Waterpolo champs defend title

Defending men’s water polo titleholders Busselton will host the WA Country Water Polo Association annual State Championships this weekend.

WA Country Water Polo Association president Dave O’Connor said men’s and women’s teams from Busselton, Bunbury, Peel, Geraldton, Karratha and Port Hedland would compete in a round robin tournament culminating in a finals series on Sunday.

“This will be a particularly exciting event for the men’s defending titleholders Busselton who will no doubt be making the most of the home pool advantage, ” O’Connor said. “Scouts will also be on the lookout to select players for the State country team, which will go on to play in the National Country Carnival later in 2014.”

The 2014 championships will be held from tonight until Sunday at the Geographe Leisure Centre in Busselton.

Bendigo Bank will sponsor the WA Country Water Polo Championships over two years.

It was part of its commitment to support grassroots sport across WA and was welcomed by the sport’s peak body.

Water Polo WA chief executive Dale Ballantyne said the partnership was exciting for the promotion of sport in regional areas.