BATHURST Aquatic Centre played host to an exciting finale of the 2017-18 Water Polo NSW 16 And Under State Championships on Tuesday as ACU Cronulla Sharks survived a fightback from the Sydney University Lions.
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In a rematch of the under 14s final from two years ago Sharks once again got the better of their Lions opponents, scoring a 8-6 win.
Lions fought back from a 4-1 deficit to level the scores before Sharks once again got away over a high-scoring final quarter.
Winning coach Neven Cirkovic said his team saved their best for when it mattered most.
“I’m really proud of them. The boys did their best and that’s what counts. Even if they had lost it wouldn’t have mattered, honestly. They leave their hearts in the pool and their hard work got them the gold medal,” he said.
“Sydney Uni is an excellent team. They have some very strong individuals. I think we deserved this win because we played consistently sharp the whole game.”
Connor Barclay opened the scoring midway through the opening quarter when his side made the most of the first Lions exclusion of the match.
Lions hit back straight away on the next possession when a Cronulla foul in front of their own goal allowed Zachary Green to convert from the penalty throw.
The Lions’ Luka Kristic was excluded and the Sharks once again capitalised on the six-versus-five situation when Alex Brischetto’s rocket shot found the back of the net.
Sharks took a 3-1 lead into the first break when Liam Watson punished the Lions for a defensive error.
Barclay scored his second goal of the match with his low fling beating Lions goalkeeper Angus Abbo.
Sydney University scored against the run of play through a successful Grayson Richardson shot just before half-time.
Lions built up momentum before the main break and carried that into the new half when Drew McJannett got his side back within a goal.
Sharks’ failure to adhere to a player exclusion gifted the Sydney University team a penalty shot. Green made no mistake from the five metre mark and levelled the scores at 4-all.
Cronulla regained the lead just before the final break when Watson was on hand to push home Brischetto’s blocked attempt on goal.
Barclay started the final quarter in style with arguably the goal of the match. The Sharks man slipped by two defenders and completed his hat trick for a 6-4 lead.
A tight-angled shot from the Lions’ Toby Goldschmidt got his team within a goal before successful shots from Cronulla’s Tristan Glanznig and Watson sealed the result for the Sharks.
Lions picked up a consolation goal with 30 seconds to go through Goldschmidt on the counter-attack.
