Marist Auckland Waterpolo

9.10.2008 Marist Club had four representatives in the recent NZ Under 15 squad that traveled to Brisbane Australia to compete with the Queensland State teams. Rachel Burns, Francesca Dorman, Katherine Graaf and Gabryel Oloapu left with the other girls on 3rd October for two days training before 3 days of competition between two NZ sides and various Queensland state teams. On Sunday 5th October the NZ U15B team managed a 5 - 0 win against the Queensland U14A team while the NZ U15A team were beaten 4 - 10 by the Queensland Emerging Athletes Program team. The following night the NZ U15A's came back to recorded a 5 - 3 win over the Queensland Emerging Athletes Program team while the NZ U15B's drew 4 all against the Queensland U14A team.
The Tour culminated on Tuesday the 17th with a test series against the Queensland State teams. On the night the NZ U15A's lost  5 -9 to the Queensland U16A team who became the inaugural winners of the  Trans Tasman A's Challenge Cup while the NZ U15B's became the inaugural winners of the  Trans Tasman B's Challenge Cup after beating the Queensland U16B team 4 - 3.

Katherine Graaf, Rachel Burns,Francesca Dorman,              Gabryel Oloapu	NZ U15s & Qld U16s

 click on images for enlargements

(Article by Brendan Ward, New Zealand Water Polo Association - www.waterpolo.org.nz)

 

The New Zealand Women's Water Polo team is in high preperation for the upcoming FINA World League with training camps being run almost continuously since the National championship finals 2 weeks ago.

The team leaves for Sydney on Monday 26 June for the first leg of the tour where they will endure 3 hour training sessions on top of playing 4 official test matches against the Australian National Team June 27-30.

Following the Sydeny series the team will travel to Yongzhou China where they will play China and Australia twice in the first round of the World League.

The team will also play the China Junior team on the off days. Leaving China on the 8th July the team travels to USA to join the top three teams from the America section of the league (Brazil, Canada, USA, Venesuela). After 6 games each in Los Angeles the top three teams from this semi final qualify for the super-finals in Greece July 23-28 where they meet the top three teams from the European semi-finals.

Led by Auckland's Anna Sieprath, the women's side is looking to continue its rise in World Water Polo. Sieprath is New Zealand's highest capped player having notched up a record 40 internationals since December 2003.

The team competing in the World league consists of nine players who played in last years World Championships with three more players who played at this years commonwealth tournament. The least experienced player in the team is Kelly Mason who has only played in an exhibition match against Japan in January this year. Mason is far from a fledgling player as she has just been named in the US All American Team for her outstanding freshman season at the University of Hawaii.

The New Zealand team heads into the World League with confidence having achieved good results in Perth at the Commonwealth Tournament in January which included a very narrow 7-9 loss to world number three Canada. The Women's side is aiming to go one step better in the world league and qualify for the prestigious "Super-finals" in Greece.

With large sums of prizemoney up for grabs the self funded kiwi women will be pushing hard to receive some due recognition and reward for their continued effort and commitment.
 
Team:
Carina Harache - Goalkeeper (Harbour City, Wellington/Catania Mediterraneo, Italy)
Nicki Bason - Goalkeeper (QEII, Christchurch/Waikato)
Anna Sieprath - Captain - Left Hander (Marist, Auckland/University of Hawaii)
Kirsten Hudson - Left Hander (Maranui, Wellington)
Lynley Smith - Left Hander (Northsport, Auckland)
Francesca Snell - Centre Back (Marist, Auckland)
Rebecca McGuiness - Centre Back (Hutt, Wellington)
Sarah Pattison - Centre Back (Marist, Auckland)
Amy Logan - Centre Back (Marist, Auckland/University of Hawaii)
Rebecca Donoghue - Right Hander (Maranui, Wellington)
Kimberley Sumich - Right Hander (Marist, Auckland/Hartwick University, NY)
Kelly Mason - Centre Forward (Marist, Auckland/University of Hawaii)
Emily Cox - Centre Forward (Marist, Auckland/University of Hawaii)

Coach: Fraser Bickley (QEII, Christchurch)
Manager: Sharon Geary (Northsport, Auckland)

 

 

The Commonwealth Water Polo Championships in Perth saw a happy end for both New Zealand teams after winning their Bronze medal games this afternoon. The Women beat England 10 – 7 while the men won 8 – 5 against South Africa.

 

 

Marist players gave their contribution with Emily Cox, Anna Sieprath, Amy Logan and Lisa v. Raalte scoring in the Bronze medal final. Marist's Silverback Zane McAlpine (right photo, on top) had a huge game against the South Africans securing the win in the final quarter.

 

For detailed game information click here.