Watch the replays: Grand final day at the water polo state titles

Watch the replays of the Water Polo Queensland state title grand final day.

Watch the replays of the Water Polo Queensland state title grand final day from the under 14s and under 18 competitions.

The Water Polo Queensland’s summer of dreams then continues this weekend with the under 12, under 16 and open competition, with grand final day on Monday live streamed by News Corp.

Teams from Alstonville in northern NSW, country Queensland, Buderim and beyond, the best players from around the region have been converging on Brisbane.

The UQ Barracudas won the 18s.

The state titles will dovetail nicely with the 2022 Australian Youth Water Polo Championships, also staged in Brisbane from April 14-18. News Corp will live stream 51 matches of the AWL matches.

RELATED LINKS

AUSTRALIAN YOUTH WATER POLO CHAMPIONSHIPS LAUNCH

THUNDER v KILLER WHALES REPLAYS

BWPI GRAND FINALS

THE FINALS

Replay: Polo Bears Ice v Mermaids Pink (U14 girls maroon division)

Another chapter in a great rivalry between Mermaids and Polo Bears was written this morning with yet another grand final classic between the two clubs in the under 14 maroon girls decider.

Mermaids’ Florence Pothecary scored the winner two seconds from full-time to snap a 7-all deadlock.

The Mermaids Pink girls won the under 14 title.

The game looked set to be plunged into a shoot out after a second sensational goal from the outside by Ali McCarthy (Polo Bears) levelled things up at 7-all with 41 seconds remaining.

This was after Mermaids’ Georgie Joosep had edged Mermaids ahead 7-6.

What a match it was, from start to finish.

In the third quarter, after Lucy Stuart had scored for Mermaids, the Polo Bears hit the front for the first time, 5-4, when a back hand by Bless Daly found the back of the net.

It then became 6-4 when Mia Doyle lobbed a shot just beyond the fingertips of Mermaids’ goalie Naida Comben.

Polo Bears 14s coach and Qld Thunder rep Eve Gath delivers a quarter time talk.

But two snap goals by Mermaids - including a penalty to Zarah Milligan - dragged it back to 6-all entering the last quarter.

Earlier in the first quarter, a save by Mermaids’ goalie Nadia Comben turned into a goal by Lucy Stuart  and then another as Mermaids found themselves up 2-nil early.

Then there was a sensational goal from the outside by Ali McCarthy who backed herself with a right handed torpedo.

Tense times in the team talk for Mermaids.

But after Polo Bears had swarmed in attack, there was a counter attack sparked by Comben’s save which led to Stuart scoring again, making it 3-1.

Down 3-1, Polo Bears scored the opening two goals of the second quarter and when Ana Jaramill advanced to score after her goalie Natasha Winton had saved, it was 3-all.

While the deadlock was broken by a successful penalty from Mermaids’ Sarah Cockburn, Polo Bears Mia Doyle scored another grand goal from the outside after the cross bar had twice been a good defender for Polo Bears as Mermaids pressed.

The winning Somerville House under 14s.

Polo Bears’ Bless Daly was named competition MVP for the under 14s and Mermaids Nadia Comben the best goalkeeper in the age group.

In the second under 14 grand final, Somerville House defeated Loreto College.

REPLAY: UQ Barras v Mantas (Under 14 boys)

The UQ Barras boys had a 17-5 grand final win in the 14 years division, defeating Mantas.

The foundation for victory was laid during a seven goal first half at a time when Barras’ defence kept Mantas to one goal.

Harrison South scored four goals in this period, while Dylan Jennison and Oliver Moncur got on the score sheet with doubles.

The UQ Barracudas won the under 14 state titles.

Taoso Taoso, Henry Mellick and Jennison then stretched Barras lead further, but Mantas fought hard despite trailing, including three goals by Charley Hegarty.

While it was a resounding win by the powerhouse Barras in this age group, the appearance in a state decider was also another step in the development of the boys program at the young Mermaids-Mantas club.

The All Hallows' School finished with a bronze medal.

A boys program has only been going a few years at Mermaids-Mantra and it followed this groups appearance as under 12 finalists.

In more good news for Barras, Sam Kettle was named MVP goalie and and Dylan Jennison the MVP player in the 14 years’ boys.

REPLAY: Mermaids v UQ Barrs (Under-18 girls)

The Mermaids’ White side notched up another state title victory with a resounding win over UQ Barras in the under 18s.

Two goals on the cusp of halftime by Mermaids Maya Nelson shifted momentum in her team’s direction and the Mermaids went on with the job in the second half.

Mermaids had skipped to a 4-1 advantage early but the Barras fought back.

While it was still anyone’s game, Nelson’s two goals and Elyanna Astone’s goal into the second half helped Mermaids regain the upper hand on the scoreboard.

The Mermaids under 18 winning women.

Mermaids’ defence was also outstanding despite the best efforts by Barras.

Mermaids shared the goals with Nelson, Astone, Molly Dyer, Jazmyn Green, Sofia Brodie, McCulloch and Oia Hatzipetrou among the scorers.

Mermaids had started so well, with the finishing touches applied by McCulloch, Nelson and Brodie in the opening exchanges.

But with Molly Conway a focal point, UQ Barras responded in the second quarter.. Conway finished with three goals.

REPLAY: Mermaids Pink v Polo Bears (Under 18 girls)

Mermaids’ Taafili Taoso scored the winner 19.4 seconds from fulltime to claim another state title in an under 18 championship thriller against Polo Bears.

Just days after many of these girls clashed in the BWPI grand final - won in a penalty shoot out by Mermaids - it happened all over again as Mermaids pipped their rivals 7-6.

One-all at the end of the first quarter became 3-all at halftime, then 4-all into the third quarter and so on into the final quarter.

It was a game of inches and centimetres where every small victory was a major milestone, such was the quality of the two teams.

Horatia Schlect, second from the right, with Molly Nasser, Annie Cowan and Amelia Watt.

So tight was the tussle, one wondered if Amy Middlemass’s goal for Polo bears midway through the third quarter might have been the winning score.

Taoso, the BSHS schoolgirl, was thrust into the fray by coach Lance Johnson 90 seconds from the end of the match and soon turned into the matchwinner.

Polo Bears had one last attempt to draw the match and plummet it into extra time, but an explosive shot by Middlemass from centre back was knocked away by Mermaids’ goalie Annabel Cowan.

Mermaids were teh under 18 state title winners.

Lulu Elliott’s goal in the fourth quarter was crucial in tieing the scores again.

Typically both teams were stoic while not in possession, scraping and rummaging to disrupt their opponents attacking build-ups.

Somehow through all of that both teams managed a goal apiece across the first quarter, with Polo Bears’s opening salvo coming four seconds before the break courtesy of Cate Klinge.

And it had to be a good shot from Klinge to beat the goalie Tori Kininmonth who was in good form.

The Polo Bears were runners-up in the 18s - but only just.

It took a succession of passes - between Watt, Klinge and Middlemass - to break down the Mermaids defence again, giving Polo Bear Tilly Hughes the chance to score from the left wing.

Then Clinge added another after a quick play by goalie Horatia Schlect whose long pass opened up the field for Clinge.

But then Mermaids’ Chelsea Johnson scored from centre forward, and it was back to three apiece when her teammate Lily Carrick scored.

Polo Bears’ Horatia Schlect was named MVP goalie and Mermaids’ Molly Nasser MVP across the 18s.

UQ Barras v River City, under 18 boys

There was another booming final in the under 18 boys as River City took it right up to UQ Barras before Barras won 12-8.

River City jumped out of the blocks to lead 4-1, as Sam Powell (2), Nelson Hockings (2) and Isaac Kyle-Little found a way forward.

But Jack Fodor lead a second quarter recovery and by midway through the second quarter UQ Barras had poked their nose in front 7-6.

Barras’ Toby McDonald then added an eight goal for his side and his team got out as far as 10-6 ahead before River City cut the margin to just two goals deep into the fourth quarter.

Barra Will Valentine was named MVP while team mate Tom Neal was the MVP goalie.

THE PREVIEW

Here is a list of 25 top notch PLAYERS TO WATCH who will feature at the state titles, which start tomorrow and continue until April 11.

Mermaids:

Lulu Elliott and Louisa Downes: Elliott is one of the babies from the all conquering Queensland Thunder women’s squad while both she and Downes are Mermaids under 18 teammates. Downes had a huge Summer Slam late last year when she was the under 18 MVP.

Amelia Watt, right, listens to her Polo Bears St Rita's coach Naomi McCarthy on Saturday. out.

Noosa

Archie Blackmore: Blackmore is a goal keeping ace who is an under 16 representative player.

UQ Barras

Will Valentine and Jack Fodor: Valentine and Fodor are the next generation of Queensland Thunder players, who play in the Australian Water Polo League.

Kawana Wolves

Josh Eyles: Eyles is another Thunder rookie young gun from the under 18 age group who shone at the Summer Slam late last year.

Polo Bears

Amelia Watt and Isaac McCarthy: Under 18 eligible, the high achieving Watt is back from a shoulder lay off and the Queensland Thunder selectors wasted no time in giving her playing time in the AWL over the last two weekends. McCarthy, the son of gold medal winning Olympian Naomi, is under 16 eligible.

Isaac Kyle-Little is a River City young gun – Photo Steve Pohlner

River City

Isaac Kyle-Little: Kyle-Little has been rising to the occasion representing Queensland Thunder as a new wave of talented under 18 year olds make their way in the sport.

Warriors

Leo Gallagher: Field player Gallagher will be a Warriors ace in the under 16 age group.

Gold Coast

Asset Motawi: Watch for Motawi to lead by example in the open boys.

Moby Chicks

Scarlett Buchanan: The Moby Chicks have pulled together an extremely competitive squad to be spearheaded by Buchanan.

Queensland Bushrangers

Kaitlin Brownhill: It is great seeing the Bushrangers back in business and Brownhill will be a gun in the open girls.

Queensland player Jack Fodor from UQ Barras. Picture, John Gass

Vikings

Ariella Peled: The Vikings open girls field player will be a Player to Watch in the opens.

Loreto

Ruby Borrett: From the wonderful breeding ground of Loreto College, Borrett will play in the under 18 girls.

Brisbane Girls Grammar School

Astrid Thomas: Thomas comes from a development program which produced two Tokyo Olympians, goalkeeper Gabi Palm and left arm goal scoring machine Abby Andrews.

The BWPI grand final winning 17A Mermaids.

All Hallows’

Phoebe Cervetto: Cervetto will look to maintain a rich sporting tradition set by the likes of All Hallows’ alumni, Aussie rep Alice Williams and Thunder goalie Eve Gath, by leading from the front in both the under 16s and 18s.

Stuartholme

Alice McCann: McCann will be a leader within the Stuartholme under 16 girls.

RELATED LINKS

WATCH THE REPLAYS, Thunder v Hurricanes

WATCH THE REPLAYS – THUNDER v DRUMMOYNE BLOCKBUSTER

Somerville

Molly McIntyre: Fresh from Somerville House’s BWPI grand final campaign, McIntyre will play in the under 16 girls.

Tilley Hughes of St Rita’s.

Buderim

Emmerson McEwan: The Sunshine Coast field player will be in for a busy 10 days – playing both the under 14s and under 16s.

St Rita’s

Tilly Hughes: Hughes comes from the nursery which has produced an array of outstanding junior players, including Thunder rookie Amelia Watt.

St Andrew’s

Mia Caple and Lachlan Jenner: Caple will play for the club’s under 14 girls and Jenner for the under 12 boys.

St Margaret’s Anglican Girls’ School

Annabelle Spall: Spall has emerged as a young gun from a pack of talented under 14 girls.

LIVE STREAM SCHEDULE

Tuesday, gold medal matches

9am: under 14 girls maroon division: Polo Bears Ice v Mermaids Pink

10am: under 14 boys UQ Barracudas v Mantas Blue

11am: under 18 girls white division: Mermaids White v UQ Barracudas

Noon: under 18 girls maroon division: Mermaids Pink v Polo Bears Ice

1pm: under 18 boys: UQ Barracudas v River City

April 11, gold medal matches

9am: under 12 girls

9:50am: under 12 girls

10:40am: under 12 boys

11:30am: under 16 girls

12:30am: under 16 girls

1:30pm: Under 16 boys