Karratha Water Polo Association defeat Port Hedland 21-3 to be crowned three-time Pilbara Champions

The Karratha Water Polo Association have become three-time Pilbara Champions after dominating rivals Port Hedland in a one-sided game at the Karratha Leisureplex on February 5. A 10-goal first quarter set the game up for the hosts who never looked in trouble with powerhouse Justin Angrove scoring five goals and his team mate Tom McKinnon bagging three in the opening term. Karratha continued to pile on the pain in the second term with McKinnon scoring two more goals along with Mitch Gerritzen who snared two goals of his own to guide the side to 15-1 at half time. As temperatures continued to rise into the high 30’s the gruelling game continued with Karratha keeping control and outscoring their rivals 6-2 in the second half to storm to victory. The final score saw Karratha once again crowned champions winning 21-3. Angrove was the stand-out player with 10 goals, supported by his teammate McKinnon who snared six. Hedland’s Brad Pawlenko was the top scorer for his side with two of their three goals. Meanwhile the women’s game got off to a back-and-forth start before Karratha seized control in the second term. Scores were level four-apiece after the first quarter with neither side able to assert their authority on the game. A five-goal blitz for Karratha in the second game proved to be the deciding moment, with the home side able to score at will. A further four goals in the third term extinguished any hope of victory. In the end Karratha proved too strong for the visitors, claiming victory 17-7. Ebony Hennessy was the top performer with a five-goal haul for Karratha while teammate and former Olympian Simone Fountain snared four goals of her own. The goals were evenly spread among the Hedland players with Kirsty Kubala the leading scorer with two goals.