Livestream water polo: Olympians to make a splash

Subscribe here to view the The Delfina Sport Water Polo Queensland’s Premier League - rounds 5-6 livestreamed on Sunday by News Corp.

Queenslanders Abby Andrews and Gabi Palm will plunge into the The Delfina Sport Water Polo Queensland’s Premier League matches at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday better players than ever after making their Olympic Games debuts in Tokyo.

Both UQ Barras juniors, the girls will be competing in rounds 5 and 6 of the Premier League in competition which will see teams vying for the finals to be contested on November 28.

Action involving the teams is being livestreamed by www.couriermail.com.au, the Sunshine Coast Daily, Gold Coast Bulletin and News Corp affiliates.

The Vikings, Sunshine Coast, North Brisbane Polo Bears, Gold Coast, UQWPC Barracudas, Merlo Mermaids, Kawana Wolves, Carina Leagues Warriors, Bushrangers and River City will be competing at St. Andrews Anglican College.

Abby Andrews in action for the Aussie Stingers. Pics Adam Head

Left arm goal scorer Andrews was the baby of the Olympic team and said it was “was awesome’’.

“It was completely overwhelming. It was everything I imagined,’’ Andrews said.

“Just being in the village, it was so cool seeing world class athletes walking by.

“It was also awesome to play world class water polo as well.

“Being the youngest in the team, it was hard mentally preparing knowing there was all this pressure on me.

“It (the experience) was good at developing some of my character under that stress.’’

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Goalkeeper Palm, who like Andrews is a Brisbane Girls Grammar School alumni, said it was “hard to describe’’ how fantastic the experience was.

Abby Andrews UQ BarrasPicture, John Gass

“It was a dream come true that it (the Olympics) went ahead and being able to play games again was also so exciting,’’ Palm said.

“I don’t think I will be able to get over what an honour it was to be able to go over to Tokyo and represent the Australian Olympic team playing the sport I love.

“It is hard to beat.

“You always learn something from an Olympics and having it in Covid times added an element to it.

“I always knew I was a very resilient person, but I think this experience has really tested me and I have been able to expand on that even more. And I have comeback a stronger, more well rounded player and person.’’

The girls were setting an example to young players across Queensland and within their club that dreams can come true with hard work.

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UQ Barras is a club bristling with young talent.

The likes of Lili Emu (Under 12s), Jessica Bright (under 13s), Cosette Cooke (under 14s), Emma Moore (under 15s), Josh Lambert (under 12s), Tasoso Tasoso and Dylan Jennison (under 14s), Sean Bright and Tian Market (under 15s), Joseph Button Blake Jennison (under 16s) and under 18 players Jack French, Matthew Bonsor, Will Valentine and Jack Fodor will look to follow in the steps of Andrews, Palm, four-time Olympian Rhys Howden and past Olympians Billy Miller, Kate Gynther and Melissa Rippon.

Noah Bright now plays for Polo Bears but is a Barras junior.Picture, John Gass

Valentine has been blooded in the Queensland Thunder team and is a particularly exciting junior who would have represented Australia at youth level had it not been for the COVID-19 crisis.

2021 WPQ Delfina Premier League Draw

Round 1: October 17 – Played

Round 2: October 31 – Played

Round 3: November 14: St. Andrews Anglican College, Peregian Springs

FINALS: November 28: Valley Pool, Brisbane