The Hunter Hurricanes women’s team may not have won a match in a four-game opening round of the National Water Polo League but coach Jenny McGregor believes the tough start will put them in good stead.
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The Hurricanes played four games in as many days in Brisbane, starting with a 13-4 loss to the Queensland Breakers on Thursday.
They lost 12-0 to last year’s runners-up Brisbane Barracudas on Friday then lost to both sides again on Saturday and Sunday.
“We started quite well in our first two games but we basically got physically tired but we were up against two outstanding teams,” McGregor said. “But I think we’ve made a huge improvement in our playing. Next weekend we play Victoria and I think we’ll be able to match it with them.”
McGregor has taken charge of the Hurricanes this season. The team retained the core of last year’s side but have a lot of young players with 21-year-old captain Montana Perkins the oldest in the squad.
“I’m hoping to do quite well,” McGregor said. “I’m hoping to be able to beat quite a number of teams this season. It’s also a learning experience for a lot of younger ones in this squad.”
The Hunter’s men’s teams also started their national campaign in Brisbane.
They beat the Breakers 11-9 before losing their other three matches.
The Hurricanes host Water Polo Australia Barbarians at Lambton Pool on Saturday and Sunday.
- The Newcastle Jets kept alive their hopes of making the W-League finals with a character-building 2-1 win over Brisbane Roar at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday. The Jets lead 1-0 after nine minutes but the score was deadlocked at one-all for all of the second half before Jen Hoy found the matchwinner in injury time. The women are two points adrift of fourth-placed Melbourne City with two rounds remaining. The Jets’ men drew two-all with Perth to retain sixth place on the A-League ladder. The men are away to Western Sydney Wanderers next Saturday and the women travel to Sydney on Saturday.