A MONSTER day and night of water polo is set to take place this Saturday at Bicton Pool with a Women’s Premier League double-header leading into the National Water Polo League western derby between the Fremantle Marlins/Mariners and the UWA Torpedoes.

Bicton Pool will be the scene for quite the full day of top-class water polo action beginning with the Women’s Premier League contests between the Melville Marlins and UWA City Beach Bears, and then the North Coast Phoenix and Dolphins.

That will immediately lead into Fremantle playing their first home games of the NWPL season up against the UWA Torpedoes who also have played their opening four matches of 2017 on the road.

The Fremantle Marlins and Torpedoes do battle in the women’s contest at 6.30pm before the Mariners take on UWA in the men’s clash from 8pm.

Both NWPL fixtures will be broadcast live on the Water Polo Australia Facebook page. Check it out by clicking here

Starting with the Women’s Premier League, it’s a top of the table clash between the Marlins and Bears. Melville is unbeaten this season with UWA City Beach having lost just the once, which just happened to be against the Marlins.

The way both teams juggle their players in the respective Fremantle and Torpedoes squads will also be worth keeping an eye on.

The second Premier League contest pits the Phoenix up against Dolphins. It will North Coast’s first game since the resumption of the competition in 2017 as they search for a third win of the season. The Dolphins are still looking to break their duck for the campaign.

It is then time for the first NWPL game in Perth for 2017 starting with the women’s contest between the Marlins and Torpedoes.

Fremantle has started the season winning three of their six games away from home. UWA had four games away in four days in Round 1, scoring two wins each over the Adelaide Jets and Water Polo Australia Barbarians.

That sets the scene for a tremendous NWPL women’s contest with the Marlins needing the win to stay in the top six while the Torpedoes are looking for a fifth straight win as they embark on their opening 11 games being away from their home pool.

The men’s contest is also set to be a cracking affair with both the Mariners and Torpedoes playing finals in 2016, with UWA ending up winning the premiership for the first time in the club’s history.

Fremantle has opened the season winning two of its six games away from home while the Torpedoes went four from four on the road against both the Jets and Barbarians.

Fresh in the minds of both clubs was December’s Premier League Grand Final when the UWA City Beach Bears managed to beat the Melville Sharks 10-8. That was also held at Bicton Pool.

The Melville Water Polo Club will be celebrating its 70th anniversary for the occasion and not only will Bicton Pool host the two Premier League and two NWPL fixtures, but there’s plenty more planned.

Junior games will be taking place and then at half-time of the NWPL there will be Flippaball matches in the pool as well.

As always, the bar will be open with food and drinks available to purchase as well so do yourself a favour, and get there early and check out four high-quality games of water polo.

SATURDAY BICTON POOL SCHEDULE
WOMEN’S PREMIER LEAGUE
Melville Marlins v UWA City Beach Bears – 3.00pm
Phil Johnson Plumbing & Gas North Coast Phoenix v Lawley’s Bakery Dolphins – 4.30pm

NATIONAL WATER POLO LEAGUE
Fremantle Marlins v UWA Torpedoes – Women’s at 6.30pm
Fremantle Mariners v UWA Torpedoes – Men’s at 8.00pm