Breakers shrug off Tigers' challenge

Brisbane (May 13).— KFC Breakers snuffed Victorian Tigers’ chances of a top-two finish when they won their National Water Polo League match 12-11 at the Valley Pool here last night. The game was tied with just over three minutes remaining but the Breakers United States international Spencer Dornin scoring the winning goal with 1:29 left on the clock. The goal came amid some heated play after Breakers’ captain-coach Daniel Marsden was evicted for disrespect and then after the winner, Tigers’ Ryan Moody went the same way. Such was the closeness of the game that it was tied no less than seven times with the biggest lead being three by the Breakers in the second quarter. The win means that the Breakers will need to complete their programme with a re-scheduled match against Balmain Tigers in Sydney next Wednesday to see whether they automatically make the semifinals or have to go via the elimination finals. A win against Balmain will secure second spot but a loss would send them to third behind minor premiers Wests waterpolo Magpies from Sydney and Perth’s Fremantle Mariners. In the women’s encounter between the two clubs, the Breakers had their four-goal margin trimmed to 11-9 by the final whistle. New international Rowena Webster grabbed the limelight for the Tigers with six goals, including a hat-trick in the last period. In Newcastle, The Hunter Hurricanes women created a sensation by defeating finalists Balmain Tigers 9-8. Balmain is six placings higher in the rankings in fourth spot so Hunter’s final fling of the season was meritorious, built on a 6-4 halftime lead and four goals from Libby Magann. The Hunter men nearly took points off Balmain with an 11-10 loss. Hunter scored the last three goals but ran out of time against the sixth-ranked Tigers who are have qualified for the finals in Sydney next week. In Perth, Fremantle Marlins closed their account with an 18-3 victory over St George Dragons. International Gemma Beadsworth helped herself to five goals as the Marlins took their table-topping record to 20 wins from 22 outings. Results: Men: In Brisbane: KFC Breakers 12 (S Dornin 4, B Miller , D Semmens 2, D Marsden, C Corbin, T Jenkins, A Martin) Victorian Tigers 11 (A Schoneberger 3, R Moody, A Feltham, I Lark 2, C Gronow, J Thompson). In Newcastle: Balmain Tigers 11 (A Laws, G Woods 3, N Falzon 2, C Wright, T Delany, A Roach) Hunter Hurricanes 10 (N Campbell, P Reid, C Eames 2, S Berry, M Rapsey, R O’Brien, E Deloraine). Women: In Brisbane: KFC Breakers 11 (S Fraser 3, A Richardson, S Mills 2, N McCarthy, L Hawkins, B Knox, K Miller) Victorian Tigers 9 (R Webster 6, S Hurst, R Kelly, J Hanson). In Newcastle: Hunter Hurricanes 9 (L Magann 4, C Benzie, B Russell 2, J Bendeich) Balmain Tigers 8 (T Woods, A Bower 2, K Schmidt, C Moore, K Dowrick, R Sturevski). In Perth: Fremantle Marlins 18 (G Beadsworth 5, Z Arancini 4, B Brooks, S Wheelock 2, G Ralph, K Finucane, L Chaves, L O’Halloran, R Flint) St George Dragons 3 (K Card 2, A Brightwell).

 

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