The Tigers came to Perth with two wins and notched up two victories over reigning champions Fremantle Marlins and a 14-12 victory over the Comets.

However, the pressure of four matches in four days told and the Comets, spearheaded by World League silver medallist Jemma Dessauvagie with two of her four goals in the third quarter, gained a two-goal advantage heading into the final quarter.

The margin twice went to three in the final quarter before the Tigers staged a late but unsuccessful comeback against a team winning its first game of the season.

The Tigers men had little difficulty in downing UWA Torpedoes 12-6 for three wins from four matches in Perth.

In Brisbane, Brisbane Barracudas gained their first win from eight matches with an 8-4 success over last year’s beaten finalists Sydney University Lions.

It reversed a 14-13 loss two nights previously and breathed life into the team’s season.

The Lions women, however, beat Barracudas for a second time to maintain their winning momentum in Brisbane with a 10-6 decision.

In Sydney, Ross O’Brien netted seven times in Wests Magpies’ 14-7 demolition of Adelaide Jets.

The UNSW Killer Whales could not repeat their giant-killing effort of Friday when they eclipsed China, losing to the Olympic-qualified nation 9-3.

Cronulla Sharks hosted Hunter Hurricanes at Sutherland Pool with the men winning 8-7 and the women, with Nicola Zagame blasting in seven goals, beating Hunter 12-10.

Results:
Men:
In Brisbane: Brisbane Barracudas 8 (K Smoker, C Williamson, D Young 2, R Howden, D Gynther) Sydney University Lions 4 (T Franklin 3, A Visch).
In Sydney: Wests Magpies 14 (R O’Brien 7, S Cody, P Jacobson 3, C Eames) Adelaide Jets 7 (N Martin, A Martin 2, J McKown, P Harmer, T Dayman), Cronulla Sharks 8 (T Brown 4, S Mackenzie, C Rourke, R Tracy, L Zagame) Hunter Hurricanes 7 (R Sinclair, J Johnston 2, M Baird, S Berry, P Reid).
In Perth: Victorian Tigers 12 (L Gavin, T Neesham 3, M Bridgeman 2, T Curwen, T Birkett, M Corr, J Diskin) UWA Torpedoes 6 (J Balczer 3, H Brown, B McGhie, R Whaitiri).
Women:
In Brisbane: Sydney University Lions 10 (A Brightwell, K Gofers, J Cox 2, F Hammond, L Hoban, M Hammond, A Cox) Brisbane Barracudas 6 (J Moran 3, K Gynther, H Robinson, E Keogh).
In Sydney: Cronulla Sharks 12 (N Zagame 7, H Lincoln-Smith, B Appel 2, J Liessmann) Hunter Hurricanes 10 (N McJannet 4, E Goodwin, E Polkinghorne 2, C Ta’avale, B Russell), China 9 (Sun Yating 3, Teng Fei, Ma Huanhuan 2, He Jin, Sun Huizi) UNSW Killer Whales 3 (A Carter, H Hawtin, K Moran).
In Perth: UWA Comets 9 (J Dessauvagie 4, C Ainsworth 2, M Hausmann, S Welch, Z Hadley) Victorian Tigers 8 (J Hanson, R Webster 2, A Van Ommen, C Henderson, K Wilkinson, R McGuinness).

Victorian Tigers get up over Fremantle Mariners in Perth
Perth (February 3).—
Victorian Tigers did what they have promised for some time by beating four-times champions Fremantle Mariners 9-8 in a National Water Polo League match at Bicton Pool here last night.

And they did it with a former Mariner in their ranks in the form of dual Olympian Tim Neesham.

After losing to the Mariners by three goals on Thursday night, the Tigers learned the lesson and played a magnificent game with a four-goal advantage in the early stages.

The Mariners valiantly drew level at five, six, seven and eight but couldn’t grab the lead as the Tigers scored the winning goal 5:29 from the end.

The Tigers women proved their 11-7 victory over the champion Fremantle Marlins on Thursday was no fluke with a commanding 12-9 decision in the early game.

Rowena Webster plugged the goal five times, including the buzzer-beating lob at fulltime.

China shot back into the winners’ circle with a 15-8 defeat of Cronulla Sharks at Gunnamatta Bay in Sydney.

The Sharks led 2-0 early but the closest the 2006 champions got to China in the latter part of the game was 10-6 behind at the top of the fourth quarter.

Drummoyne Devils men went five straight in their debut year with an 8-3 margin over Cronulla Sharks, also in the harbour waters of Gunnamatta.
S

ydney’s Wests Magpies men gained their second win with an 8-3 win over Adelaide Jets after leading 6-0 late in the first half at Ashfield.

Results:
Men:
In Sydney: Wests Magpies 10 (R O’Brien 3, S Cody, P Jacobson 2, T Delany, B Krasznai, C Eames) Adelaide Jets 5 (N Martin 2, P Harmer, T Dayman, M Richardson), Drummoyne Devils 8 (S Boyd, I Bosnic 2, D Semmens, G Richardson, T Martin, S Avallone) Cronulla Sharks 3 (M Howden, C Rourke, S Hedlund).
In Perth: Victorian Tigers 9 (T Curwen, L Gavin, C Gronow, J Thompson 2, J Gilchrist) Fremantle Mariners 8 (D Lawrence 4, A Richardson, T Seress, P Tresise, A Younger).
Women:
In Sydney: China 15 (Sun Huizi 4, Gao Ao 3, Teng Fei, Sun Yujun, Sun Yating, M Huanhuan 2) Cronulla Sharks 8 (B Appel, J Liessmann N Zagame 2, E Nicholson, E Hamilton-Foster).
In Perth: Victorian Tigers 12 (R Webster 5, J Hanson, A Van Ommen, C Henderson, L Baldwin, C Banks, E Rosato, H Morrison) Fremantle Marlins 9 (E Neesham 3, S Wheelock 2, G Ralph, Z Arancini, L Neilsen, R Flint).

Spy mission proves fruitful for Killer Whales
Sydney (February 2).—
A spy mission to Balmain’s Dawn Fraser Pool on Wednesday helped plot the overthrow of China at the University of NSW Pool last night.

The fledgling UNSW combination, bereft of any international stars, led seven times in the game, only trailing once at quarter time.

Olympian and coach Chris Wybrow sent his team to Balmain armed with a questionnaire for that encounter when the bustling Chinese ran rampant over Balmain for an 11-4 win.

The questions answered, Wybrow and his team plotted the victory with finesse rather than brute strength for an historic win in front of the university’s leading representatives and dignitaries.

Holly Hawtin claimed her third goal and the winner with three minutes to go and the Killer Whales held on for an emotional victory.

Drummoyne Devils continued their unbeaten run with Aussie Shark Grant Richardson and 2000 Olympian Sean Boyd combining for nine goals in their team’s 12-8 win over Adelaide Jets at Drummoyne Pool.

In Brisbane, Sydney University Lions men were six goals up on Brisbane Barracudas in the second quarter but only won 14-13.

The Lions women secured their 11-9 victory over Barracudas thanks to two late goals from Alicia Brightwell.
In Perth, Victorian Tigers men rumbled UWA Torpedoes 19-4 while the Tigers women held out UWA Comets 14-12.

Results:
Men:
In Brisbane: Sydney University Lions 14 (N Cargill 3, T Franklin, J Young, A Visch, B Turner 2, T Woudwyk, D Carrick, L Hollis) Brisbane Barracudas 13 (R Howden, D Young 3, D Gynther, C Williamson 2, K Smoker, BJ Howden, A Yeates).
In Sydney: Drummoyne Devils 12 (G Richardson 5, S Boyd 4, A Roach 2, T Martin) Adelaide Jets 8 (N Martin 3, J McKown, A Martin 2, P Harmer).
In Perth: Victorian Tigers 19 (T Curwen 6, L Gavin 3, J Gilchrist, T Neesham, T Birkett 2, C Gronow, I Lark, M Corr, J Diskin) UWA Torpedoes 4 (B Mercer, R Whaitiri, T Jasper, J Balczer).
Women:
In Brisbane: Sydney University Lions 11 (J Whitehorn 3, K Gofers, A Brightwell 2, L Maksimovic, F Hammond, M Hammond, A Cox) Brisbane Barracudas 9 (K Bryce 4, J Moran, N Stoltz 2, E Keogh).
In Sydney: UNSW 8 (A Carter, H Hawtin 3, J Burford, K Moran) China 7 (Ma Huanhuan 2, Teng Fei, Lui Ping, Sun Yujun, He Jin, Sun Yating).
In Perth: Victorian Tigers 14 (R Webster 6, A Gronow 4, J Hanson, L Baldwin, E Rosato, K Wilkinson) UWA Comets 12 (J Dessauvagie, S Welch 4, Z Hadley 2, M Hausmann, A Anderson).

Pictures courtesy of Dale Watson, Energy Images, P.O.Box 307, South Perth, WA 6951, Mobile 0417782721

Lightning snuffs out two NWPL matches in Sydney
Sydney (February 1).—
Thunderstorms forced the abandonment of two National Water Polo League matches in Sydney last night.

The much-anticipated clash between Olympic host China and Cronulla Sharks women at Sutherland could not go ahead and Drummoyne Devils’ home clash with Adelaide Jets men was also cancelled.

Persistent thunder and lightning between 5.30-9pm prevented both games from starting in their respective outdoor venues.

The men’s game will probably be rescheduled but the women’s game has been cancelled because of China’s tight programme.

In Perth, under clear skies, reigning champions Fremantle Marlins women suffered their first loss with an 11-7 upset by Victorian Tigers.

The Tigers used their all-round game to great success with eight players making the scoresheet to record their third straight win of the season.

Fremantle Mariners men beat Victorian Tigers 13-10 with three of the Tigers’ goals coming from former Fremantle star and dual Olympian Tim Neesham, who lives in Perth but plays for the Victorians on contract.

Back-from-injury Aussie Shark Mitchal Ainsworth nailed four goals for the four-time champion Mariners.

In Brisbane, the clash of last year’s grand finalists saw champions KFC Queensland Breakers sweep aside Sydney University Lions men 12-8.

The Lions, winner of three crowns this decade, never recovered from the 5-0 deficit early in the second quarter.

Keesja Gofers spearheaded the Lions women to a 16-5 victory over the Breakers with five goals.

Results:
Men:
In Brisbane: KFC Queensland Breakers 12 (D Will 3, D Marsden A Martin, S Robertson 2, C Corbin, T Jenkins, M Wilson) Sydney University Lions 8 (T Franklin 4, C Hammond, L Hollis, A Visch, B Turner).
In Sydney: Drummoyne Devils v Adelaide Jets abandoned due to lightning.
In Perth: Fremantle Mariners 13 (M Ainsworth 4, T Cleland 3, T Seress 2, J Beadsworth, P Tresise, A Younger, G Nicholson) Victorian Tigers 10 (T Neesham 3, J Gilchrist, J Thompson 2, L Gavin, A Edwards, C Gronow).
Women:
In Brisbane: Sydney University Lions 16 (K Gofers 5, J Whitehorn 3, F Hammond, M Hammond, A Brightwell 2, S Cuffe, J Cox) KFC Queensland Breakers 5 (J Collins 2, K Miller, A Richardson, S Farquhar).
In Sydney: Cronulla Sharks v China cancelled due to lightning.
In Perth: Victorian Tigers 11 (A Gronow, E Rossato, K Wilkinson 2, A Van Ommen, C Henderson, R Webster, K Dowling, R McGuinness) Fremantle Marlins 7 (G Ralph, K Heuchan 2, S Wheelock, E Neesham, L Neilsen).

China gains revenge over Balmain women
Sydney (January 31).—
China gained retribution over Balmain Tigers in National Water Polo League women’s action at the Dawn Fraser Pool here last night. Following a last-gasp 11-10 loss to Balmain the previous night, China emerged an 11-4 victor in the return match.

The first quarter was level with China edging out to 4-2 at halftime and then controlling the final quarters 4-1 and 3-1.

Teng Fei (pictured) and Gao Ao top-scored with three each for China as Balmain missed the services of its Olympic champion Taryn Woods.

China continues its gruelling schedule with a match against Cronulla Sharks this evening.

Result:
In Sydney: China 11 (Teng Fei, Gao Ao 3, Sun Yating 2, Sun He Jun, Ma Huanhuan, Sun Huizi) Balmain Tigers 4 (L Simms, L Varlow, B Smith, A Bower).

Balmain Tigers too good for Chinese women
Sydney (January 29). --
China's women came crashing down to earth with a heart-stopping 11-10 loss to Balmain Tigers in National Water Polo League action at the Dawn Fraser Pool here last night.

After two huge wins over Hunter Hurricanes in the previous two days China found out how tough some of the teams are in the NWPL.

Balmain needed two goals inside the last two minutes to secure the victory after being three goals behind in the third quarter.

Sydney Olympian Bronwyn Smith firstly scored on extra and then Lauren Varlow scored the clincher with 51 seconds remaining.

In the only mens game of the day newcomers Drummoyne Devils scored their third straight victory with a 15-9 margin over Brisbane Barracudas.

Aussie Shark and Devils captain Grant Richardson was the hero with five goals while Rhys Howden top-scored for the Barracudas with four.

Results:

Men:

In Sydney: Drummoyne Devils 15 (G Richardson 5, I Bosnic 4, M Emery, S Avallone 2, J Miller, J Ramirez) Brisbane Barracudas 9 (R Howden 4, D Young 3, D Gynther, M Giles).

Women:

In Sydney: Balmain Tigers 11 (L Higlett, L Simms, L Varlow, B Smith, N Saville 2, Y Schmid) China 10 (Teng Fei, Sun Huizi 3, Sun Yating 2, Lui Ping, He Jin).