SQUASH STAR IN PNG TEAM
WATER POLO THE Cairns Reef Sharks have been tipped as a team to follow in future Queensland Country water polo championships after encouraging results in the 2019 edition.
In Sunday afternoon’s exciting grand finals, the Sunshine Coast lifted the women’s crown while in the men’s, the Gold Coast exacted some revenge for their 2018 defeat in the grand final, downing the Sunshine Coast Gold in a physical decider.
But, while the top silverware will not reside in the Far North, the locals have been praised for their efforts in their first year back in the competition. Cairns Black (men) secured a 12-5 victory over Townsville on Sunday to collect bronze while Cairns Black finished fourth in the women’s.
Cairns Water Polo President Jesse O’Hara was over the moon with the way the local teams went after not participating in the competition for many years.
“It was an amazing tournament for us – both the men’s and women’s,” O’Hara said. “It was a tightly contested field of teams so for us to take bronze, is a great result for us.
“To beat Townsville in the bronze medal game by seven goals, that makes us the king of the north, we are pretty pleased with that.”
Cairns’ Shuhei Fukaya received the honour as MVP for the tournament.
Gold Coast coach Luke Ingwersen was pleased to secure the 2019 title after his side fell to the Sunshine Coast at the same stage last year.
“It was nice to get them back, they were both very close finals,” Ingwersen said.
“This is an amazing venue and we have felt very welcome here in Cairns. “It is a beautiful place to be. “In our squad, we have a bunch of young guys coming through the ranks – a few older heads that guided us through the games.
“We were able to have a great team, with a lot of teamwork, to be fast and smart.”
The tournament, held at Tobruk Memorial Pool, brought together 230 competitors from the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Mackay, Rockhampton and Townsville joining the Cairns Reef Sharks.
The Sharks were the largest regional team north of the Sunshine Coast represented at the tournament, sending four different teams.
“Everyone has been impressed with how smooth the tournament has run and everyone noted the quality of water polo that has been played,” O’Hara said.
“It is going to be coming back, the tournament, I do not know when but it is an excellent sign for us in Cairns Water Polo.”
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