Making a splash

Saved: Pte Damien “Patty” Irish in action during one of the water polo games. Photos by LAC Allan Cooper

Focused: Capt Kylie France prepares to pass the ball during a waterpolo game against the Northern Territory.

DESPITE excellent teams, the ADF men’s and women’s water polo teams left the Arafura Games without the warm glow of a medal around their necks.

Vice-president ADF Water Polo Capt Scott Davis said that Army players made up most of the men’s team and that the team started off quite well.

“Some good play was evident and defence was strong,” he said.

“But the team failed to capitalise in attack and rarely managed to put the ball into the back of the net.”

He said with expected losses to Western Australian and NSW teams, poor play resulted in a shock loss to the Northern Territory team.

This loss knocked the ADF men’s team out of medal contention.

Capt Davis said the ADF women’s water polo team was also made up of mainly Army players and was bolstered by two strong Navy goal scorers.

He said the team was under strength and without a specialist goalie and struggled in the early games.

“With losses to all other states, they had close-fought struggles with Northern Territory and Singapore.

“In the finals, they played Singapore again and the improvement in game play was quite noticeable.

“With such a young team, there is great potential for future tournaments.”

Most Valuable Player for the men’s team was Cpl Robert Ryan, 5/7RAR and Pte Becky Wilken, 2HSB, for the women’s team.

The next events for the ADF Water Polo teams will be games with the touring British Royal Signals men’s and women’s water polo teams and the ADF Championships in December.

For more information visit www.adfwaterpolo.org