Pan Pacs Fever Brews in Auckland Youth Finals
Hype is building for the 14th Pan Pacific Youth Water Polo Festival that gets underway in Auckland in 11 days' time.
Marist's under 20 men's team will be the Auckland team to beat after they took out the region's league finals on Sunday.
The Marist side beat Auckland rivals and 2014 Pan Pacs champions North Harbour 9-7 at Diocesan Pool on Sunday in a tight finale to the 6-team competition. Phillip Hargraves scored three goals for Marist, whilst his teammate, Conor Paterson - fresh from a year at Golden West College in California - also scored three.
North Harbour held a one goal lead for the first half, but the teams headed into the final quarter locked up at 6-6.
Sea Wolf Grey grabbed the bronze medal, 13-8 over Marist B, whilst Waitakere claimed 5th over Sea Wolf Black.
The under 18 women's semi-finals saw Marist and North Harbour rise above, and they will contest the final next weekend for the winning-edge leading into Pan Pacs. North Harbour made easy work of their B side in their semi, whilst Marist had to dig deep to overcome Waitakere 10-8. Next weekend's final will be a repeat of the under 16 girls' final at Pan Pacs 2014, where the North Shore side took the honours.
Sea Wolf will play North Harbour in the under 18 men's final after two tense semis - Marist Red and Waitakere Gold will contest for bronze. Game times and venues below.
Auckland Water Polo League Under 18 Finals
Women - July 1st - St. Cuthbert's College
7:30pm: Waitakere A vs. North Harbour B - Bronze
8:30pm: North Harbour A vs. Marist Red - Gold
Men - July 3rd - Diocesan
7:00pm: Waitakere A vs. Marist Red - Bronze
8:00pm: Sea Wolf Grey vs. North Harbour A - Gold