Demons and B-52’s fall short in final round of men’s and women’s A-grade water polo

Demons may have secured top spot on the ladder several rounds ago, but they were outperformed by Relics on Saturday in the final round of the Geraldton water polo season.

Teams now have their sights set on finals, aiming to build confidence for the elimination clashes.

In the men’s A grade, Demons knew they had top spot stitched and have used that time to experiment with new tactics and playing combinations, yielding varied results.

But against Relics they fell short, 9-4, with Corey Smith contributing three goals and Jack Deschamp showcasing superb goalkeeping skills, making key saves throughout the match.

B52’s reclaimed their winning form with a stylish 13-4 triumph over Rats. Yet again, the youthful trio of Leo Prout, Jimmy Horsman, and Kingston Warren demonstrated their value in the pool, collectively scoring seven goals.

Despite moments of brilliance from the Rats, including three goals from Darcy Wiffen and another from Luke Neuwert, B52’s dominated.

In the women’s A grade, B52’s had already secured top spot, but fell to Demons 4-3 in a closely contested match.

Maggie Speirs stood out for Demons, supported by the talented Abbie MacDonald. Melissa Buscumb continued to showcase her goalkeeping prowess, providing a significant confidence boost for Demons heading into the upcoming finals.

B52’s impressed at times, with Gemma Dix performing well in goal and Keshi McCagh applying pressure on Demons’ defence.

The women’s B-grade featured a high-paced match, with Demons victorious over B52’s 8-6. Saskia Newman was relentless in the water, scoring three goals and creating numerous opportunities for her teammates. Maggie Spiers, Billie Marshall, and Mirika Hall excelled for the winning side.

Serpents also had a good day in the pool winning 11-5 against Rats, with Juli Coffin scoring five goals for the winners.

In men’s B grade, B52’s secured a convincing win over Rats 14-5, while Relics triumphed over Demons 9-4. Leo Prout added five more goals to his already impressive season tally for the B52’s.