Barracudas Women Win Three National League Championships in a Row - Men finish 4th Overall
(May 7|11) The Brisbane Barracudas women’s national league water polo team created history today at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre winning their third consecutive National League Water Polo title and in doing so becoming the first women’s team to ever manage a three-peat. The fairly tale three consecutive wins no surprise to those in the know in the water polo world. The Barracudas repeat success the product of a proven recipe of hard work, dedication and teamwork that has seen them win 6 NWPL medals in 8 seasons, qualify for 4 NWPL Grand Finals and earn countless players Australian representation. The side now joins the hallowed company of triple winners like the Brisbane Lions, the Hockeyroos and Kieran Perkins just to name a few.
The Brisbane Barracudas women defeated minor premiers, and pre-tournament favourites, the Cronulla Sharks in penalty shoot outs in what has been described as “the greatest women’s national league final in history.” The Barracudas women managed a gutsy comeback after trailing 6-1 mid way through the second quarter. Steely focus and two key counter attack goals from the Barracudas captain and two-time Olympian, Melissa Rippon inspired the confidence of her side and began to swing the momentum with the half time gap narrowed to 7-4. The second half was all Barracudas with inspired defense and attack allowing them to chip away at the Sharks lead yielding a 10-8 three quarter time margin and ultimately a 12 all result at the end of full time thus sending the match into extra time. Barracudas converted first in extra time through veteran superstar Kate Gynther but with 0:40 seconds remaining the Shark’s Australian representative, Nicola Zagame fired one in to send the match to a penalty shoot out.
It all came down to the Shark’s final shooter, Rebecca Rippon (ironically the sister of Barracudas captain Melissa Rippon) as all things were level between the sides after four rounds of penalty shots. Barracudas goalkeeper Kelsey Wakefield produced a stupendous effort blocking the Shark’s attempt and sealing the third title for the Barracudas in as many years. Barracudas Coach Fabio Pavanello was blown away by the win and proud of his team’s fight back. “We knew that Cronulla would come out hard early, we saw that yesterday when they played the Marlins. But we also knew that we could fight back as other teams have done against them,” Pavanello said. “We knew that if we kept pressing we would be in with a chance. We prepared for the finals and the potential of having to face Cronulla. We knew that if we kept fighting we could match it with them.”
Of his captain, Melissa Rippon, Pavanello couldn't be more proud.“You can’t go past Melissa, she led the fight back and scored a couple of rippers. She got us back in the game and led from the front,” he said. And of their third straight win, Pavanello knows it has special meaning.“We are the only women’s team to secure three straight wins, it is a remarkable feat. Cronulla pushed us all the way today and although winning by penalties is hard, it was great to get the third.”
The Barracudas men’s side also had a bumper year qualifying for the Bronze medal match where they were narrowly were defeated by the Sydney University Lions 10-8. Barracudas captain and Beijing Olympian Rhys Howden swept all the awards and was named the 2011 NWPL Male MVP, 2011 Men's Player of the Final Series, Top 2011 Male Scorer and part of the Men's All Star team and the team was the most improved in the league, rising from 9th last season to 4th this year. The experience of Finals, a first for many on the young Barras team and sign of great things to come in the future for the lads.
The Barracudas teams now enjoys some time to celebrate and then part ways with many of their players heading off for both Junior and Senior international representative duties. The coveted NWPL women’s trophy makes its return to the Barracudas Water Polo Club mantle at Musgrave Park Pool in South Brisbane, a place it is quite happy to call home for another year.
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| Rhys Howden with all of his awards from this NWPL Season - need a wheel barrow Rhys? | Kate Gynther picks up the Female player of the 2011 Finals Series | Reaction of the Barras bench as Hannah Robinson converts a crucial penalty. |