ROUND 7 of the 2018 Australian Water Polo League saw the West Australian teams Fremantle and UWA host the powerful Sydney Uni Lions and it produced some outstanding contests over the four days.

The women’s contests were split across the four days with the Fremantle Marlins beating Sydney Uni on Thursday but losing on Saturday, while the UWA Torpedoes lost to the Lions on Friday night but won in a penalty shootout on Sunday morning.

Meanwhile in the men’s contests, Sydney Uni still managed to return home undefeated in 2018 to date but they did only win three of the four matches. The Lions and Fremantle Mariners played out a draw on Saturday night.

The Round 7 results heading into the break over the Commonwealth Games leave the Fremantle Marlins sitting in fourth spot with eight wins, a draw and five losses while the UWA Torpedoes women are 10th with four wins, a draw and nine losses.

The Fremantle Mariners are in third position with 10 wins, a draw and three loss so far this AWL season with the Torpedoes men sitting ninth with two wins, a draw and 11 losses.

The Sydney University Lions women arrived in Perth looking to cement their spot near the top of the standings but didn’t have things all their own way over the four games in four days.

Firstly on Thursday night at Bicton Pool, the Fremantle Marlins won 12-10 over the Lions.

Erin Redbond was the star for the Marlins scoring six goals with Madeleine Quinn and Lara Zimmerman adding two each. Matilda Kearns and Danielle Morrissey scored three goals each for the Lions, and Keesja Gofers two.

Then Friday night at UWA Aquatic Centre, Sydney Uni bounced back against the Torpedoes with a 13-8 victory.

Keesja Gofers celebrated her birthday with five goals for the Lions while Matilda Kearns scored three and Genevieve Venosta two. Tayla Walsh scored three goals for the Torpedoes and Jakie Kohli two.

Then on Saturday night back at Bicton Pool, the Lions got revenge for two evenings earlier coming away with a 8-3 victory against the Marlins.

Danielle Morrissey, Matilda Kearns, Isobel Bishop and Keesja Gofers all scored twice each for the Lions. Sofia Chaves, Ebony Brown and Madeleine Quinn were the goal scorers for Fremantle.

Then on Sunday morning at UWA Aquatic Centre, the Torpedoes and Lions couldn’t be separated at the end of regular time with scores level at 10-10.

The game went to the penalty shootout where Michelle Maritnelli, Glenda Morgan, Pippa Pedley and Claire Whitaker all scored for UWA. Only Keesja Gofers, Danielle Morrissey and Genevieve Venosta scored for Sydney Uni with the Torpedoes claiming the 14-13 victory.

The men’s action for the round got underway at Bicton Pool on Thursday night with the undefeated Sydney Uni beating the Fremantle Mariners 10-7.

Ben Stevenson scored three goals for the Lions, Goran Tomasevic three and Tom Kearns two. Nick Elphick hit four goals for Fremantle.

Then on Friday night at UWA Aquatic Centre, Sydney University kept their undefeated 2018 season going beating the UWA Torpedoes men 11-4.

Johnno Cotterill hit three goals for the Lions, Michael Rosenthal two, Scott Nicholson two and Goran Tomasevic two. Lach Pethick, Nick Hughes, Kevin Oliveira and Andrew Ford scored a goal each for UWA.

Then on Saturday night back at Bicton Pool, the Fremantle Mariners went so close to handing Sydney Uni its first defeat of 2018, but at least stopped their winning run with the 13-13 with the teams unable to be separated even after a penalty shootout.

Nick Elphick finished with five goals for Fremantle, Will Mackay four and James Fannon two. Johnno Cotterill scored three goals for Sydney Uni, Ben Stevenson three, Michael Rosenthal three, Tom Kearns two and Goran Tomasevic two.

Then lastly on Sunday back at UWA Aquatic Centre, Sydney Uni bounced back strongly defeating the UWA Torpedoes 18-7.

Goran Tomasevic, Wil Cotterill, Tom Kearns and Christian Kyriakou all scored three goals each for the Lions. Andrew Ford hit three goals for the Torpedoes and Lach Pethick two.

Both WA teams in the AWL now have significant breaks before resuming their 2018 seasons.

For the Torpedoes, they next play on Thursday April 12 on the road to the Queensland Breakers at Fortitude Valley Pool. That begins four games in four days on that road trip made up of two games each against the Breakers and Brisbane Barracudas.

Meanwhile, the Fremantle Marlins and Mariners don’t play again until taking on the Cronulla Sharks at Bicton Pool on Friday April 20.

OVO AUSTRALIAN WATER POLO LEAGUE
WOMEN’S – ROUND 7
THURSDAY MARCH 15
Fremantle Marlins 12 defeated Sydney Uni Lions 10 at Bicton Pool

FRIDAY MARCH 16
UWA Torpedoes 8 lost to Sydney Uni Lions 13 at UWA Aquatic Centre

SATURDAY MARCH 17
Fremantle Marlins 3 lost to Sydney Uni Lions 8 at Bicton Pool

SUNDAY MARCH 18
UWA Torpedoes 14 defeated Sydney Uni Lions 13 (4-3 in penalty shootout) at UWA Aquatic Centre

MEN’S – ROUND 7
THURSDAY MARCH 15
Fremantle Mariners 7 lost to Sydney Uni Lions 10 at Bicton Pool

FRIDAY MARCH 16
UWA Torpedoes 4 lost to Sydney Uni Lions 11 at UWA Aquatic Centre

SATURDAY MARCH 17
Fremantle Mariners 13 drew with Sydney Uni Lions 13 (3-3 in penalty shootout) at Bicton Pool

SUNDAY MARCH 18
UWA Torpedoes 7 lost to Sydney Uni Lions 18 at UWA Aquatic Centre