The Hunter Hurricanes have delivered mixed results from their opening home matches of the 2018 Australian Water Polo League season and get a second chance against visiting UWA Torpedoes at Lambton Pool on Wednesday.
The Hurricanes men made it three wins from five this year with an 8-5 triumph against the Perth-based outfit on Tuesday night while the Hurricanes women came back but to no avail in a 10-7 loss to the same opponents in the double header.
Hurricanes men’s player Mitch Baird said the hosts were stronger in defence than attack throughout the third-round affair, especially after getting ahead of the Torpedoes in the first half.
“Our attack isn’t really where we want it to be and we missed a lot of chances, but our defence was rock solid and to hold the opposition to five goals was a reflection of that,” he said.
Baird nominated goalkeeper Alek Ruzic and Keenan Marsden as the best Hunter performers.
In the earlier women’s fixture the Hurricanes were unable to prevent a third straight defeat but rallied during the middle of the game to give themselves a chance.
Down 6-1 to the Torpedoes after the opening quarter, Hunter went on an unanswered run of six goals either side of the main break to lead by one approaching the final stanza.
But the University of Western Australia rallied to score the last four.
“We just used up so much gas getting back in the game,” Baird, also the Hurricanes women’s coach, said.
Wednesday’s encounters start at 5pm (women) and 7:30pm (men).
The Hurricanes, who were coming off a winless weekend in Sydney, will host Fremantle this Saturday and Sunday.
