Live stream: UNSW Wests v Adelaide Jets, Australian Water Polo League

The hosts scored 40 times in two games, with Ruby Swadling, Nathan Power and Charlie Negus leading the way, to continue their charge to the Australian Water Polo League finals. Relive all the action.

Ruby Swadling scoed nine goals, including three each in the first and last quarters, as the UNSW Killerwhales won their third match of a busy long weekend of Australian Water Polo League action on Sunday.

The 16-8 victory over the visiting Adelaide Jets made up for a shock 17-15 defeat to the same side 24 hours earlier and pushed them into the all-important top six for the first time in a number of weeks.

After failing to trouble the scorer in their two-game series against Victoria that preceded the Jets visit, Aussie Stingers star Swadling was hit the back of the net 12 times against the Jets. She has now scored 24 goals for the season.

UNSW Wests Killerwhales v FYFE Adelaide (Women)

In the men’s game, Nathan Power and Charlie Negus both scored five goals as UNSW went on a goalscoring spree for the second day in a row against the hapless Adelaide Jets.

After Aussie skipper Power and Negus combined for 11 goals between them on Saturday in a 25-5 win, the duo were again in top form again in a 24-6 success.

UNSW have now won seven games in a row and Power has scored 27 goals in just five games.

PREVIEW

A slow start to the season hasn’t dwindled UNSW Wests Killerwhales coach Mark Gilbert’s dream of reaching the Australian Water Polo League finals.

The side has picked up just two wins in six matches, but has been steadily closing the gap on the top teams.

With four matches back-to-back over a blockbuster weekend of water polo, Gilbert said the time to make their move on the competition was now.

“These matches coming up are going to be really crucial for us,” Gilbert said.

“Each win gets us closer to the finals and I’m expecting the girls to step up.”

The UNSW Wests sides will take on the FYFE Adelaide Jets on Sunday, with the doubleheader to be streamed LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on KommunityTV.

The action gets underway with the women’s clash from 1pm, before the UNSW Wests men take on the Jets at 2.30pm.

There is new personnel on pool deck for the Killerwhales this season, with several of the club’s young faces stepping up to fill the holes left by departing players.

While the loss of several senior players from the squad has been telling over the first part of the AWL season, Gilbert said there was cause for optimism within the Wests camp.

Young gun Chelsea Isaac has made an impressive start in the AWL..

“The last couple of years, we’ve just missed out on the finals and then coming into this year we lost a number of our senior players so we’ve got quite a young squad,” he explained.

“It has been a little bit of a change, but we have a few juniors coming through like Chelsea Isaac and Mia Hueston who have been really impressive, especially since they’re both still in school.”

“I have a philosophy that I don’t just give games for the sake of it. When players are put into a game it’s because they deserve the opportunity, not just because I want to give them a go.

“If you go in, it’s because you’ve done the work and the expectation is that you’ll perform at the level that you can.”

The team also has a strong leadership group which Gilbert said has been great as the younger players continue to develop their skills.

“Our captain, Daisy Carter, although she’s out injured at the moment, she’s an absolute workhorse and leads by example both in and out of the water,” Gilbert said.

“We also have Katie Sverchek, who has been at the club for a long time and Alisha Brightwell, who has come back this season and she brings some really great experience.

“It’s good that we have those experienced players that can show the other girls how it’s done.

“The mix of experience and youth sets us up for now and also in the future.”