Barracudas National League News
Gynther leads Barracudas to huge win in 150th NWPL appearance
(Feb 12, 2012) She is our club captain, she has been a Barracudas since she was 11 years old, she has represented Australia at 2 Olympic Games earning bronze in 2008, she is widely regarded as one of the best female players in the world, she is the current Australian Senior Women's national team captain and now, Kate Gyther, has notched 150 NWPL games for the Barracudas. Kate donned the captain's role for the match today and led her Barracudas National League side to a convincing 22 - 6 win over the visiting UNSW Killer Whales. The win the 7th from 8 starts for the side who now sit atop the NWPL ladder neck and neck with rivals Fremantle, Victoria and Cronulla. On Friday night, the Barras ladies downed the visitors 16 - 6 with debutante Ainsley Masek scoring a goal in her very first NWPL appearance.
In men's action the Barracudas men rallied late in the Game 1 against the West Magpies to draw even at the final hooter forcing a penalty shoot out. The Magpies emerged victorious 14 - 12 after two failed penalty attempts. This morning, the Barracudas lads turned the tables racing out to a 4 goal lead after the first quarter and staving off a late change by the Magpies to hold onto a 12 - 11 win. Australian National team member Anthony Martin was sensational for the Barracudas converting 5 goals in the win. Both our Barras teams line up against UWA next week. Games at Musgrave: Friday Women: 6:30pm, Men 8pm; Sunday Women: 10am, Men 11:30am.
Round 2: National League - Both Barras teams show they are contenders for 2012 National title
(Feb 5, 2012) Our Barras National League teams travelled to Melbourne and Adelaide this week where they faced off against the Victorian Tigers and the Adelaide Jets. The Tigers matches are an exciting preview of what is emerging as the top teams in the league. In the first match our women and men both ousted the heavily stacked Tigers in two close encounters. In the women's match the Tigers had no less than 5 penalty shots of which they could only convert 1 thanks to stellar goal keeping by Kelsey Wakefield. Game 2 against the Tigers and the tables turned as the Tigers got the better of both our men and women. Off to Adelaide and both teams posted comfortable wins with the whole team getting water time and good exposure. Our teams are back home for their next two rounds.
Round 1: 2012 National League - Barracudas off to a Fantastic Start
(Jan 30, 2012 - Exerpts from WaterPolo Australia website) Our Brisbane Barracudas National Water Polo League club has made a fantastic start to the 2012 season, with both their men and women’s teams recording two victories from as many matches during the opening week. The Barracudas women’s team, who are the three times defending league champions, got their campaign off to a flying start thumping Sydney University Lions by a combined total of 19 goals in their double header match up. Aussie Stingers’ stars Jane Moran and Ashleigh Southern, as well as right-handed driver Nanda Stoltz each scored four goals in the opening 20-9 win, while Southern and Stingers’ captain Kate Gynther both netted three times in the convincing 11-3 game two display.
The Barracudas, who are aiming to continue their history making run of three straight premierships, boast five representatives from the Stingers Olympic train-on group, and head coach Fabio Pavanello is quietly confident the girls can produce again in 2012 and go all the way. “To get three gold medals in a row was a first for the women’s National League competition, so to get four would be an even greater accomplishment,” Pavanello said. “It was to great to get a couple of wins under our belt and get the ball rolling, and the aim for the season, apart from of course winning, is to firstly make the top six and give as much exposure to all our players as possible. “The top four women’s team are all very strong this year, with each scattered with senior national players, so it is going to be tough but we believe we can do it and we’re look forward to playing in these big matches.
“It’s actually been a great start on the whole for the club, with the men’s team winning their two matches. They have recruited a few Aussie Sharks players, so we believe they will be a force as well and we’re very pleased with how things are shaping at the Barracudas.” Led by Rhys and BJ Howden, the Barracudas men sealed 14-6 and 14-11 wins over Sydney Uni in their first week of games. Their convincing victories have them in a good place to improve upon their fourth place finish last year and will look to maintain their unbeaten start with an away trip in Melbourne. High profile recruits Billy Miller and Anthony Martin have been particularly good for the Barracudas with the pair scoring eight goals between them in their second match to elevate the club to fourth on the ladder, and equal second on points.They sit behind the in form Victorian Tigers team, who pulled off the unheard of away feat of four straight wins in the west.
Thanks to all who came out to support our teams in the rain! See you at the next home matches.
| June 10 | 11 | Women's National League Season Break Up and Awards Night The Barracudas women's national league team as well as past players from the previous 3 national championship teams, supporters, family, friends, sponsors and volunteers all gathered at the Iceworks Bar on Given Terrace to honour this season's success as well as the team's third historic consecutive national title win. In the formal presentation part of the evening, Jane Moran, who had another very solid and consistent season, was named Barracudas Season MVP while lefthanded star Anna Sieprath took out the "Player's Player" honour based on team votes following each game throughout the season. In honour of the historic three consecutive titles, each Barracudas player was presented with a commemorative hard cover picture book keepsake. It was a great night and a wonderful conclusion to a terrific season. Special thanks the team at Iceworks and Patsy Redmond for coordinating the venue and catering. See everyone next season! |
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| May 7| 11 | Barracudas Women Make History - Three NWPL Titles in a ROW! 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 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. <Read More> |
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| May 7 | 11 | Rhys Howden Sweep NWPL Awards as Barras men finish 4th 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. |
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| May 6 | 11 | Barras Women in Historic Third straigh Grand Final as Men aim at Bronze The Brisbane Barracudas women’s team are one step away from creating history at the 2011 NWPL Finals Series. The two time reigning National League Champions qualified today for their third consecutive NWPL Grand Final with a clinical defeat of the Victorian Tigers in the Semi Final - a huge 15 - 3 win. The Barracudas defeated Victoria in the rounds and drew with Fremantle to finish top of Pool B and an automtic qualification to the semi final. The Barracudas will now face the minor Premiers, the Cronulla Sharks in what is set to be a tantilising grand final. |
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| Mar 31 | 11 | 2011 Barras Sprint Champion Crowned The Barras National League sprint race was held March 23rd. A strong field went through their paces with coach Rob Edwards before the final event, the 50m sprint race. The 18 strong squad lined up on the blocks at the water tank end to test their speed against coach Rob Edwards' Magic Stop watch and their team mates. In the end it came down to the fastest of the fastest - BJ Howden vs big brother Ryhs. Only 0.01 sec separated the Howden pair with BJ having the edge on Rhys on the day. Nonetheless, the fastest Barras Man over 50m for the whole season is now entered into the history books with this honour going to Rhys Howden with a time of 23.57; a full 1.30 faster than his last season's winning sprint time. Rhys' name will be etched onto the coveted sprint trophy once again and proudly displyed in the club room for another season. |
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