BARRACUDAS MEN AND WOMEN EARN SILVER AT XII FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
(May 6 | 08) Our Barracudas over 50+ men's masters team came into the XII FINA World Championships being held in Perth as the reigning World Champs. The Barracudas started the tournament out in the right way winning throughout the rounds to take them to the Gold medal match but there their efforts to retain the title were thwarted by the German Club SV Cannstatt. The Barracudas team consisted of current and past players for Tugun who came together in a whisker of taking the title of World Champions. The team went through their round games defeating 2 USA teams, a Canadian team, a WA team and the Russian team. Their hardest game was definitely the game against Russia, winning the hard fought battle 3-2 to finish top of their pool. This was a tremendous effort as the Russian team consisted of 8 Olympians. They then faced City Beach in the Semi Finals and accounted for them easily 9-3, with this win the team progressed through to the Grand Final. The other semi final was between the Russians (who the Barras beat 3-2) and the Germans, this was a very good skilful game, with the Germans victorious 7-3. The Barras knew that they were then in for a hard fought final but gave it everything they had. A good start was required but unfortuneately things did not go the Barras way with inside wood shots going out not in and they trailled 6-3 at half time. The guys fought hard in the second half and tied the game with 2 minutes to go, but a goal by the Germans in the last minute sunk the Barras hopes of winning the 2008 World Title. The guys had a great time reuniting with their friends, some of which had been playing together as teenagers.
| Round results: Barras 5 v Kaos 0 Barras 9 v Calgary 0 Barras 2 v Tri Valley 1 Barras 12 v City Beach Bears 3 Barras 3 v WPM – 04 Moscow Russia 2 Semi final : Barras 9 v City Beach All Stars 3 Final: Barras 6 v SV Cannstatt 7 |
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| Pictured above the Barracudas +50 Men's Team - World Champs Silver medalists: The team consisted of: Stephan Radwanski, Rob Edwards, Duncan Broyd, Neil Gynther, Colin King, Nick Furneau, Peter Paoella, Ray Powers, Peter Lang, Phil Howden, Lance Johnson, Julian Muspratt and Gerard Wilkinson. Coach: Marty Davis, Managers: Neil Owens & Geoff Stiles. (Photo and Story courtesy N. Johnson) |
On the women's side - an all-star composite team made up of many of the female legends of the game called the Queensland Blues included 4 of our Barras players - all former Australian representatives - Carol Hudson, Amanda Leeson-Smith, Kate SweteKelly and club president Jacque Giles. The star studded side played in the 40+ division due to spring chicken Kate SweeteKelly who is not eligible for the 45+ category (like the rest of her team). The remainder of the Queensland Blues team was made up of one other Queenslander, Helen Seale (who has not played for over 20 years but was a fabulous team chef and physio), 5 ex-national players from NSW including Jenny MacGregor, Julie Rohl, Kerri Hay, Sue Trent and Leanne Barnes, 2 Americans and Wendy Arancini from Perth who is the current women's national league coach of the 2008 NL champions the Fremantle Marlins. A number of these players had not played for over 20 years but showed that experience and game savvy are something that is not easily forgotten. The amazing team earned themselves a spot in the Gold medal match against the Dolphins Deja Vu team. At the end of regular time in the Gold Medal match, the game was tied 5-5. The Queensland Blues went down though in extra time due to what they describe as a "fatal error" - that being the need to play longer than regulation time!!! The ladies ran out of steam with the final score 7-5. The team comes home proudly displaying their World Champs Silver medals. Well done to our ladies and all their teammates!