Water Polo Queensland state titles grand final day livestreamed
It’s been a big day of water polo as the state title grand final games played out. See the winners here.
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Grand final action from the Queensland Water Polo state titles were being livestreamed today and tonight at www.couriermail.com.au and News affiliates, including the Gold Coast Bulletin and Sunshine Coast Daily
The nine under 14s, under 18s, open match deciders were being played following four days of preliminary rounds on the Gold Coast.
UNDER 14 BOYS, BARRAS v POLO BEARS
The grand finals were off to a rollicking start in the boys 14 years when the Barracudas Green side confronted North Brisbane Polo Bears.
Six goals rained down in the opening quarter of the game, with Barras leading at every change to win 12-6.
The vital third quarter scored the team goal of the match finished by Joseph Cervetto (Barras), while the individual goal of the game was claimed by North Brisbane Polo Bears Jack Plowman.
The decisive period came in the third quarter when Barras established a 11-6 advantage and despite Lachlan McMaster’s late goal, Barras were positioned to win.
Polo Bears rallied in the final quarter to restrict Barras to just one goal, while in a losing side goalie Markart was mighty both defending his goal and coming out into the field to score.
Appropriately Markart was named most valuable goal keeper across the tournament.
Barras coach Darcy Moreland said he was most pleased with team work in the grand final.
RELATED LINKS
GRAND FINAL REPLAYS, UNDER 12s, UNDER 16s
“We have some exceptional players but in every game it has been somebody else’s turn, so I really liked how solid we are as a unit,’’ Moreland said.
“They work for the best option, not the selfish one which is all you can ask for.’’
Earlier, Barras led 4-2 after the first quarter, hitting the bullseye twice early through Sam Eyles and Sean Bright, the MVP of the final.
But Polo Bears got on the board early when Jack Plowman scored.
Two nice saves by Polo Bears goalie Tian Markart prevented another goal, although Connor Clifford made it 3-1 to Barras soon after.
A shot by Polo Bears Will Plowman then his the cross bar, but from the rebound Barras swept play down field for Joseph Gallagher to score.
However, with 38 seconds remaining in the opening quarter, Markart reduced Polo Bears’ lead to 4-2.
In the bronze medal game, Sunshine Coast (Gold) defeated Mantas 8-4.
“As a regional team, I thought the biggest positives were we got better and better as the tournament went on,’’ Sunshine Coast coach Dean Carselse said.
“The kids are still young. It is an awesome age group where there are lots of Queensland representatives in every team, so it is good for the future of this division. I am really proud of the boys.’’
UNDER 14 GIRLS
MERMAIDS V BARRAS
The Mermaids club added another piece of silverware to the club’s growing trophy cabinet by claiming the under 14 girls state title from Barras.
With Talia Bellette a focal point, Mermaids skipped to a 4-nil first quarter advantage, expanded that lead to 7-1 by halftime and entered the final quarter leading 9-2.
Bellette scored four goals in an excellent team performances against a dogger Barras which refused to let Mermaids get away from them despite Mermaids first quarter fly-start.
Cosette Cooke and Emma Moore got on the scoreboard for Barras in the second and third quarters.
It was the second state title coaching effort by Mermaids coach Jules Astone after success with the girls 12 years side last Thursday.
“This team been together for three years and never lost a game,’’ he said.
“They are state champs, reigning national champs and they just play a mature game.
“There are people on the sideline who say these girls play well beyond their years.
“They have been together and they are a tight unit.’’
In the bronze medal match, Brisbane Girls Grammar School claimed the bronze medal with a thrilling 6-5 win over North Brisbane Polo Bears.
The BGGS goalie withstood tremendous pressure from a fast finishing Polo Bears to ensure her side claimed the bronze.
There was more good news for BGGS when Astrid Thomas was named MVP of the age group.
UNDER 18 GIRLS (WHITE)
MERMAIDS (Rose) v SUNSHINE COAST (Gold)
A sensational goal by Mermaids Rose player Isabelle McGuire from beyond the halfway mark helped Mermaids Rose to a state title gold medal against a gallant Sunshine Coast (Gold) side.
Sunshine Coast had inched their way back into the match with successive goals to cut the deficit from 7-1 to 7-3 when McGuire struck on the stroke of the third quarter siren.
It was a special moment in a tight grand final that made all the difference in a game won 10-4.
Mermaids skipped away to a 7-1 advantage after a successive of goals from McGuire, Sienna Owen (2), Olivia Muir, Claire McCulloch and Tanna-Lai Hornung.
But down 7-1 into the third quarter, Sunshine Coast refused to give up and got back to 8-4 early into the last quarter.
Goals by Sophie Gabriel and Lucy Wolfenden helped Sunshine Coast along.
A Mermaids official said she was proud of how the side came together given they were an under 14 side playing up in an older age group.
Runners-up coach Troy Park said he was delighted with the effort of the silver medal winning Sunshine Coast outfit.
“For me it has been how the girls have come together as a team,’’ Park said.
“They supported each other and had self belief.’’He said after slipping behind 7-1, his side showed great fight.
“We went in at quarter time (behind). It was not the best start for us but we kept on fighting.’’
Kawana coach Tora Majoros, whose team finished third, was delighted with the manner in which his side developed across the competition.
“They got better and better each game,’’ he said.
“They always wanted to get better, they were always talking to each other and grew as a team and by the end of it they were basically a family.’’
UNDER 18 BOYS
BARRAS v RIVER CITY
Brisbane Barracudas claimed the under 18 state title with a hard fought victory over River City.
With Australian junior representative Will Valentine scoring two early goals, Barras led from the start and then inched, rather than stormed, their way to a 10-2 win.
Barras led 3-nil after the first quarter and 4-1 at halftime, with a goal by Barras’ other Will, Will Markham, supplementing Valentine’s first half hat-trick around Samuel Powell’s goal for River City.
The River City defence refused to yield and as a result goals from Marcus Berehulak and Markham again were hard earned by Barras.
More good news for Barras saw James Kininmonth named MVP across the competition.
UNDER 18 GIRLS
Mermaids (Pink) v Mermaids (Blue)
The Mermaids club claimed its sixth state title this afternoon when its No. 1 under 18 side (Pink) accounted for club mates (Blue).
Featuring Queensland Thunder representative Molly Nasser and several Thunder players in waiting, Mermaids Pink won 9-5.
It was the club’s third state title of the day, and followed three wins for the club during last Thursday’s under 12 and under 16 state finals.
Kate Blew was a focus of the team’s attack, scoring five of her team’s first seven goals.
The Blue side, staring down the barrel, rallied strongly and their counterparts never had it all their own way.
Minute by minute, quarter by quarter they battled away and the 9-5 scoreline was a reflection on the tight final.
Annie Cowan was named most valuable goalie and Blew MVP across the age group.
In the pool next door, All Hallows’ School and Brisbane Girls’ Grammar School played out arguably the game of the day, with BGGS win the under 18 bronze medal 8-7.
With 22 seconds remaining BGGS’ Finn Mcgill scored a penalty goal to snap a 7-all deadlock.
All Hallows, down 6-3, comeback so strongly that they produced two genuine chances to win the match in the final minute.
It was a wonderful game played in tremendous spirit by two teams which rose to the occasion.
UNDER 14 (White) boys
SUNSHINE COAST v BARRAS
There was not a struck match between Barras and the Sunshine Coast, with the match going down to the wire.
Sunny Coast won 8-6, with Thomas Jaggs being named MVP while Barras goalie Edward Pilgrim-Cowan claimed the most valuable goalkeeper award.
All this after the Sunshine Coast leapt to a shock five goals in the first quarter, four of them scored by Thomas Jaggs.
Jaggs then added a fifth goal in the third quarter and alongside James Gardner.
For Barras, Henry Mellick and Oliver Bryant were the go-to players, with each scoring a goal in the first, second and third quarters.
Sunshine Coast coach Glen Connors said it was a pleasure to coach such a united side that had come together from a variety of different backgrounds.
“They came together as a group, we had a full team of 13 players, everyone was enthusiastic, the parents really helpful and they got stuck into it for each other.’’
UNDER 14 GIRLS (white)
SOMERVILLE HOUSE v BGGS
Somerville House snared state title grand final glory with a gutsy 5-1 win over a dogged Brisbane Girls’ Grammar School late today.
Abigail Easton rewarded the hard work by her teammates to score a goal in each of the opening three quarters.
Molly McIntrye and Jasmine Gunn also got on the score sheet for Somerville House which worked overtime to reduce BGGS on the score sheet.
BGGS’s Lucy Comiskey scored the goal BBGS.
Somerville House coach Emily Ault said her side applied themselves well given it was the team’s first major tournament as a team.
“They really worked well together and turned their nervous energy into a positive and also took my advice on board, applied everything I said and it worked in their favour,’’ she said.
There was good news for BGGS, with goalkeeper Violet Shaw claiming the most valuable goalie award across her age group competition.
OPEN MEN
BARRA (Green) v BARRS (Yellow)
The big boys of Queensland open men clashed when the powerhouse Brisbane Barracudas club met in the state titles grand final.
Barra Yellow, on paper the stronger of the two teams, edged out their rivals Barra Green 15-10 in an all-action affair.
Barras Yellow led 7-4 at halftime, edging their way to the front with a three goal first quarter after Drew Gynther (twice) and Billy Miller found the back of the net.
The second quarter then saw seven goals fly past the respective goal keepers, with single goals to Drew Gynther, Chris Broome, Mason Fettell and James Howden (for Barra Yellow). while James Kininmonth, Kobe Jennison and Jack Foder made their mark for the Barra Green Machine.
Barras Yellow then moved up a gear, with Fettell (twice), Gynther and Sam Lenarduzzi establishing an 11-4 advantage entering the final quarter.
But there was a wag of the tail from the Barra Green side which went bang-bang-bang in the fourth quarter, reducing the margin after goals to Marcus Berehulak and Samuel Mellick scored.
But Barra Yellow had the runs on the board and claimed victory 15-10.
Meanwhile, there was another nice bronze medal performance from the Kawana Club.
OPEN WOMEN
MERMAIDS (Pink) v BARRACUDAS
Barras schoolgirl rookie Amelia Watt scored the winning goal 50 seconds from fulltime to hand her side the open women’s state title.
In a 9-8 thriller, Watt became a hero in a thrilling encounter that ebbed and flowed throughout.
“I was speechless. I can’t believe I did that,’’ Watt said.
“I could not have done it without the girls. It was great playing with all the older girls and the team came together really well.’’
With the great Kate Gynther controlling play, Barracudas were well organised and a constant threat to the Mermaids’ defence from start to finish.
The Mermaids looked headed for victory leading 7-5, but back Barras came to win.
Coach Rob Bruce said his side displayed tremendous tenacity because “we had to rely on a lot of girls, we were short staffed.’’
What a game it was from the start.
It was Mermaids who scored first and third in the first quarter, courtesy of the inform Kate Blew and Lara Owen.
Barra’s first quarter goal came courtesy of Jessica Emerson, and their second four minutes into the second quarter when Amelia Hodgson fired from the right hand side with tremendous power.
The injection of Alice Campbell worked for Mermaids when she scored, but Watt soon had Barras back in front 4-3 with a well taken shot after Abbey Pomeroy had scored earlier in the quarter.
It was 4-all when Kasey Dalziel scored for Mermaids, and at halftime it was evident a struck match would not separate the teams as the match progressed.
The third quarter was a thriller, with one side and then the other being repelled by dogged defence.
Pomeroy (Barras) and Dalziel (Mermaids) each scored, but it was locked at 5-all for a long time until, seconds before the end of the quarter, Dalziel’s experience and class shone through to break the deadlock for Mermaids.
Early in the final quarter Matilda Moore then won a penalty for her side, which Kate Blew converted into a 7-5 advantage.
However, Hodgson skidded a ball across the water to beat keeper Kate Power and keep Barras within touching distance, 7-6.
The scores were then locked up when the great Kate Gynther produced a special backhander to beat Power.
Up the other end of the pool and Barra keeper Feeney then saved a sharp shot and we were headed toward extra time.
Despite the loss, coach Mermaids Nicola Johnson said the club had a great state titles.
Mermaids claimed four gold medals on Thursday during the under 12 and under 16 competition, and added another three today across the under 14, under 18 and open tournaments. In addition, Mermaids also finished second in the girls’ under 18s.
“To clean sweep all the (girls) age groups - 12s. 14s. 16s and 18s - it is really going well,’’ Johnson said.
“I think success and the culture just attracts people, they realise it is a good program and they have fun.’’
Johnson also noted the improvement in the junior boys (Mantas) which saw the club’s under 12 boys win a gold medal, and the under 14s play-off for bronze.
The livestream grand final schedule was:
Noon: Under 14 Boys Maroon:
Barracudas (Green) v North Brisbane Polo Bears
12.50pm: Under 14 Girls Maroon:
Barracudas v Mermaids Pink
1.40pm: Under 18 Girls White:
Mermaids (Rose) v Sunshine Coast (Gold)
2.40pm: Under 18 Boys:
River City v Barracudas (Green)
3.40pm: Under 18 Girls Maroon:
Mermaids (Pink) v Mermaids (Blue)
4.40pm: Under 14 Boys White:
Sunshine Coast (Blue) v Barras (Black)
5.30pm: Under 14 Girls White:
BGGS v Somerville House
6.20pm: Open Boys:
Barras (Green) v Barras (Yellow)
7.20pm: Open Girls:
Barras (Green) v Mermaids (Pink)
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