They were recently named champions of the IGSA Water Polo tournament and now Meriden’s Senior Firsts have taken out the Eastern Suburbs School Girls’ Competition for the fifth consecutive year. Two other Meriden teams also played gripping grand final matches that speak to the performance of Meriden’s Water Polo players across every grade.
The S1 Grand Final match got off to a strong start, with extraordinary defence by Jasmine Higgs allowing Team Meriden to secure a 3-0 lead going into the final minute of the first half. In a tactical ambush, the opposition scored two goals in quick succession in that final minute, setting the half-time score at 3-2.
During the nail-biting second half, Meriden girls proved that their major strength – exceptional teamwork – never lets them down, and the girls retained a steady lead, securing an ultimate 7-5 victory.
The Senior Seconds, captained by Bruna Da Costa, glided into the S3 Grand Final. The game was destined to be close, with Team Meriden having drawn against the opposing team in the previous round. Anna Lucas offered a superb performance in goals, blocking many opposition shots, while Elizabeth Roberts, Bruna Da Costa and Emma Barlow found the back of the net for their team, setting the girls up for a 3-2 win.
For the first time in several years, Meriden’s Junior Firsts competed in the tough J1 Grand Final. The team was prepared for a challenging match, having drawn with their opposition in the group stages. The girls fought hard for the thrilling entirety of the match, locking at 4-4 with only one minute left on the clock. The opposition team managed to break the tie with one goal in those final seconds, leading Team Meriden to be named runners-up in their grade. The girls put on a fantastic display of skill, sportsmanship and grace in their efforts on the day and throughout the competition.
Meriden’s bourgeoning Water Polo program, led by experienced Head Coach and former Olympic Water Polo player, Ms Chloe Wilcox, has seen girls’ participation and skill level rise with each passing year. In Term 1 2021, the School entered ten teams in the ESSG Competition and 102 Meriden girls gave their best at every match.
The School congratulates all Meriden girls who participated in the ESSG Competition and we look forward to seeing them continue to thrive in the pool.
