U14 & U18 AUSTRALIAN YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS
The first week of AYC has concluded, and our U14 & U18 teams are now enjoying a well deserved break following an intense week of Water Polo in Brisbane.
Our boys joined forces with DVE, facing off against top-tier teams in the gold division. The U14 Boys displayed great resilience throughout the tournament, having a couple of closely contested losses towards the end of their tournament. Despite the challenges, their development and team spirit did not falter over the five days, ensuring they not only had a great time but also made significant progress.
The U18 Boys faced challenges across the tournament, delivering their best performances towards the end with a narrow loss and an exhilarating win, secured in the final seconds of their last match.
Five Tigers combined with 8 DVE players to enter the U18 junior men’s gold section. Being a young team they faced a some tough challenges through the tournament. There were a few losses early on however they steadily improved and becoming competitive in the final ranking games. Improvement was demonstrated by a narrow loss in their penultimate game to Cronulla on penalties after earlier losing to them by 7. For their final game, fighting to secure 15th and avoid last place, they met the local team Polo Bears. After a slow start they fought back to level late in the last quarter twice then secured the win with an at the death goal 13:12. The Tigers played key roles with Josh and Will being the team’s second and third heaviest scorers respectively while Nanai, Gabriel and Lachlan secured the right wing.
The tough competition has hopefully honed these Tigers to become fiercer competitors at State League level and for AYC in Perth next year.
Meanwhile, our girls competed in the green division and showcased some of their best Water Polo at AYC. The U14 Girls dominated early rounds, facing tougher opposition as the tournament progressed but finishing strong in their final match to secure the bronze medal.
The U18 Girls demonstrated improved teamwork throughout the tournament, remaining undefeated until their final match and earning a well deserved silver medal.
All of our players had great fun and represented Richmond impeccably. We extend our appreciation to players from @dve_waterpolo_ @pirates_waterpolo @waterrats1985 @atlantiscitywp @footscraywaterpolo @melbournecollegians @sharks_water_polo_club_albury @mermaidswaterpolo who joined with us to make this AYC experience so great.
The success of these teams at AYC is a collective effort that requires substantial support. We extend our sincere thanks to the parents and caregivers who facilitated the athletes’ journey to Brisbane. The invaluable contributions of our coaches and managers played a crucial role in the teams’ performances, and we express our sincere gratitude for their expertise and guidance.
We look forward to seeing our U16 Boys and Girls take to the water tomorrow for week 2 of AYC.
Go Tigers 🟡⚫️🟡