Barracudas win big ahead of two close senior contests water polo competition

The action heated back up again at the Narrabri Aquatic Centre on Friday night as round three of the Whitehaven Coal Narrabri Dolphins Water Polo Competition delivered fast-paced games, great teamwork, and plenty of goals across all three divisions.

The under-15s match kicked off proceedings, and it was the Bellevue Barracudas who scored the biggest win of the season so far as they took down the Club Narrabri Marlins 15-1.

The Barracudas produced a dominant performance as they took control early and had surged to a 10-1 lead by half-time. They then continued their strong form through the second half, combining tight defence with quick counter-attacks.

Leading the scoring for the Barracudas were Max Booby and Lucy Booby with five goals each, while Will Hayne bagged a double and Ollie Ford, Weston Ryan and Elsie Bennett all netted once each. Angus Booby scored the Marlins’ lone goal with a composed finish.

In the first senior match of the evening, the Santos Sea Pigs outlasted SierraTek Sea Snakes in an entertaining game, taking an 8-5 win after leading 5-2 at half-time.

The Sea Pigs’ disciplined second-half defence and teamwork proved the difference, setting them up as a force to watch in the coming weeks.

Tim Brooker and Harrison Lane both scored twice for the Sea Pigs in their three-goal win, and their other four goals were shared between Regan Dodd, Pip Donaldson, Liam Mair and Max Booby.

Ollie Ford netted twice for the Sea Snakes, with Karla Carruthers, Sienna Wallington and Jen Donaldson registering the side’s other three goals.

The final match of the evening was a thriller between PAB Power and the Nutrien Crocs, with Power holding on for a narrow 6-5 victory.

The Power’s Paul Bushby led the scoring with an impressive five goals in the victory, showing composure and accuracy under pressure, while Alissa Van Klooster added their other goal.

Liam Donaldson and Kris Hobden bagged doubles for the Crocs, with Keeley Glass adding the other goal.

The match showcased high-quality play from both sides, with the Crocs pushing hard late but falling just short as Power’s defence stood firm.

The four senior sides have all played against one another once each after three rounds in the 2025/26 campaign.

The PAB Power are on top of the table with five points following two wins and a draw. They are the only undefeated team after three rounds.

The Santos Sea Pigs are second following their round three win, which saw them overtake the now third-placed Nutrien Crocs. The Sea Pigs are on four points following two wins and a loss, while the Crocs are on two points following one win and two losses.

The SierraTek Sea Snakes are still searching for their first win in last place. They are on one point following a draw and two losses.

Narrabri Dolphins Water Polo Club’s 2025/26 season will continue with round four action this Friday night at the Narrabri Aquatic Centre.

The under-15s match between Club Narrabri Marlins and Bellevue Barracudas will kick off proceedings from 5.30pm, and will be followed by senior matches between the PAB Power and SierraTek Sea Snakes at 6.30pm and the Nutrien Crocs and Santos Sea Pigs from 6.50pm.

Spectators are encouraged to come along and enjoy another night of competitive and social water polo, a great showcase of local sport.

The Narrabri Dolphins are looking forward to hosting a gala day on Saturday, November 22, when they welcome teams from the Tamworth Water Polo Club in under-12s, under-15s, senior men and senior women.

“It’s shaping up to be a fantastic day of water polo and social fun at Narrabri Aquatic Centre, with all members encouraged to get involved and support the home teams,” the Dolphins’ club president Todd Dunn said.