One-sidedwins open up finals on Friday

It’s Black Stars’ trophy to lose. That’s the word going around the men’s competition at the Port Hedland Water Polo Association after the preliminary final last Friday night.

Dragons stunned the White Pointers with the opening goal of the game through Brooklyn Mitchell, and held the Pointers to a 1-1 scoreline at the first break but it wasn’t all that bleak with 3-1 at half time.

Josh Blair had other thoughts, though, and lit up the scoring in the second half, going on to register seven individual goals, with help from Brad Pawlenko (2), Tom Denney and Chris Gray (1 each) as the Pointers romped away to an 11-1 final result, locking in their spot in this Friday’s grand final against the Black Stars.

The women’s preliminary final was just as one-sided with Orcas feeling the loss of Kathryn Fisher in attack and defence as well as Carmen Walsh in goals.

At 6-0 at half time, the excitement among the young Vipers players was evident around the pool. Jas Kilmartin was dominant in attack with half the team’s scoreline to the long break before scoring twice more in the final stanza to record five goals (of the team’s eleven).

Chelsea Robertson, fresh back from her wedding, scored Orcas’ only goals in the 11-2 result.

The grand finals will be held at the SHAC this Friday night with the Piranhas tackling the Vipers at 7pm, with presentations to follow on the pool deck, before the Black Stars and White Pointers take to the pool at 8pm for the men’s finale.

The HWPA will hold their annual trophy presentation this Saturday night at a gala event to be held at the Esplanade Hotel.