Sunday 22nd November:

Bronze medal: NSWIS 17 (M Baird 4, S Cody3, R O’Brien, M Emery,  S McGregor 3, S Nicholson, N Hollis 2, C Eames 2) VICTORIA 7 (J Disken, A O'Lee 2, T Sengstock, S Lewis 2, Booth)
(3-3,5-5,10-6,17-7)

NSWIS found it very difficult to shake off a young determined Vic outfit and to many people's surprise the scores were locked at 1/2 time. In the 3rd quarter NSWIS ramped up the tempo and managed to score 5 goals whilst restricting the tiring Vic team to one goal late in the quarter.

The superior fitness, strength and depth of talent of the NSWIS team came to the fore in the last quarter with NSWIS swimming away for a comfortable 10 goal victory.

Gold medal: QAS 6 (R Howden 2, D Young, S Robertson, M McCann, B Edwards) WAIS 3 (J Collier, N Redbond, J Swift)
(2-0,3-0,5-1,6-3)

WAIS went into this game as deserved favourites after going through the rounds and semi final undefeated. QAS however was having none of this and from the immediate start of the game looked the stronger and more committed team. This was despite having a tough semi-final game on Saturday and there being some question over their ability to back up against a fresher WAIS outfit. A sign of things to come may have been evident with the news that
WAIS coach Paul Oberman could not attend the game due to food poisoning the night before.

The 1st quarter was a tough defensive effort from both teams, but QAS managed to capitalise on 2 occasions with strong outside shooting, whilst WAIS shooters found it difficult to penetrate the strong zone defence and many shots did not make it past the blockers. The zone effectively shut out the effectiveness of the strong WAIS centre-forwards as they were starved
for opportunity.

The 2nd quarter continued on the same way as the 1st with QAS completely shutting out all the WAIS attacks. Frustration started to creep into the WAIS attack and their composure and confidence which had been such a strong part of their previous games was being eroded. QAS also found it difficult to score in this period however they did manage a goal to extend the lead to three goals at the main break.

WAIS were determined to try and wrestle their way back into the game but still had no answers to the QAS defence. QAS however continued to make the most of their opportunities and through a clinical display of controlled attacking managed to slip out to a five goal lead late in the 3rd, before WAIS finally got on the board through a penalty conversion.

The last quarter was a slog for both teams with QAS determined to control the tempo of the game whilst WAIS continued to try and push counter-attacks and endeavour to make an impression on the scoreboard. It was the superior QAS defence that once again held firm and in such a low scoring game WAIS were never a realistic chance of pegging back the deficit, despite a couple of goals late in the final quarter.

Congratulations must go to coach Simon Daley, his coaching team and players on a superb effort and implementation of the game plan in claiming the 'three-peat'.

QAS remains the only team to win the men's NTC challenge since it's inception in 2007.
 

QAS earns gold-medal clash with WAIS at Men's NTC Challenge
Brisbane (November 22).—
Western Australian Institute of Sport tand Queensland Academy of Sport will clash in the gold-medal final of the men's NTC Challenge here today. 

Saturday 21st Nov
Semi Finals- All Hallows

WAIS 19:7 Vic (3:1, 5:1, 4:4, 7:1)

WAIS looked at their imposing best piling on goals mainly from counter-attack, which was launched from a solid press- steal defence. As with the 1st meeting of these teams, the young Vic team struggled to cope with the heavy defence and size of the more mature, experienced WAIS players. The Vics, however, did not throw the towel in and managed to grab 4 goals in the 3rd quarter, before WAIS put the foot down to score 7 of their own in the final quarter.

QAS 8:5 NSWIS (1:1, 1:1, 4:1, 1:2)

The 2nd final was a tight affair with both defences playing a solid press/drop which meant very few passes to CF, forcing long shots from the perimeter which both GK’s were able to save on the majority of occasions. QAS opened up the game in the 3rd quarter with a number of good counter-attack goals, whilst NSWIS wasted too many scoring opportunities with shots going wide or over the top. Despite throwing everything at QAS in the last quarter, the QAS defence held solid and they were happy to protect the 3 goal lead they had opened up to secure a spot in the gold medal game v WAIS 

QAS goal too late to secure draw with WAIS

Friday 20th Nov.
AM session: Valley Pool Brisbane

NSWIS 13: 2 Vic (4:1, 2:0, 4:0, 3:1)

After scoring the 1st goal of the match, poor attacking and passing options by the Vics presented many opportunities for NSWIS to capitalise on errors to go to a 3 goal lead at ¼ time. In contrast to Victoria, NSWIS played a very controlled attacking game combined with strong defence to virtually shut out any avenues to goals. Victoria only managed to score one more goal late in the final ¼ whilst NSWIS scored 9 in the last 3 quarters.

Vic K smith, s lewis
Nswis T martin 4 s cody r o'brien a polivka m emery s mcgregor s nicholson j davis l hollis c eames
 

WAIS 9:8 QAS (4:2, 2:4, 1:1, 2:1)

A very close intense game with scores locked at ½ and ¾ time. Both teams pressed their counter attacks to try and gain an advantage but defences were solid. The game was not decided until the final seconds, with QAS taking a shot in extra man, which did cross the goal-line, however the referees correctly disallowed the goal as it was deemed to have left the hand after the final siren had blown.

Wais A younger 2 j swift 2 j fannon 2 j collier n redbond j beadsworth
Qas D streets 2 d young 2 m giles 2 r howden j votan
 

PM session – All Hallows

QAS 11:4 Vic (3:0, 1:3, 4:1, 3:0)

After a sluggish start the Vics hit back after the ¼ time break quarter and were only 1 down deep into the 3rd quarter. QAS then scored 3 successive goals from excellent outside perimeter shots in the space of 2 mins take a sizeable lead going into the last quarter. A shut out in the last quarter due to solid defence meant a comfortable victory to QAS, however it was a
much improved effort by Victoria.

Qas R howden 3 d young 2 c corbin 2 j votan 2 d streets b edwards
Vic S lewis 2 k smith j disken
 

NSWIS 11: 12 WAIS. (0:2, 3:4, 2:3, 6:2)

Another close exciting game going down to the wire again. Both teams entered the game knowing that a victory would secure them 1st place and the easier of the semi finals games.
It was WAIS who started well with both defences dominating meaning goals were hard to come by. NSWIS hit back in the 2nd quarter, but for every goal scored WAIS had a reply. The game progressed in this manner until in the final quarter NSWIS stepped up a gear and quickly got back within 1 goal with a couple of minutes to play. However WAIS were able to steady and hang-on for a decisive 1 goal victory and clinch the top spot.

Wais A younger 3 d lawrence 3 t cleland 2 j swift 2 j collier j beadsworth j fannon
Nswis A polivka 4 M baird 3 s cody 2 l hollis c eames
 

WAIS open's Men's NTC Challenge with big win
Brisbane (November 20).—
Western Australian Institute of Sport thumped Victoria 18-5 on the opening day of the men's NTC Challenge here.

Day 1

WAIS 18 VIC 5

WAIS 18 - (cleland 3,beadsworth 5,short 1,younger 3,swift 2,fannon 2,lawrence 2)

VIC - 5 - (smith 1,harmer 1,sengstock 2,lewis 1)

5-2,9-3,16-5,18-5

Victoria hung in well against WAIS for about 1.5 quarters, but the strong press/steal defence by WAIS provided many counter-attack opportunities which eventually overwhelmed the Vics and providing a comfortable win for WAIS.

QAS 8 NSWIS 8

QAS - 8 -(howden 1,streets 1,young 1,corbin 1,mccann 2,edwards 1,fettell 1)

NSWIS -8 - (martin 1,obrien 1,polivka 2,hollis 3,davie 1)

1-1,5-3,5-6,8-8

Very close and intense game with amazing score fluctuations. The 1st quarter was dominated by both defences with the GK’s dominating at both ends. QAS then came out firing in the 2nd and within 4 mins broke out to a 4 goal lead through some excellent outside shooting and conversions on counter attack. The NSWIS team regrouped and mange to pull back 2 goals late in the quarter to reduce the lead to 2 at ∏ time.

The 3rd quarter was all NSWIS scoring 3- nil after QAS made a GK change and the defence appeared to take time to adjust. NSWIS by 2 at the last break.

Early in the last π NSWIS increased the lead to 3 goals, meaning they had scored 7 in a row to this point,  before QAS hit back hard to tie the game up with 1 min to go. Both teams had opportunities to win the game with attacks from time-out calls, with the crucial final shot of the game from NSWIS going wide of the frame to leave the teams locked at 8 all.
. 

2009 Men's NTC Challenge
Brisbane (6 November 2009): The Men's NTC challenge will be held in Brisbane at Valley Pool and All Hallows School 19 - 22 November.

John Fox, National Men's Coach, said this will be a great chance for Institute of Sport scholarship holders to have a solid hit out against other leading players.The water polo community is encouraged to attend these games 

Click here to download team lists

NTC CHALLENGE 2009

BRISBANE
19th November - 22nd November

 VENUES

Valley Pool Brunswick Street FORTITUDE VALLEY
All Hallows Pool, Anne Street FORTITUDE VALLEY

 PARTICIPATING TEAMS
QAS
NSWIS
WAIS
VICTORIA