Golden goal in pool
TOWNSVILLE will be going for gold this weekend when the city hosts the Queensland Country Water Polo Championships.
The competition will be fierce with 12 regional sides from across the state including the defending champion Gold Coast women’s team which features 2016 Rio Olympian Kelsey Wakefield.
The Townsville sides will open their campaigns against the Gold Coast this afternoon, with the women in action at the Northern Beaches Leisure Centre and the men playing at the Long Tan Memorial Pool.
Play continues tomorrow before the finals at the Long Tan Memorial Pool on Sunday from 10am.
Townsville finished outside the medals at last year’s event in Mackay, but open men’s coach Ian Moss believed they were building towards a strong performance in their home pool.
Australian Country representatives Trevor Southern, Max Martin, and Matt Brady will lead the men’s team while the women’s side includes former national players Debbie Powell and Sandy O’Melia.
“We’ll be highly competitive this year,” Moss said.
“We’re a very balanced team, so in terms of competition from last year we’re at the next level.
“We’re shooting for the gold- silver playoff – that’s our goal – and if we don’t get a gold, silver, or bronze then we’ll be extremely disappointed.
“We play for sheep stations, don’t worry about that. There’s no love lost. “We will definitely push hard.” Moss is also coach of the Queensland Country men’s team and he expected to see a few Townsville players selected in the team for the national titles in Rockhampton later this year.
Moss hoped having the state championships in their own backyard will help encourage more young Townsville athletes to try water polo.
“The big push for us will be to get as many people who are interested in playing, particularly in the junior ranks, to come along and experience what it looks like at this level,” he said.
“Our sport allows kids to have a water- based summer sport which is zero impact and keeps them ultra fit.”