It was an action-packed two days at the New Zealand Water Polo National League's men's neutral weekend, held at the Rotorua Aquatic Centre, with five games decided by two goals or fewer, including three games decided by penalty shoot-out.
Rotorua's budding talent got right among the action as club representatives
Josh Balmer, Hana Stubbing, Jacob Stubbing, Cullen Smith and others officiated as goal judges and table officials.
The first major upset came when the Waitakere Blue Devils took down defending champions North Harbour Cootes Construction 10 - 6 on Saturday, the first time they had done so since the grand final of 2015.
On Saturday evening, Sea Wolf look primed to take their first-ever win of the New Zealand Water Polo National League but were denied by the Blue Devils in a penalty shoot-out, while North Harbour slipped past Hutt Heat 6-5.
Three close games took place on Sunday, starting with Hutt Heat taking on Sea Wolf.
Hutt was on the board in their first possession with Cameron Hayes scoring from a man-up, but Sea Wolf responded through Amosa Gould.
Sea Wolf would only draw level once more in the match through Gould for his second, but they were behind just 3-2 at halftime before Hutt Heat slowly but surely grew their lead to five by the end of the game for 8-3.
In a rematch of the 2016 New Zealand Water Polo National League final, Marist Magic collided with North Harbour for the first time since the Auckland final two weeks ago where it was the Magic who secured the title 7-6.
In a low-scoring affair on Sunday morning, it was North Harbour who took down the previously undefeated Magic in a penalty shoot-out after the scores were locked at 4-4 at the end of regulation time.
In the final match of the neutral weekend, the Blue Devils had the opportunity to sit alongside the Magic on the top of the points table, and looked eager to do so after the first quarter against Hutt Heat.
Rai Santiveri, fresh from a season with the Australian NWPL Queensland Breakers, scored two in the opening quarter to lead the Devils in the first quarter, but they wouldn't hold the lead again.
Hutt Heat's Jerome McGuinness was on form, and whilst Waitakere kept in touch, McGuinness shook the Devils with a crucial goal in the fourth quarter where they eventually won 7-6.
Marist Magic top the table with nine points, followed by the Waitakere Blue Devils with seven. Having played the least number of games, North Harbour sit in third with six points, joined by Hutt Heat. Sea Wolf collected one point after their penalties loss against the Blue Devils.
Men's games continue in Auckland and Wellington over the coming weeks.
The New Zealand Water Polo National League will head back to Rotorua on June 10 and 11 when the neutral weekend returns for the women.