After meeting our delightful hosts (mainly female - we are really getting ready for 2003/4!) we joined the staff of the school having an end of the week social at the Mooloolaba Surf Club.  I met the headmaster who explained the Lutheran education system in Australia: very fascinating.  Immanuel Lutheran College (ILC) is the oldest school on the sunshine coast.  It was founded in 1979!

The boys played outdoors for the first time in a beautiful 50m pool and also under lights which made it difficult for the one-eyed coach to spot the different cap colours.  The boys, however, fared much better!

The Outdoor pool

The juniors went straight into a three-nil lead and kept a three goal advantage throughout the game. Andy Court top scored with 4 and James got the other three in a 7-3 victory.  The team are beginning to create a very good system of play, they are learning to drop in defence to help the centre back with James, Andy and Alex Feary in the vanguard on counter attack. Rupert is playing a good role as a link man between attack and defence with Dom and Lordy proving effective at both ends of the pool. Bryce and Phil come in and are showing much improvement; Bryce with a good eye for a defence splitting pass and Phil always busy in front of goal.  Phil got his first shot away in this game, which unfortunately for him was saved.

However, it is the team's ability to stop the opposition scoring which is at the heart of their (unexpected) run of victories.  The cornerstones of this are Gazza and "make my day" Bryn.  Gazza sticks to the centre forwards (usually a team's strongest player) like glue and then has learnt to make himself available for the keeper's pass.  Bryn must be averaging about 10 saves a game; a save being the stopping of a certain goal as opposed to catching a "dolly" shot going straight to him.  His distribution is improving by the game.

The seniors, coming off a drawn game, were full of confidence and in peacock mode in front of their hosts!  They too went into a three goal lead and were never less than two in front the whole game.  Adam scored three scorchers and Rohan one monster of a goal.  Rob Thurmott bagged a couple and on the third attempt in this game Blair finally scored a trademark backshot.  Chris Craig (15 tomorrow) was his OLD reliable self in the cage and has recovered from those big scores down south as has the defence.  The passing in this game was accurate and creative and the boys (and myself) were delighted with the win!

Rohan Monico threatening the goal.

There was a post match presentation where James Owen and Adam Monico were selected as MVPs by Dave Glassock the ILC and Australian Schoolboys coach.  Rohan Monico was presented with a plaque to commemorate our visit.  It made us realise that for most, if not all, the schools we are competing against, BMS are the first international opposition they have played!

Rohan receiving the Immanuel School Plaque from the Captain.

We are keenly awaiting the ILC water polo tour of the UK in 2005 when hopefully they will be bringing a boys and girls team and we will be able to compete against them in both sexes.