Erin Redbond’s 5 goals helped Melville Marlins account for Dolphins on Saturday.
Camera IconErin Redbond’s 5 goals helped Melville Marlins account for Dolphins on Saturday. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

New-look Water Polo WA Premier League begins

Matt ZisWestern Suburbs Weekly

A NEW-LOOK Water Polo WA Premier League opened on Saturday, with all games played at just two venues to showcase the sport’s new conference structure.

Women’s action in the Fremantle conference got underway at Bicton Pool, with Applecross winning a thriller over the North Coast Phoenix 8-7 before the perennially dominant Melville Marlins defeated Dolphins 8-4. Erin Redbond scored five goals.

Triton defeated the UWA City Beach Blues 3-1 in the UWA conference match at HBF Stadium.

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In men’s competition, the Fremantle conference matches had the Melville Sharks defeat Dolphins 11-8 before two Melville-linked clubs locked horns, with the South Fremantle Bloods prevailing 9-3 over the Port Colts. Returning Joel Swift scored five goals for the Sharks.

UWA-linked team Flotsam proved too good for UWA City Beach in the first of the UWA conference men’s match ups, winning 10-2. Triton scored a thrilling 10-9 victory against another UWA team, Rangers.

The shake-up of the Premier League competition and introduction of conferences – named Fremantle and UWA – was implemented in the off-season to provide clearer pathways for WA’s two national league teams, the UWA Torpedoes and Fremantle Marlins/Mariners.

All Fremantle conference matches take place at Bicton Pool and UWA conference games at HBF Stadium.

Round 2 takes place this Saturday and in the women’s Fremantle conference, Applecross will play Melville Marlins and Dolphins take on North Coast Phoenix. The UWA conference match features the UWA City Beach Blues and the Bears.

In men’s action, Dolphins take on Port Colts and the South Fremantle Bloods play the Melville Sharks.

Triton faces City Beach and Flotsam takes on Rangers in the UWA conference.

The national league season will begin in January, immediately following the WA season.

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