Marist Auckland Waterpolo

23.07.2007 The Marist Red U20 team gained the third National Championship for the club in the 2007 year, in defending their National Junior Mens title.

The team dominated round robin play in pool A (scoring 56 goals and allowing only 18) and its semi-final against Harbour City (15-8). They had already played Northsport A twice this season and had come out as comfortable victors on both occassions so entered the final as favourites.

Marist Red opened the scoring after just 31 seconds with an excellent counter attack goal to Matt Reid. Northsport responded well with two goals before Marist levelled through Cameron Lowther. Marist's 6 on 6 attack was superior to its opponents throughout the opening stanza but the conversion rate was poor. The scores where level at the end of the first period.

Shot after shot by the Marist team was either missed, field blocked or kept out by the Northsport and National Mens goalie, John Love. While at the other end tight defence by Marist minimised the Northsport attack. A Andy Sieprath penalty was blocked by John love and the Northsport goalie lifted further. Marist squandered counter attack, man up and one on one opportunities to allow Northsport to take the lead in the game. Marist then chased throughout and went into the last period a goal down. With just under two minutes left in the game the scores where tied at four a piece. An Andy Sieprath counter attack went wide and the scores remained locked at the end of regulation time.

Northsport scored first in the opening period of extra time to put more pressure on the Marist side. However it was Marist that finished the strongest scoring two goals in the final three minutes of the game. Andy Sieprath with the tieing goal and with just 31 seconds remaining Matt Reid scored his third for the match with an outside shot on man up to win the game.

Kurt Goldsworthy, the coach of the victorious team said "it was an extremely low scoreing game. Northsport bought the strongest game they had all year, but we allowed them to stay in a game by not finishing, that we really should have put away by half time. We missed a penalty, six on five and our shot percentages were very poor. However, the key is that we did win-even if we made it hard for ourselves".

At the prize giving Andy Sieprath (the Marist Red captain) was awarded the Most Valuable player award and Matt Reid (photo) was awarded with a most promising player award.

The club is experiencing great success at the top end of the sport in New Zealand. After four National Championships it has three titles-the National Senior Womens League Championship, and the National Under 20 Womens and Mens Championships and a bronze in the National Senior Mens League Championship.

RESULTS

Final Placing: 5th

The following players have been selected to play in this year's Panasonic Pan Pacific Tournament.

Click here to view the Pan Pacs draw.

In 2005 the Marist Junior Men side missed out on a National Championship title coming 4^th at the Junior Mens National Club Championship in July in Auckland, behind Maranui, Northsport and Harbour City. Nevertheless the team is considered one of the strongest in the country with two players nominated for New Zealand’s Junior World Championship squad. Charles Lane and Andrew Sieprath will join the team on their quest in Argentina in October

Squad

Michael Parr, Elliot O'Brien, Simon Cleghorn, Joseph Lyons, Byron Thornhill, Charles Lane, Mark Collins, Jamie Pullen, Shane Smith, Andy Sieprath, Todd Lambourne, Kiran Davis, Julian Howat, Matt Selkierk, Matt Bilderbeck, Matt Reid, Corey Weeks

Coach: Zane McAlpine

Manager: