Queensland on cusp of Summer Slam title

THE Queensland Maroons women’s team is safely into the Water Polo Australia Under-20 Summer Slam gold medal grand final after a hardfought 10-7 win over Youth Barbarians Green.

A 7-1 scoring surge across the first and second quarter was pivotal to the Queensland effort, which included a 3-0 second quarter shutout.

Centre-forward Tenealle Fasala was a constant threat but Queensland provided multi-prong threats through Matilda Elliott, traditional goal sneak Kate Blew, Georgia De Stefani and the athletic Alice Campbell.

Campbell scored a nice goal after Phoebe Leech had created space for her with a cross-pool switch pass.

Complementing Queensland’s offence in this period was keeper Eve Gath who saved a thunderbolt from Barbarians’ Finn Magill, and then a shot early in the second half from Anneliese Pamp.

The Barbarians’ recovery gathered momentum after half time, but a Kate Blew special gave Queensland more respite on the scoreboard, with the Maroons leading 8-4.

Fasala’s imposing presence resulted in another goal and that burst of scoring, aided by Gath’s performance in goals, handed Queensland a 9-4 break entering the final quarter.

Campbell’s second goal three minutes into the last quarter must have hurt Barbarians, with all their effort unable to peg Queensland back on the scoreboard.

Meanwhile, in a first-half top performance the NSW Blues smashed the Barbarians Gold side 14-4 to book a spot in Thursday’s grand final against Queensland.

The Blues’ imperious 16minute surge across the first and second quarters of the afternoon’s semi-final was comprehensive as NSW established a 9-0 lead.

Sienna Hearn was a colossus and her five first-half goals reflected her dominance. She later added a sixth goal in the third quarter.

Her sidekick Sienna Green (five goals) scored three in the first half as the NSW team unit worked the passes around before unleashing their scoring big guns. Blues keeper Imogen Hicks also played her role in the first-half clean sheet.

The Barbarians Gold side took just 45 seconds to score first in the second half when Sydney Poor found the net for her side.