Australian teams go for gold

Published Sun 31 Mar 2019

The Australian men’s and women’s water polo teams will go for gold at the FINA World League Inter-continental Cup after the teams won their semi finals overnight.

The Aussie Stingers defeated China (12-8) and the Sharks won against Canada (14-7).

The Stingers – ranked third in the world – will face the ultimate test in Sunday’s gold medal match when they play the Olympic champions and world number one USA.

The Sharks will verse Japan for the second time this tournament. The two teams met in the group stage and Australia won in a penalty shoot-out.

The Aussie Stingers kept their opponents scoreless in the first quarter with goal keeper Gabriella Palm saving a host of early attempts. Goals from Keesja Gofers, Rowie Webster and Amy Ridge gave Australia a handy 3-0 lead at the first break.

There was no reprieve for Australia as a physical Chinese team tested the Stingers through the four quarters.

Palm’s deflection skills rendered the visitors scoreless until half-way through the second quarter. Goals to Gofers, Ridge and Isobel Bishop bolstered Australia to a 6-2 lead at half time.

China were relentless but third quarter goals to Bron Knox, Zoe Arancini and a penalty goal to Webster kept the buffer to three and it was 9-6 at three quarter time.

Early in the fourth, Palm combined with Webster and Buckling to save a crucial goal. Moments later Buckling was on the attack and scored her first of the night. The Aussie Captain Webster wasn’t done and she converted a second penalty goal of the game.

Palm had another great save half way through the final stanza but China applied pressure and put another two into the net.

The game ended with Knox sending a length of the pool pass to Webster who tucked the ball into the goal on the buzzer.

Palm’s outstanding display awarded her player of the game.

“Always exciting getting some crucial saves but it really is a team effort and I thought we had a really strong defence and that kept us in the lead and helped us come out with the win,” Palm said.

“China threw some things at us, they had a lot of drives going on, they started hanging back, but it really came back to that communication as a team, working together and saving the ball.

“We had a few kickouts and the Chinese always give it to us really aggressively, so it was really good that we came away with a solid win,” she said.

The Aussie Sharks played with intensity from start to finish with Richie Campbell scoring less than a minute into the game. 15 seconds later Joe Kayes was on the attack and Australia were up 2-0. Nathan Power found the back of the net two minutes later.

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Canada then scored their first but were denied a penalty goal after Australian keeper Anthony Hrysanthos withstood pressure and deflected the attempt.

Australia led 4-1 at the quarter break after Andrew Ford scored late in the interval.

Canada’s game improved in the second quarter and they added three goals over the period. Australia were also on the attack adding four more goals to its tally.

Hrysanthos saved a second penalty goal in the third and the Australian bench was on its feet. Australia stockpiled an additional six goals in the second half to finish 14-7.

The Aussie goal keeper said the team rose to the occasion.

“Nothing changed with our routine we just know that Canada’s a really strong team. We had to lift our energy a little bit more and we were happy to start strong and continue throughout the four quarters," Hrysanthos said.

“The team’s really starting to gel again like we were last year and we’re looking forward to the final.”

Hrysanthos said the Aussies were feeling good ahead of the gold medal game against Japan.

“We match up with them really well in the past and I know we’ll continue that tomorrow. We know that if we let our momentum slip or lose concentration for a second they can come back with two or three quick goals. If we can maintain our concentration, we can have a good result for tomorrow.”