|
Brisbane (May 14).— The regular season may have ended but the final placings have yet to be determined in the men’s National Water Polo League.
Brisbane (May 14).— The regular season may have ended but the final placings have yet to be determined in the men’s National Water Polo League.
Wests waterpolo Magpies are the minor premiers and go directly to the semifinals in Sydney on Wednesday week but who will join them is as yet undecided.
KFC Queensland Breakers have the inside running but must travel to Sydney on Wednesday to play Balmain Tigers in a postponed game from last November.
Should the Breakers win, they will finish second and gain automatic entry to the semifinals.
Should Balmain win then the Breakers would finish third, albeit level with Perth’s reigning champions Fremantle Mariners on points.
However, Fremantle beat the Breakers and drew with them for a superior head-to-head record.
Sydney University Lions, Victorian Tigers and Balmain Tigers are the other qualifiers for the finals series.
In Brisbane yesterday, Victorian Tigers beat Brisbane Barracudas 16-5 after a visit of three wins and a loss. A win over the Breakers on Saturday could have seen the Tigers finish second, so close is the top of the ladder.
In Newcastle, Hunter Hurricanes completed a torrid year with a fourth win, eclipsing Cronulla Sharks 10-9. The Sharks finished seventh and the Hurricanes eighth.
While Fremantle Marlins had won the Southern Cross Trophy for the women’s minor premiership on Thursday and Sydney University Lions were second, Brisbane Barracudas cemented third place with a 16-8 romp over the Victorian Tigers at Musgrave Park in Brisbane.
They finished two points clear of Balmain Tigers who blew a chance for third ranking when they lost to Hunter Hurricanes 9-8 on Saturday when four key players were unavailable to travel to Newcastle.
KFC Queensland Breakers fill fifth spot and reigning champions Cronulla Sharks are the sixth qualifiers after thrashing Hunter 19-6 yesterday.
The best-of-three elimination finals are at Sydney University on Monday and Tuesday with the semifinals at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre on Wednesday and Thursday and the grand final series on Friday and Saturday at SOPAC.
The one-game bronze-medal play-offs are on the Saturday.
Results:
Men:
In Brisbane: Victorian Tigers 16 (R Moody 4, L Gavin, A Feltham, C Gronow, S Lewis 2, A Schoneberger, S Boyd, T Birkett, I Lark) Brisbane Barracudas 5 (J Hopkins 3, C Petersen, M Giles).
In Newcastle: Hunter Hurricanes 10 (M Rapsey, P Reid, C Eames 2, N Campbell, S Berry, R O’Brien, S Bryant) Cronulla Sharks 9 (B Kinsel 3, C Miller 2, B Bacharach, C Rourke, N Russell, R Tracy).
Points and positions (with one match to play, KFC Breakers v Balmain): Wests waterpolo Magpies 54, KFC Breakers 49, Fremantle Mariners 50, Sydney University Lions 49, Victorian Tigers 48, Balmain Tigers 42, Cronulla Sharks 33, Hunter Hurricanes 30, Brisbane Barracudas 28, UWA Torpedoes 27, Adelaide Jets 26.
Women:
In Brisbane: Brisbane Barracudas 16 (J Moran, M Rippon 3, C Grayson, K Gynther 2, G Wikman, S Smith, K Bryce, H Robinson, C Miller, N Stoltz) Victorian Tigers 8 (L Baldwin 3, R Webster 2, R Kelly, E Rossato, J Hanson).
In Newcastle: Cronulla Sharks 19 (H Lincoln-Smith 6, J Santoromito 4, S Davie 3, N Zagame 2, B Appel, J Liessmann, A Timilty, K Gruber) Hunter Hurricanes 6 (B Russell 2, L Magann, S Jones, T Elliott, N McJannett).
In Perth: UWA Comets 8 (G G Hadley 3, J Reynolds 2, J Avins, A Anderson, Z Hadley) St George Dragons 7 (A Brightwell 3, J Cox 2, A Bartho, K Card).
Final points: Fremantle Marlins 62, Sydney University Lions 59, Brisbane Barracudas 55, Balmain Tigers 53, KFC Queensland Breakers 52, Cronulla Sharks 48, UWA Comets 41, UNSW Killer Whales 39, Victorian Tigers 36, Hunter Hurricanes 33, St George Dragons 25, Adelaide Jets 24. News source: http://www.australianwaterpolo.com.au |
News 