
For the second day in a row the Aussie Stingers women’s water polo team
has thrashed their opposition at the FINA World League Super Finals in
Changshu, China, this time disposing of Italy 12-2.
In their first round robin game on Tuesday night the Australians
walloped Canada 20-4 and whilst they didn’t score as many goals against their
young opposition in the second game, their defence that restricted Italy to
just one goal per half was outstanding.
The Australians will face their first true test of the World League
finals at 9pm (AEST) tonight when they play London Olympic group partners
Russia.
Sophie Smith and captain Kate Gynther both scored three goals for the
second consecutive game whilst Beijing Olympian and WAIS-AIS athlete Gemma
Beadsworth, 2011 Player of the Year Rowena Webster and goalkeeper Victoria
Brown also played well.
In a sign that the Australians have set themselves high standards in the
lead-up to the London Olympics Brown said the team wasn’t entirely happy with
the way they had performed, despite the 10 goal margin.
"We probably didn’t play as well as we would have liked,” Brown, a
veteran of 171 games for Australia said.
"We rushed our attack a little bit and missed some options that
yesterday we were converting.
"But our defence, definitely, to only let them score two goals is
fantastic and the girls were really working hard in defence which is great for
me as the goalkeeper.”
The World League is the last major tournament on the international
calendar prior to the Olympics and includes fellow London 2012 teams Italy,
Russia, China and the USA.
It is also the last opportunity for Australian players to impress ahead
of the Olympic team announcement on June 12.
- Water Polo Australia
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