Dolphins’ water polo season in full swing at Narrabri Aquatic Centre

The Narrabri Dolphins Water Polo Club’s senior competition defending champions Barwon charged out to the top of the table on Sunday when they scored another dominant win in the second round of the club’s 2024/25 season at Narrabri Aquatic Centre.

The Barwon – JA Smith Solutions side took on Wilga – Damien Chiplin Plumbing and prevailed 15-2 after Kurrajong – Carla Baxter Real Estate had outscored Nandewar – Inland Freight 9-3.

Those results meant last season’s grand final winners are now the only team to still be unbeaten after two rounds and are the only team to have accumulated a maximum six points.

Kurrajong and Wilga are now ranked second and third following a win and a loss each, while Nandewar are last on two points following back-to-back losses.

Barwon: Back, Lucas Clarke, Dean Clarke, Nicole Gleeson, Kris Hobden, Josiah Barnes, Melanie Clarke, front, Tilly Gleeson, Rozina Mison and Sarah Hoffman. Barwon: Back, Lucas Clarke, Dean Clarke, Nicole Gleeson, Kris Hobden, Josiah Barnes, Melanie Clarke, front, Tilly Gleeson, Rozina Mison and Sarah Hoffman.

Kurrajong: Back, Joseph Newton, Todd Dunn, Jordan Dunn, Daniel Smith, front Matilda Wallington, Stacey Dunn, Sienna Wallington and Lillie Mae Carter. Kurrajong: Back, Joseph Newton, Todd Dunn, Jordan Dunn, Daniel Smith, front Matilda Wallington, Stacey Dunn, Sienna Wallington and Lillie Mae Carter.

Nandewar: Back, Ruby Irwin, Lisa Mullins, Tim Brooker, Liam Mair, Oli Ford, Keeley Glass, front, Brooke Wright, Lucy Suttor, Millie Collins, Reagan Dodd and Charlotte Penberthy. Nandewar: Back, Ruby Irwin, Lisa Mullins, Tim Brooker, Liam Mair, Oli Ford, Keeley Glass, front, Brooke Wright, Lucy Suttor, Millie Collins, Reagan Dodd and Charlotte Penberthy.

Wilga: Back, Jessica Lauritsen, Andrew McManus, Jamie Lee Wilson, Karla Carruthers, Digby Chiplin, front, Ollie Stait, Paul Bushby and Tammy Bushby. Wilga: Back, Jessica Lauritsen, Andrew McManus, Jamie Lee Wilson, Karla Carruthers, Digby Chiplin, front, Ollie Stait, Paul Bushby and Tammy Bushby.

Kurrajong kept Nandewar scoreless in the first half of Sunday’s clash as they led 3-0 at the quarter-time break and then 4-0 at the main break. Daniel Smith scored three of those four first half goals and his teammate Sienna Wallington added the other during the first quarter.

Both teams scored two goals each in the third term as Matilda Wallington and Stacey Dunn netted for Kurrajong and Liam Mair and Brooke Wright got Nandewar on the board.

That made the score 6-2 at three-quarter-time, which had become 9-3 as the full-time whistle sounded after Kurrajong outscored their opponents three goals to one during the fourth and final quarter.

Smith scored another goal for the winners to end the match with four, while teammates Josh Newton and Lachy Dunn also found the back of the net and Mair scored Nandewar’s fourth goal to end the match with a double.

The second senior competition contest was dominated by Barwon from start to finish as they led 4-0 at quarter-time, 9-1 at half-time, 13-1 at three-quarter-time and outscored Wilga two goals to one in the fourth to prevail 15-2.

Barwon’s captain Dean Clarke was in fine form again as he backed up a nine-goal first-round performance with seven more goals in the round two clash. He scored two of those in the first quarter, three in the second and two more in the third.

Sarah Hoffman scored Barwon’s other two goals in the first quarter, Tillie Gleeson and Lucas Clarke both netted in the second, Gleeson and Josiah Barnes added a goal each in the third, and Rozina Mison and Lucas Clarke scored one each in the fourth.

Wilga’s goals were scored by Paul and Tammy Bushby.

The under-14s sides contested their second trial game on Sunday and the two teams have now been finalised for this weekend’s round one clash.

The junior game will kick off the day from midday and will be followed by the senior games at 1pm and 2pm.