It was the final no one had predicted, but it delivered the biggest finish. UWA Torpedoes today walked away with their first ever National Water Polo League title after winning the penalty shoot out against the home side Victorian Seals 13-11.
Special congratulations to: Head Coach; Andrei Kovalenko, Assistant Coach; Brent Thompson, Team Manager; Steven Kyriakou, Athletes; Luke Quinlivan*, Lach Pethick*, Alex Bogunovich*, Florian Naroska*, George Ford*, Nic Hughes*, Brett McGhie, Mateu Diaz Brana*, Andrew Ford*, Milos “Yogi” Vukicevic*, Tom Beare, Jed Thompson*, Tim Putt*, Tom Rigoll*, Nathan Quinsee*, Lachlan Vos*, Josh Zekulich, Christian Kyriakou*, Max Garbut-Wilkins*, Tom Powell*. (*denotes UWA City Beach member) and EVERYONE involved in achieving this success!
Both the Torpedoes and Seals dominated their semi-finals, toppling the top two sides from the year to book their spot in today’s final.
It was an even match up between the teams with the Seals coming out strong to take the first goal in the opening minutes thanks to captain Matt Gronow.
But the Torpedoes didn’t let them get too far ahead trailing by only one goal throughout the entire game.
The Torpedoes fought back to take the lead in the dying seconds of the final quarter, but with two seconds left on the clock the Seals netted another goal to take the game into a penalty shoot-out after an 8-8 score line.
The Torpedoes got a break early on with captain Luke Quinlivan in goal shutting down Seals captain Matt Gronow’s shot. Quinlivan was well prepared for the penalty shoot-out knowing there was a strong possibility of the game going down to the wire.
“I watched Victoria against Cronulla in their penalty shoot out and I saw the way Matthew Gronow took his penalty.
“I’d seen him take his penalties like that previously in the season so I bated him and jumped to the top right corner hoping he’d go there because that’s his most comfortable shot… and he did,” said Quinlivan.
As goalie he had a big role to play shoot-out but Quinlivan had a small issue to deal with before he could focus on the task at hand.
“My team physio and team mate Brett McGhie had to help me get a cramp out of my leg, so I was a little bit nervous.
“I never thought we were home until the final siren sounded. The closest we’ve ever come is runner up in 1996 and 2013. What can I say… I’m absolutely stoked,” he said.
The 2016 National Water Polo League had returned to Melbourne for the first time in more than 25 years and the Victorian Seals were hoping for the fairy tail ending of what had been an amazing Finals run for the home team.
“That can only do good things for our sport when you have a final like that, it’s disappointing but I’m proud of the guys, we can hold our head up high we made it to the Final, we had an amazing crowd, an amazing game.
“On behalf of the Victorian Seals we’d like to thank everyone who came out, we wouldn’t be in the finals without you guys so thanks,” said Gronow.
MENS GOLD MEDAL
UWA Torpedoes 13 (M Dias Brana, A Ford and M Vukocevic 3, N Hughes 2, G Ford and T Beare) def. Victorian Seals (M Gronow 5, B Edwards 3, L Edwards 1, S Robinson and D Egan 1) after penalty shoot out.
MENS BRONZE MEDAL
Sydney University Lions 10 (T Kearns 3, G Tomasevic and L Northcott 2, C Dyson, M Rosenthal and J Cotterill 1) def. UNSW Wests Magpies (R Campbell and N Power 2, D Streets, J Gilchrist and A Lambie 1)
2016 National Water Polo League Final Awards
CHARLES TURNER MEDAL – Billy Miller, Brisbane Barracudas
TOM HOAD MEDAL – Andrew Ford, UWA Torpedoes
ALL STAR TEAM:
Goalkeeper: Joel Dennerley, UNSW Wests Magpies
Billy Miller, Brisbane Barracudas
Rhys Howden, Brisbane Barracudas
Nathan Power, UNSW Wests Magpies
Carlo Di Fulvio, Cronulla Sharks
Gordon Marshall, Hunter Hurricanes
Joe Kayes, Cronulla Sharks
SOUTHERN CROSS TROPHY – Sydney University Lions
BRONZE MEDALLISTS – Sydney University Lions
SILVER MEDALLISTS – Victorian Seals
CHAMPIONS AND GOLD MEDALLISTS –UWA Torpedoes
REFEREE AWARDS
JOHN WHITEHOUSE MEDAL – Nicola Johnson
