KAP7 Aussie Sharks go down fighting to Croatia

KAP7 Aussie Sharks go down fighting to Croatia

SYDNEY I Despite strong comeback in the second half, the KAP7 Aussie Sharks have gone down fighting to Olympic silver medallists Croatia, 7-9, at Sydney Olympic Park today.

The Croatians led early up 4-1 at the end of the first quarter, but it was Aussie Sharks centre forwards Joe Kayes and Lachlan Edwards who led the charge in the second quarter, scoring one goal each to close the gap to 5-3 at half time.

An early goal courtesy of Rhys Howden put the Aussies on the attack in the second half, with Captain Aaron Younger leading the charge with two goals.  

While the Aussies did their best to close the gap, the early lead all but sealed the win for the Croatians, with Loren Fatovic a stand out for the visitors, their leading scorer with three goals.

This was an important Test Match Series for both sides with the 2020 Olympic Games just over 200 days away.  For Croatia they are yet to qualify for the Tokyo Games and will return home to play in the European Championships in a bid to secure their spot.

KAP7 Aussie Sharks Head Coach Elvis Fatovic admitted the strong start from the Croatians proved the difference in the outcome of the match.

“When you play with a team like Croatia, it’s really hard to try and catch them,” Fatovic said.

“We came close and I’m happy that we didn’t stop playing after that, but we definitely know now where we need to improve.

“We can’t forget that for us, this was our first time together and first game since the World Championships (in South Korea).” he said.

Fatovic had nothing but praise for goal keeper Joel Dennerley, who today played his 150th test match for Australia.

“It great to be able to have played 150 games for your national team, and he (Dennerley) was great as usual – so we just hope that he keeps playing until 300,” Fatovic added.

Dennerley, a two-time Olympian, said it’s always an honour to pull on the green and gold.

“I’ve played amongst a great group of guys over the years. It was unfortunate to not get the win today but we are building towards Tokyo which is great,” Dennerley said.

“The Croatians are definitely in a different moment, in terms of preparation, compared to us so we were happy with the competition (this week) and hopefully we can improve from here,” he said.

For the Aussie Sharks will now have a break over Christmas, and return to camp in January ahead of the Australia-USA Test Match Series in Brisbane as part of the KAP7 Australian Youth Water Polo Championships.

“We’ve got the USA coming in January, so we will look to continue to build and get better as a team the more games we play,” said Dennerley.

The Australian Men’s and Women’s teams will host USA in a three test match Series at Brisbane Aquatic Centre on 14, 16, 18 January 2020.  For tickets – visit www.waterpoloaustralia.com.au

RESULTS

Australia 7 Croatia 9

Qtr time points: 1-4; 2-1: 3-3; 1-1 

AUSTRALIA: 1.Joel Dennerley; 2.Richard Campbell (1); 3. Jarrod Gilchrist; 4. Joseph Kayes (1); 5. Nathan Power; 6. Lachlan Edwards (1); 7. Aidan Roach; 8. Aaron Younger (c) (3); 9. Andrew Ford 10. Tim Putt 11. Rhys Howden (1) 12. Blake Edwards; 13. Anthony Hrysanthos; 14. Nic Brooks Coach: Elvis Fatovic.

CROATIA: 1 Marko Bijač; 2. Marko Macan; 3 Loren Fatovic (3); 4 Luka Loncar (1); 5 Maro Joković (1); 6 Hrvoje Benić; 7 Ante Vukičević (1); 8 Andro Bušlje (C) (1); 9 Luka Bukic (1); 10 Josep Vrlic; 11 Andrija Basic (1); 12 Javier Garcia Gadea; 13 Ivan Marcelić COACH Ivica Tucak

TEST TWO - THURSDAY 19 DECEMBER 2019 

TEST 2: The KAP7 Aussie Sharks were forced into a penalty shoot out tonight, going down to leading nation Croatia 11-12 in front of a packed house at Drummoyne.

It was a close contest from the outset, with the majority of the game seeing no more than one goal between the sides.

The KAP7 Aussie Sharks held a narrow one point lead for a majority of the game and came out firing in the final period to push the lead out to two goals. But the Croatians showed why they are considered one of the best in the world, fighting back in the dying minutes to lock up the score 7-7 at the end of regular time.

With the game forced into a penalty shoot out, both sides had their goalies working overtime with some big saves keeping the scores locked. In the end it was the visitors who stole the match 12-11.

KAP7 Aussie Sharks Captain, Aaron Younger, said despite the narrow loss he was pleased how the squad is progressing just over six months out from the 2020 Olympic Games.

“It was definitely a great game. This is obviously leading towards Tokyo so the preparations, I believe, are going great so far.

“Croatia is the top country in the world and the performances the boys have put on this week has been great. We’re definitely at the level we want to be at, building towards that Tokyo level next year.

“It was disappointing not to win it in four quarters, we had our opportunity but there were a few mistakes we made at the end where we could have put it away,” he said.

The game was delayed by half an hour due to the poor air quality in Sydney, but the strong southerly delivered ideal conditions at the picturquess Drummoyne Swimming Centre.

The Australians will now play Croatia in the third and final test on Saturday 21 December 2019 at 3:00pm at Sydney Olympic Park. Tickets are once again sold out but the match can be watch on play.ovo.com.au.

RESULTS

Australia 11 Croatia 12

Qtr time points: 1-1; 3-2: 2-2; 1-2 (4-5)

AUSTRALIA: 1.James Clark; 2.Richard Campbell (2); 3. Lachlan Hollis; 4. Joseph Kayes (2); 5. Nathan Power (1); 6. Lachlan Edwards; 7. Aidan Roach (1); 8. Aaron Younger (c) (2); 9. Andrew Ford 10. Tim Putt 11. Jarrod Gilchrist (1) 12. Blake Edwards (1); 13. Joel Dennerley; 14. Johnno Cotterill Coach: Elvis Fatovic.

CROATIA: 1 Marko Bijač; 2. Luka Bukic (2); 3 Franko Lazic; 4 Luka Loncar (1); 5 Maro Joković (2); 6 Hrvoje Benić (1); 7 Ante Vukičević (3); 8 Andro Bušlje (C) (2); 9 Lovre Miloš; 10 Rino Buric; 11 Luka Lozina (1); 12 Javier Garcia Gadea; 13 Ivan Marcelić COACH Ivica Tucak

TEST ONE - TUESDAY 17 DECEMBER 2019 

SYDNEY I Spectators at Sutherland Leisure Centre were treated to a thrilling opening match of the Australia-Croatia Men’s Water Polo Test Series, with the host nation narrowly going down 8-10 to the visitors. 

The Croatians, who have medalled at the last two Olympic Games, had plenty of supporters turn out for them in the first of the three sold out Test Match Series in Sydney.

It was the first time the KAP7 Aussie Sharks had been together since the FINA World Championships in September, delivering a strong performance just over 200 days out from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

KAP7 Aussie Sharks Head Coach, Elvis Fatovic, said while there were things to work on he was happy with his side’s performance. 

“I’m satisfied with how we played because played against one of the best, if not the best teams in the world,” said Fatovic. 

“We made a couple of mistakes in the third quarter and they punished us with that, but that’s why we train with them because they are such a good, experienced team.

“It is great to be together after the World Championships in South Korea… we absolutely need to use this opportunity to the best we can.  

“The next couple of days we will work a lot more on the technical things then the strength and conditioning part as we have enough time for that… but definitely this is a great opportunity and I think the boys are really trying hard,” he said. 

Triple Olympian Rhys Howden said they expected a strong counter attacking game from the Croatians and that is certainly what they delivered.  

“We said before game that their counter attack is really strong and I think they really burnt us in the first two and half quarters,” said Howden.

“It was good to come back in the end of that third period and into the fourth… but when you’re playing catch up water polo it is really hard.

“It’s amazing to play games in Australia against a quality opposition like Croatia the more people we can get down support our team is fantastic.” 

It was a close match up after the first quarter with the scores levelled at three a piece, goals for the Aussies coming courtesy Richie Campbell, Nathan Power and Jarrod Gilchrist. 

A strong defensive effort from the Croatians in the second quarter kept the Aussies to one goal, courtesy of Lachlan Edwards, with the guests managing to get any additional three scores on the board. 

Coming into the third quarter trailing by two points it was Campbell who got the first points on the board but the Croatians dominated the period to maintain a two point advantage. 

A solid fight back from the Aussie Sharks in the final period put them in with a fighting chance, with a penalty goal conversion from Rhys Howden keeping fans on the edge of their seat.  While the result didn’t go the way hosts wanted, it was a valiant effort and set up the Test Series nicely for the remainder of the week.

The Australians are in camp for the week with the next two test matches to be played at Drummoyne Swimming Centre on Thursday 19th and Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre on Saturday 21 December. 

Results

AUS vs CRO

Qtr Scores: 3-3; 1-3; 1-2; 3-2

AUSTRALIA: 1.Anthony Hrysanthos; 2.Richard Campbell (2); 3. Lachlan Hollis; 4. Joseph Kayes (1); 5. Nathan Power (1) 6. Lachlan Edwards (1); 7. Aidan Roach; 8/ Aaron Younger (C); 9. Nic Brooks 10. Tim Putt 11. Rhys Howden (2) 12. Blake Edwards; 13. James Clarke; 14. Jarrod Gilchrist (1) Coach: Elvis Fatovic.

CROATIA: 1 Marko Bijač; 2. Marko Macan; 3 Loren Fatović (3); 4 Andrija Bašić; 5 Maro Joković (2); 6 Hrvoje Benić; 7 Luka Bukić; 8 Andro Bušlje (C) (1); 9 Lovre Miloš; 10 Josip Vrlić (3); 11 Luka Lozina; 12 Javier Garcia Gadea (1); 13 Ivan Marcelić; Coach: Ivica Tucak

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