THE 2009-2010 water polo concluded with a great night of finals at the Mittagong Swimming Centre last Tuesday evening.
Blessed with fine weather and a pool in glorious order, not to mention players keen to secure a premiership, all the ingredients were in place for a wonderful evening.
Andrew Yianitsas from NSW water polo made the trip from Sydney to referee and support our local competition, the largest junior competition in country NSW.
“I am amazed by the size of the competition here and the potential of the players, full credit to your committee for the effort they make, “ Yianitsas said.
Club patron and dual Olympian, Helsinki and Melbourne as Australian team captain, Ray Smee was also on hand to referee and support.
Albatross bursts Bubble
THE games began with the Guppies (junior primary school) grand final between Bubble Heads and Albatross.
In a fairly high scoring match the Albatross held a narrow lead at the end of the first quarter to lead 4-3, Emil Thaning scoring twice.
The second quarter saw them power to a three-goal halftime lead 8-5, after doubles to Carrick Lindsay and William Mc Gladdery.
Anna Howe and Lily Kennelly had scored in each quarter for Bubble Heads.
The third period was tight with neither side managing to score. Good goalkeeping was a feature of the period.
In the final term, Bubble Heads out scored their rivals 2-1 but it was too late and Albatross were flying high after a 9-7 victory.
In the other Guppies games, Tudor 2 won boasting rights after defeating Tudor 1, 10-8. The Sea Dragons defeated the Leopard Seals 9-6.
Mud Crabs nip Squids
THE Mud Crabs scored an emphatic 9-6 win over the Squids in the Tadpole grade. It was a game of two halves with the Mud Crabs squeezing the Squids in the first half going to the break with a 5-1 lead.
The Bidewell brothers led the scoring with two goals to Finnlay in the first quarter and Marcus scoring three in the second period.
The Squids powered in the second half, out-scoring the Mud Crabs 3-2 in the third period and 3-1 in the final period.
All the scoring was done by Jen McNaught. It was a great effort but all too late to claw back the Crabs.
In the other games Killer Sharks defeated Blue Marlins 7-3 and Tudor 3 defeated Jumping Jellyfish 9-3.
No Fish For Seals
IN the Dolphins grade, the battle between Fish N Chips and Super Seals was enormous.
Super Seals led narrowly at the first break 3-2. The margin was still one-goal to Super Seals, 4-3, at half time after each team scored once. The Fish N Chips came back to lock up the game at 5-all at fulltime.
Going into extra time the scores were still locked after two minutes, great saves by both goalies having the crowd cheering and on the edges of their seats.
The game went into sudden death with Fish N Chips scoring the winning goal.
It was an exciting match with both teams deserving of a win.
In other Tadpole matches Goofy Gropers defeated Iron Jays 9-7 and Sinkers defeated Speedy Sharks 6-1.
Floaters Sunk by God
MINOR PREMIERS Floaters were sunk in the grand final 7-3 by God Squad.
Floaters were buoyed by a first quarter 2-0 lead but their time on top was short lived as God Squad’s prayers were answered with a brilliant second period where they blasted four goals to Floaters nil for a 4-2 halftime lead.
God Squad built on their lead in the third quarter taking it 2-1.
The last period saw Floaters needing to pull back three goals but God Squad added an extra went on to win 7-3.
In the other Seals games Hammerheads defeated Joel’s Team 7-4, Chadelpop defeated Fully Funky Fish 5-3.
Troopers ambush Menzies
MINOR PREMIERS Team Menzies went down in a low scoring match to Troopers 3-2.
The Troopers came out firing and led 2-0 at the end of the first quarter shocking the Team Menzies who had recorded a convincing win over the Troopers in the last regular round of the competition.
Team Menzies tried desperately to get back into the match but Troopers arrested their scoring, the lead remaining at 2-0 at halftime.
Team Menzies pulled a goal back in the third quarter and locked it up at 2-2 in the final period before the Troopers charged in the last thirty seconds of the game with the winning goal.
In the other match Dangerous defeated Codfathers, 5-4.
Junior Competition president David Chandler was excited by finals night.
“It was a great season, plenty of laughing, smiling and energetic players getting into their sport and being active,” Chandler said.
“It is what we aim to provide for the young people of the district with the path open to the senior competition as they progress.
“The volunteers who keep the competition going and growing can all be proud of their efforts, as Andrew Yianitsas from NSW water polo said we have the largest junior competition in country NSW.
“Next season is months away but we will be planning over the winter to make next season just as good.”
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