WORLD AQUATICS WOMEN'S U18 WATER POLO CHAMPIONSHIPS

GAME 7: AUSTRALIA 11 d ITALY 10

Our Aussies ended their campaign with a win against Italy at the World Aquatics Women’s U18 Water Polo Championships yesterday, finishing in fifth and doing Australia proud on the world stage.

The close game saw Australia take an early, one goal in lead in the first quarter thanks to scoring efforts from Jemma Potts and Sienna Grace Owen, the lattter of whom scored twice in the first eight minutes, including off a six metre shot in the final 30 seconds.

Despite Italy netting four goals in the second quarter, Australia maintained their lead, with Jemma Potts, Chelsea Isaac, Bless Daly and Christina DiGiandomenico all scoring one goal apeice.

A fantastic third quarter from the Green and Gold team saw three goals scored while keeping Italy to just one.

Despite a late surge from the Italian side, Australia held their nerve in the final quarter, securing them fifth place at the World Championships.

Water Polo Australia extends our sincerest vongratulations to all athletes and staff involved in the campaign.

REPLAY: 

GAME 6: AUSTRALIA 10 d NETHERLANDS 8

Australia delivered a convincing win over the Netherlands at the World Aquatics Women's U18 Water Polo Championships in China last night, securing them a spot in the 5th place playoff match set to take place later this afternoon.

The close game saw our Aussies win by two points, ensuring they will finish in the top six at a minimum - an outstanding achievement on the world stage.

After Matilda Waugh set the pace of the match, scoring within the first 30 seconds, our Aussies held their own throughout the first half of the match, maintaining a one point lead.

Two goals from the Netherlands in the third quarter saw them equalise the game, before a strong finish from the Australian's saw the team outscore their European opponents by two goals.

"Yesterday's game was by far our best game of the tournament," said player of the match, Jemma Potts.

"After our loss the night before, the girls were amazing in turning around and backing up with a great win.

"One of our key focuses going into the game was to be brave, and I think every single one of the girls managed to excel in that last night. We were able to stick to our systems and play as a team, making the win even more enjoyable. 

"Going into today's game, we are looking to continue to play our tactics and work together as a team, building off everything we achieved in today’s game. If we stick to this, I have no doubt we will be coming home on a win," she said. 

REPLAY: 

UPCOMING: Australia vs Italy, Sunday 22 September, 1:30pm AEST

GAME 5: GREECE 16 d AUSTRALIA 3

Australia went down fighting overnight at the World Aquatics Women's U18 Water Polo Championships in China, falling short to Greece in the Quarterfinal stage of the competition.

Greece was dominant from the beginning, scoring three goals in the first quarter while keeping our Aussies scoreless.

The second quarter saw the European side score another five goals before our Aussies were able to find the back of the net, with a shot from Indiana Smith less than three seconds before half time putting Australia on the scoreboard.

Bridget Cranley scored her second goal of the tournament in the third quarter before Charley Stephens netted one in the fourth, bringing Australia's total to three.

Attention now shifts to their first Classification game against Netherlands later today.

REPLAY:

UPCOMING: Australia vs Netherlands, Saturday 21 September, 6pm AEST

GAME 4: AUSTRALIA 12 d ISRAEL 10

An important win against Israel in the Crossover stage of the tournament has seen our Aussies advance to the Quarterfinals at the World Aquatics Women's U18 Water Polo Championships.

After being outscored by their oponents three goals to two in the first quarter, the Australian team fought back in the second, scoring five goals while keeping Israel to just two.

Both teams scored five goals apiece during the second half of the match, with Australia sealing the deal in the all-important match to advance to the Quarterfinal stage of the tournament.

Player of the match Charley Stephens said the team is thrilled to progress to the Quarterfinals.

"It was a pretty close game throughout so we're really happy to come away with the win and progress to the top eight," said Stephens.

"We're definitely ready to improve and keep moving forward from here.

"We'll be focusing on our consistency and working as well as we can together as a team. Working to strengthen those bonds we have even further. We want to make sure we can finesse our game play and tighten up our finishes," she said.

REPLAY:

COMUNG UP: Australia vs Greece, Friday 20 September, 7:30pm AEST

GAME 3: HUNGARY 18 d AUSTRALIA 8

Our Aussies fought til the end against Hungary at the World Aquatics Women's U18 Water Polo Championships in China overnight, ultimately going down 18-8.

After a strong first quarter saw the European powerhouse ahead by just one goal, Hungary dominated in quarters three and four, scoring 10 goals to Australia's two.

Despite the final eight minutes proving too big of a mountain to climb for our Aussies, the team fought til the end, demonstrating skill and resilience and represneting Australia with pride.

The team will now turn their attention to an important Crossover match against Israel later today.

REPLAY:

COMING UP: Australia vs Israel, Thursday 19 September, 7pm AEST

GAME 2: USA 16 d AUSTRALIA 12

Our Aussies went down in a hard fought game against the USA overnight, scoring 12 goals to their opponents 16.

The first to score, USA came out hard at the World Aquatics Women's U18 Water Polo Championships, finishing the first quarter ahead 4-2.

Despite scoring first in the second quarter, Australia found the net just once more during the second block of game time, with USA scoring another three goals to extend their overall lead by one goal.

The teams continued to battle it out in the pool during the second half of the match, testing each other and applying pressure. Despite Australia outscoring USA in the final quarter, a huge third quarter from USA - in which they scored seven times - saw them seal the deal.

The team will now prepare to face Hungary in their final Preliminary Round match later this evening.

REPLAY:

COMING UP: Australia vs Hungary, Wednesday 18 September, 7:30pm AEST

GAME 1: AUSTRALIA 15 d NEW ZEALAND 12

The Australian 18&U Women's team have started their World Championships campaign on a high, beating New Zealand 15-12 in their first game of the tournament.

The close game saw the two teams go goal for goal in the first quarter, with both Australia and New Zealand recording four goals each in the first eight minutes.

The trend continued in the second quarter, with a goal from Australia in the first minute of play followed by two goals from our neighbours across the ditch. A final goal from our Aussies saw the teams tied 6-6 going into the second half of the match.

Captain Chelsea Isaac scored her first goal of the match to open the scoring just 20 seconds into the third quarter, scoring another two over the following minutes. Additional goals from player of the match, Sienna Owen, and teammate Jemma Potts saw Australia establish a two point lead going into the final eight minutes.

Four more goals from Australia saw them seal the deal, ultimately beating New Zealand on the opening day of the World Championships.

Aussie player Matilda Waugh said the team was thrilled to come away with the win.

"I think the team definitely felt those first game nerves but we went in excited and ready to go and came out with the win, so we're very happy," said Waugh.

"We'll rest now and focus on a few of the aspects of our game that we want to tidy up between now and when we Play the USA tomorrow. We'll come together as a team and make sure we're excited and ready to go for our next game as a team."

REPLAY:

COMING UP: Australia vs USA, Tuesday 17 September, 7:30pm AEST

For full results - click here. 

Australia: Bridget Cranley (UWA, WA), Bless Daly (Polo Bears, QLD), Christina DiGiandomenico (Drummoyne, NSW), Saskia Dunn (Balmain, NSW), Tilly Hughes (Polo Bears, QLD), Chelsea Isaac (UNSW, NSW), Olivia Muir (Mermaids, QLD), Isla Mulligan (Triton, WA), Sienna Owen (Mermaids, QLD), Emma Pittman (Triton, WA), Jemma Potts (Richmond, VIC), Izzy Scott (Melville, WA), Indiana Smith (Balmain, NSW), Charley Stephens (Drummoyne, NSW), Matilda Waugh (Balmain, NSW)

Watch live: click here