’
Sunshine Coast captain Lily Merlo said it was a great game worthy of a decider.
She believed her side became flustered but said it was still a great effort by the Sunshine Coast across the tournament.
Defence dominated the match, with both team’s spoiling countless scoring opportunities in a game that ebbed and flowed.
Sunshine Coast entered the last quarter with their nose in front leading 5-4 after Lundgren had scored a double and Winter a goal.
But Jackie Lewis scored for Gold Coast and it was tied up again at 5-all.
There was not a struck match in the clash and it was edge of the seat stuff entering the last quarter.
Both goalkeepers also played their part, with Lily Merlo (Sunshine Coast) and Mikayla Thomas (Gold Coast) outstanding.
Earlier, both teams seemed a little apprehensive in the opening quarter, where the Gold Coast shaded Sunshine Coast 3-2.
After the sides traded goals, Gold Coast pair Sam Firrell and Peta Schulte scored back-to-back goals before Sunshine Coast’s Jess Lundgren struck.
KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH THROUGHOUT THE TOURNAMENT
WOMEN
Kaitlin Brownhill (Cairns), Jacqueline Sjogren (Cairns), Kelsey Wakefield (Gold Coast Gold)
Peta Schulte (Gold Coast Gold), Paige Black (Gold Coast White), Matilda Moore (Rockhampton), Lillian Merlo (Sunshine Coast), Paris Bromfield (Sunshine Coast), Katelyn Sheterline (Sunshine Coast), Tiana Sogaard-Andersen (Sunshine Coast), Jessica Lungdren (Sunshine Coast), Mia Freeman (Sunshine Coast Development).
MEN
Jesse O’Hara (Cairns), Cameron Wallace (Cairns), Jasa Kadivec (Gold Coast Gold), Alexander Paterson (Longhorns), John Campbell (Mackay), Joseph O’Brien (Sunshine Coast), Louis Brunner (Sunshine Coast), Dylan Coolican (Sunshine Coast), Kai Majoros (Sunshine Coast FBRD), Patrick Flanagan (Sunshine Coast FBRD), Tora Majoros (Sunshine Coast FBRD),
Liam Johns (Sunshine Coast FBRD), Steele Gribble (Sunshine Coast FBRD), Matt Lenarduzzi (Sunshine Coast Wolves), Zac Hudson (Sunshine Coast Wolves), Simon Daley (Sunshine Coast Wolves), Joshua Eyles (Sunshine Coast Wolves)
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