GOLD AND SILVER FOR AUSSIES AT FINA WORLD LEAGUE INTERCONTINENTAL CUP 

Australia’s women’s and men’s team have both secured podium finishes at the FINA World League Intercontinental Cup in Peru, with the Aussie Stingers taking home the gold medal and the Aussie Sharks the silver. 

It was the first international tournament for both sides since the Tokyo Olympic Games, with young, new players making their Australian team debut and both sides headed up by new coaches in Paul Oberman (Aussie Stingers) and Tim Hamill (Aussie Sharks). 

The Aussie Stingers delivered an impressive tournament overall, going undefeated and finishing off an impressive 11-4 win over the USA. 

Aussie Stingers Head Coach Paul Oberman said he was pleased with how his side delivered in the final match.  Despite the USA not fielding a full strength, young side, he said they are always the toughest of opponents. 

“Today’s game was a fantastic result for our girls. To win 11-4 against the Americans, shows we put in the work and were able to get the result,” said Oberman.

“For a young team (USA) they were very fast, they have some very good shooters and they understand the game of water polo… it shows why the American pipeline [of talent] is so strong. 

“Overall the tournament was a great learning for our girls. For some they haven’t been in an international competition for three or four years. 

“A great experience to get out of Australia, experience to play other countries, which we haven’t had the opportunity to do in recent years,” he said. 

Dual Olympian and Captain of the Aussie Stingers, Zoe Arancini, said the new look Aussie Stingers really delivered at this tournament. 

“We have had multiple debutants come on board so it has been great for them, it’s been great for the senior girls to get back into the mix of it all, it’s been nice to have the European [based] girls over here with the girls from Australia,” said Arancini.   

“It’s given us the chance to gel a bit before our next big hit out which is the World Championships, so overall a great learning experience for everyone and we also showed we could perform. 

“Today was a good game by our girls, our defence was very strong. The USA had quite a young team so we knew they were going to be quite enthusiastic and come out hard, but we had a plan in place… defence was going to win us the game and it did,” she said. 

In the gold medal match, the Aussie Stingers led from the outset, never relinquishing their lead despite a come back from the USA in the second and third quarters. It was the final quarter that saw the Aussies Stingers really power home, scoring five goals and only allowing one from the USA. 

Tokyo Olympian Bronte Halligan was awarded ‘Most Valuable Player of the Tournament’. Full results of the women's match  - click here 

The #AussieSharks gold medal match against the USA was a tighter contest, and despite a strong comeback from the Aussies in the last quarter they went down 6-7. 

Aussie Sharks Head Coach Tim Hamill, said while they were disappointed to lose the final match, he couldn’t fault his team for their effort. 

“It was obviously disappointing to lose the game 6-7, but as we’ve spoken about all week as individuals and team is to grab opportunities, which by and large we have done this week. 

“One thing I’ve really been trying to press for the last couple of months and the last few weeks in particular, is our effort.  We were down 2-5 at one stage and then 4-7… so to fight back, I was really pleased with that… but ultimately disappointed to not come away with the gold medal,” said Hamill. 

Tokyo Olympian and Co-Captain for the Aussie Sharks, Nathan Power, said the World League Intercontinental Cup has afforded the squad the chance to get much needed international competition under their belt. 

“It’s been a really good tournament for us. We have a new group and it’s the start of the [Olympic] cycle as well and this is our first big tournament, first games together as a new group. 

“To get the experience we have had this week with multiple close games, a few close losses and a few close wins, it’s been a really good experience for this group to gain. 

“It’s been enjoyable getting to play some semi final and final water polo, getting some international matches as well for these boys who haven’t been able to travel overseas for a while.  All in all a good week and looking forward to what we can do as a group moving forward,” he said. 

The gold medal match up with the USA was a close tussle from the outset, with the scores locked 2-2 at the end of the first quarter. Despite trailing by two leading into the final quarter, the Aussies fought back to get two goals and keep USA to one.  While the Aussies had the momentum in their favour in the final stages of the game, the USA were able to hold out and claim the gold. 

Aussie Sharks Co-Captain Blake Edwards was awarded the ‘Top Scorer of the Tournament’ with Luke Pavillard award ‘Most Valuable Player of the Tournament’. 

Full results of the men's match - click here

Both the Aussie Sharks and Aussie Stingers players will now return to Australia to their domestic Clubs as part of the Australian Waterpolo League.  The next major tournament for the Aussie teams will be the FINA World Championships to be held in Hungary from 18 June - 3 July 2022.