Another disappointing week for Australian Water polo with the World Cup Champions and Olympic Bronze- medallists, the Aussie Stingers losing their quarter final match at the FINA World Champions.

The stingers succumbed to Greece in a poor 4-3 loss.

Captain Mel Rippon said that pure and simple it was execution with too many mistakes that led to the loss.

“You can’t expect to score three goals and win a match”
Assistant Coach Creig Richardson said the loss was pretty disappointing, as the team is facing a new era of play.

“This is the start of a new cycle with eight new girls since the Olympics,” he said, “It’s not an excuse but they just didn’t respond to the pressure”.

Adding to the pain, the Australians now will not be able to defend their World Cup crown next year in Wellington, as they needed a top three finish.

The Australian Men’s team, the Aussie Sharks lost their cross-over match, bowing out of the top eight after losing to Romania 7-5.

They now play for places 9-12.

BLK1 Article: ELIZABETH MCPHERSON BLK1 Photographer: ANTHONY PEARSE

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This week in waterpolo saw the junior FINA women’s world championship end in frustration for the Australians.
Placing a mere seventh the defending champions beat Spain 11-6, with the only highlight of the game coming from Bre Appel who claimed a three-goal haul.
Coach Peter Szilagyi said he was embarrassed with the final placing in a championship where the leading players failed to fire on a consistent basis.
Russia took out the championship beating the Netherlands 14-9, and the USA received the bronze after an 11-8 victory over Hungary.

BLK1 Article: ELIZABETH MCPHERSON BLK1 Photographer:ANTHONY PEARSE

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The Balmain Tigers competing on home soil

This week in Australian Waterpolo saw Australia bow out in the quarter final stages of the FINA junior women’s championship but the young-guns of the team lead from the front.

Australia qualified for the quarter-finals after a seven goal haul from Balmain Tigers player, Kayle Leathem, leading to a 28-4 victory over Kazakhstan, however the USA took the crown from the reigning champions winning 9-4.

Australian head coach Peter Szilagyi was unhappy with the poor start and said “The mentally, better-prepared American team deserved to win.”

Leathem wasn’t the only youngster to when earlier in the week, 16 year-old Ash Southern, dominated Australia’s opening game scoring four goals for an 11-9 win over Spain.
Australia will now face off against Canada for fifth spot.

BLK1 Article: ELIZABETH MCPHERSON BLK1 Photographer:ANTHONY PEARSE

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