Splish-splash: One of the MVPs at the ADF waterpolo titles, Cfn Craig Spence, winds up for a shot at goal for the South East Queensland side. Photo by LAC Mark McConnell

By Rachel Irving

THE ADF’s best waterpolo players took the plunge at RAAF Base Amberley as teams hit the water for the national championships.

After several days of intense competition, the two standout teams – both of which were undefeated – went on to take their respective titles.

In the women’s final, NT were too strong for South Qld and recorded a 7-4 win.

The men’s final was an all-Queensland affair with the North defeating the South 17-11.

Outstanding performances resulted in Most Valuable Player Awards to Pte Camille Reed, Cfn Craig Spence, Lt Allison Guest and Cpl Luke Woodland.

The women’s game began tightly and, as a measure of the closely fought tussle, well into the second quarter NT were just two points up, 2-0.

The two goalkeepers, Pte Kylie Mitchell for NT and Pte Rebecca Wilken for South Qld faced a tough job in the third term.

Despite South Qld scoring three times in the quarter, NT kept the pressure on, securing the quarter 6-3.

Both sides produced one goal each in the final term to make the full-time score 7-4 to NT.

Standout players for the game were NT’s No.11, Pte Camille Reed, who dominated the attack and intimidated in defence, and South Qld’s No.3, Sig Amy Ferrill.

The men’s final featured a solid match of will and enthusiasm.

North Qld’s No.2, Cpl Luke Woodland, and South Qld’s No.8, Cfn Craig Spence, controlled the game for their teams early in the match.

North Qld were strong throughout, with No.9, Cfn Mason Watts, handy with goals, Cpl Woodland also showed good skills with the ball with several nice goals and excellent defence.

After the first quarter, North Qld led 5-1, but South Qld scored several times in the second to make headway on the scoreboard. But every time they made the net, North Qld answered.

From a 10-3 advantage at half-time, North Qld’s lead then blew out to 14-4.

Spence, a standout for his team, could do little to stop the northern onslaught, with the North ahead 15-6 at three quarter time score.

A rev from South Qld’s goalie, WO2 Nick Rees, at the final break gave the blue caps the incentive they needed to lift with several goals.

Sgt Phil Fletcher and Cpl Dave Bloor scored, then a nice ball which slid into the net from Spr Ben Candy dramatically improved the scoreline as the South closed to within six goals.

But North Qld had all the answers and toyed with their southern counterparts, replying each time the blues scored and taking the game 17-11.

Carnival organiser Capt Scott Davis said the games were a big success.

“The turnout this year has been excellent and the standard very high,” Capt Davis said.

The ADF teams for next year’s tour to England to play in the British interservice championships were announced at the end of the nationals, with Army players making up the bulk of the teams.

.