Junior success for NSWIS water polo teams

A bronze and a silver medal have been claimed for the NSWS junior water polo teams following the climax to the Sydney Water Polo Youth Festival today.

Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre was the venue for a gripping set of finals, with the NSW Institute of Sport taking silver in the Junior Men’s and bronze in the Junior Women’s.

The Grand Final had a State of Origin flavour as QLD Maroon and NSWIS faced off in the pool for the Junior Men’s, with the team from New South Wales ultimately falling 4-2.

Former NSWIS Water Polo Head Coach Chris Wybrow watched on from the stands and feels the outcome was a pleasing one.

“It was a largely defensive contest, with Hayden Molla (GK) and Daniel Kerr playing well.

“The additional finals match seemed to take it’s toll on the NSWIS men but it was a good result and the first time the guys had played together”.

In the Junior Women’s, NSW Institute of Sport defeated the NSW Blues 5-1 with youngster Macy Hansford, fifteen, stepping up to the Junior Women squad to help NSWIS secure the bronze.

Assistant Coach Bec Rippon was satisfied overall by the performance of NSWIS in the Youth Festival.

“The women were much improved across the tournament, it was disappointing to go down in the Semi Final but good to regroup and claim bronze”.

Members of the NSWIS women’s water polo squad have recently returned from a valuable training camp in Shanghai, China, where they played against and trained with local opposition as well as taking the opportunity to watch the Aussie Stingers finish seventh in the FINA World League Super Final.