Geraldton water polo: Final round before Christmas break produces tight tussles

Geraldton water polo wrapped up its final round before the Christmas break with an exciting weekend of action and plenty of surprises.

In round 10 men’s A-grade action on Saturday, the Rats mounted an impressive comeback from four goals down to secure an 8-8 draw against the Demons.

Darcy Wiffen, Luke Neuwert and Jesse Marden shone in the final quarter, turning the tide and salvaging a draw. Ben Saunders was outstanding for the Demons, scoring four goals and setting up several others in a stand-out performance.

Women’s A-grade on Saturday saw the B52’s continue their dominant form, handing the Rats another defeat with a convincing 9-2 victory.

Aimee Hagan once again led from the front, netting four goals, while Evie and Michelle Prout displayed their signature mother-daughter chemistry.

Young goalkeeper Taylor Penny continued to impress, showcasing her rapid improvement in another strong showing for the ladder leaders.

In men’s B-grade, the B52’s remained firmly at the top of the table with a commanding 17-1 win over an undermanned Demons side.

Jimmy Horsman was in scintillating form, scoring six goals. The game between the Relics and Rats was a much tighter affair, with the Relics narrowly clinching a 6-5 victory thanks to a stand-out performance from Noah Scott.

Women’s B-grade action provided contrasting results. The Rats defeated the B52’s 9-5 on Friday, with Sophia Kalajzich scoring four goals.

For the B52’s, Evie Prout stood out, delivering four powerful goals. Meanwhile, the Demons dominated the Serpents in a commanding 16-2 victory on Saturday, with Billie Marshall and Saskia Newman combining for eight goals in a clinical display.

The Women’s C-grade matches featured strong performances across the board. The Rats Black team impressed with a 10-1 win over the Demons Black.

The B52’s claimed a solid 6-2 victory against the Serpents Blue, while the Rats Orange extended their lead atop the ladder with an 8-5 win over the Serpents Green, thanks to Esta Penberthy’s four-goal effort.

In men’s C-grade, the B52’s displayed their strength with a dominant 15-3 victory over the Rats. Spencer Sojan and Riley Penny were key contributors, delivering stand-out performances for the winners.

As the season heads into the Christmas break, the competition remains fierce, with plenty of exciting match-ups still to come in the new year. Round 11 resumes on January 10.