Live stream: National state water polo 19 years and under women’s titles crucial for rising stars

NSW Blues showed their class to see off the challenge from Queensland Maroons and take one of Water Polo Australia’s premier tournaments. Relive all the action from a big day.

NSW Blues produced a stunning performance to beat Queensland Maroons 9-5 and win the U19 National Water Polo women’s championship gold.

The Blues came out on fire at the start of the game, gaining a 2-0 lead in no time through Madissyn Powells and Dayna Garside, and although Queensland hit back, especially in the second quarter, they had the game under control thereafter.

Coach Jacki Northam was thrilled with the result from a team that had just one training session together at the event.

“It was a fantastic event and so good to see 10 teams with New Zealand and the Youth Barbarians,’’ she said.

“We were pretty confident going in and achieved our expectations.

“We had a strong group of girls. We only got one training together on the day we flew in so we managed to build a good team quickly.

“All the girls stepped up. If one had a bad game another stepped up.’’

Northam nominated Sienna Green as her player of the series.

The Maroons impressed with their resilience and fired back after the two early setbacks through Chelsea Johnson, who threw a skilful pass for Amelia Watt to finish the play off in style for her team’s first goal.

Just before the first break, NSW found some good momentum with Amy Middlemass finding the goal to give her side a 3-1 lead.

The second quarter was a tight wrestle with Queensland mounting a comeback.

Molly Nasser threw in a great pass to Taafili Taoso who finished the play with a convincing goal to cut the margin to 3-2.

Kate Blew then levelled the scoreline at 3-3.

NSW fired back with two goals through Stephanie Brettargh and Sienna Green to go into halftime leading 5-3.

Straight after halftime, Queensland’s Amy Middlemass went bang with a bullet into the bottom left corner to cut the margin to a goal.

The Blues gained back momentum with Nasser scoring and then Powells gave her side an extra cushion with a powerful shot on goal.

With scores 7-4 at three-quarter time, no one was ruling out a Queensland comeback, but when Samantha Hardingham threw up a shot to put her side up 8-4 with five minutes to go, NSW were in a comfortable position.

Moments later, Sienna Green threw a wonderful matchwinning backhand goal to put NSW up 9-4.

Middlemass fired back with a nice shot to cut the lead to 9-5 before the final whistle went.

Tayla Dawkins of South Australia was awarded the player of the tournament.

Most valuable goalkeeper went to Eve Gath from Queensland Maroons.

South Australia 8 d New Zealand 5 (bronze medal playoff)

- Max Hatzoglou

Scores were level at halftime, and again at three-quarter time, before South Australia stormed home in the final quarter with four unanswered goals.

Nicolette Miller scored three outstanding goals, including the first of the fourth quarter which gave her team an important lead.

Eliza Plouffe then won a penalty and followed it with a match-deciding goal late on.

It was a tight wrestle at the start of the match and it took a rocket throw from Nicolette Miller from almost halfway to open the scoring account.

Scores were 1-0 at the first break.

Spectacular goals were the theme of the first half for South Australia with first Miller and then Ashlee Dobell, who showed precision with a classy shot going in off the crossbar, delivering something special.

.

New Zealand matched South Australia and the 2-2 scoreline at halftime was a good reflection of the first half of the match.

In the third term, New Zealand goalkeeper Tiaare Ahovelo had a fantastic quarter denying South Australia on many occasions.

Tayla Dawkins was another notable performer for South Australia with a nice goal in the final term to extend her side’s lead by two.

Youth Barbarians 12 d Western Australia 6 (5th place playoff)

- Max Hatzoglou

Youth Barbarians took home fifth spot after a hard-fought win over Western Australia.

It started through Lucy Levenberg-Penklis, who scored the opening two goals and a 2-0 lead at quarter time.

The momentum continued straight after the break with Phoebe Cervetto getting into a good position and winning her team a penalty.

Chelsea Isaac was able to finish with a penalty goal.

Allegra Childs scored Western Australia’s first goal with a skilful throw into the bottom right to leave the score at 4-1 at halftime.

Olivia Muir came out after halftime on fire, nailing two shots to put her side up 6-1.

Jessica Bihler responded with a bullet throw to cut the margin to four goals heading into the final quarter.

The last quarter was action-packed with five goals each.

Levenberg-Penklis scored for the Barbarians off the back of an impressive penalty save from goalkeeper Horatia Schlect.

Kobi Toomath threw a nice ball in for Western Australia’s sixth goal, which was followed by a goal for the Barbarians through Muir.

Victoria 7 d Queensland Gold 6 (7th place playoff)

- Max Hatzoglou

A seesawing game saw Victoria take seventh place over Queensland Gold.

Victoria got their first lead of the match at 2-1 before Queensland Gold powered back to gain a 5-3 advantage through a spectacular shot from Abigale Houston in the middle stages of the third quarter.

The Vics then fought back in stunning fashion to level scores at 5-5 through Mimi Stoupas.

On the brink of three-quarter time, Jayda Milligan won a penalty for Queensland and Cosi Winter scored to give the visitors a 6-5 lead.

Then the Victorians came home strongly in front of a healthy home crowd to grab the glory.

Phoebe Cummins levelled the scores for Victoria at 6-6 to start the final term before Stephanie Jacobson scored a stunning long range shot for the final score.

In the dying stages, Victorian goalkeeper Stella Radojcic continued her fine performance with a match-saving stop to deny Queensland a late goal.

It was a thrilling first half of the game with Victoria finding the early momentum before Queensland fought back to gain a 4-3 advantage just before halftime.

NSW Waratahs 14 d ACT/TAS 11 (9th place playoff)

- Max Hatzoglou

Regulation time wasn’t enough to decide ninth place and it came down to an intense penalty shootout. 

NSW Waratahs goalkeeper Indigo Ditterick starred making two brilliant saves and scoring to seal the win for her side. 

ACT/TAS were in front for the majority of the game but they couldn’t seal the deal against a hard fighting Waratahs outfit.

Trailing 10-8 with two and a half minutes left, Milla Arthurs stole the show with two brilliant goals to level the scoreline at full-time.

The match then went to penalties. Ditterick saved the first and third shots and then scored the final goal to secure the win.

. 

Alexis Graham was another notable performer for NSW Waratahs alongside Rebel McFadden.

For ACT/TAS, Emme Doube-MacLeod, Sydney Poor and Alex Brown were strong contributors.

LIVE STREAM: Catch four days of great men’s water polo action

DAY THREE REPLAYS

Water Polo National Under-19 Championships Day 3 (Women) - Queensland Gold v Western Australia

Water Polo National Under-19 Championships Day 3 (Women) - Youth Barbarians v Victoria

Water Polo National Under-19 Championships Day 3 (Women) - NSW Blues v South Australia

Water Polo National Under-19 Championships Day 3 (Women) - Queensland Maroon v New Zealand

Victoria’s Mimi Stoupas is under pressure from the ACT/Tas team. Pic: Hamish Blair.

Kate Blew holds off Western Australia’s Caitlin Leather. Pic: Hamish Blair..

Eve Gath impresses in goal for Queensland Maroons. Pic: Hamish Blair.

Matilda Waugh of the Youth Barbarians looks for some help against South Australia.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Spotlight on up-and-coming stars at male nationals

STAR POWER: Spotlight on up-and-coming players at female nationals

DAY TWO REPLAYS

Water Polo National Under-19 Championships Day 2 (Women) - Youth Barbarians v Queensland Maroons

Water Polo National Under-19 Championships Day 2 (Women) - NSW Waratahs v Western Australia

Water Polo National Under-19 Championships Day 2 (Women) - New Zealand v NSW Blues

Water Polo National Under-19 Championships Day 2 (Women) - ACT/Tas v Victoria

Water Polo National Under-19 Championships Day 2 (Women) - Queensland Maroon v Western Australia

Water Polo National Under-19 Championships Day 2 (Women) - Youth Barbarians v South Australia

Water Polo National Under-19 Championships Day 2 (Women) - NSW Blues v Victoria

Water Polo National Under-19 Championships Day 2 (Women) - New Zealand v Queensland Gold

DAY ONE REPLAYS

Water Polo National Under-19 Championships Day 1 (Women) - Youth Barbarians v NSW Waratahs

Water Polo National Under-19 Championships Day 1 (Women) - Queensland Maroon v South Australia

Water Polo National Under-19 Championships Day 1 (Women) - New Zealand v ACT/Tas

Water Polo National Under-19 Championships Day 1 (Women) - Queensland Gold v NSW Blues

Water Polo National Under-19 Championships Day 1 (Women) - Western Australia v South Australia

Water Polo National Under-19 Championships Day 1 (Women) - Queensland Maroons v NSW Waratahs

Water Polo National Under-19 Championships Day 1 (Women) - Victoria v Queensland Gold

Water Polo National Under-19 Championships Day 1 (Women) - NSW Blues v ACT/Tas

Tournament Preview: Australia’s brightest on national radar

Australian Water polo high-performance coach Charles Turner hopes to be surprised at the 19 years and under women’s national state championships being live streamed on Kommunity TV for four days from Friday.

Turner is on the hunt for “big specimens’’ to fill junior squads ahead of the next world championships in 2023.

“We are looking for tall girls with long arms,’’ Turner said.

“But not all of them will be on the radar. At this age they can shoot up a foot in a year and they are the ones we might find at this event.

“In the girls they can really come out of the blue at this age.’’

The tournament will play a major part in the selection of junior squads working towards the next world championships.

NSW Blues, Victoria, Queensland Gold, ACT/TAS and New Zealand are in group A for the tournament.

Queensland Maroon, Western Australia, South Australia, NSW Waratahs and a Youth Barbarians are in group B.

Originally published as Live stream: National state water polo 19 years and under women’s titles crucial for rising stars