Aaron Younger Hits Six for Aussie Sharks

WAIS athlete Aaron Younger scored six goals in Australia’s win over Japan on the weekend in a performance that head coach John Fox hailed as “exceptional”.

The Aussie Sharks outclassed Japan 15-8 in the Asia-Oceania FINA World League qualifying first round at the Adelaide Aquatic Centre.

The 18 year-old – who was making just his third senior appearance for Australia – produced a dominant display and his six goal haul followed on from his pivotal role in the Fremantle Mariner’s national league success just a week prior.

Younger was happy to downplay his role in the teams win and admitted the busy schedule had been tiring.

“I was just left open inside the five metres and my team-mates gave me the ball,” younger said of his six goals. “It’s been a good experience to play with the older guys but it’s been a tiring time following the National League finals.”

Younger will get a much deserved break this weekend as selectors rotate the squad to blood more new players at International level. Australia will play the second round in Auckland this weekend.

WAIS was well represented in the Sharks line-up, with James Stanton, Tim Cleland, Nick O’Halloran and Daniel Lawrence also competing in the match.

The win against Japan followed comfortable victories over Iran (13-1) and New Zealand (12-3) in the first two matches of round one, leaving Australia with a perfect record at the culmination. WAIS scholarship holder Luke Quinlivan played against Iran and New Zealand.

The Aussie Stingers also made a perfect start in the women’s competition with wins over China (17-13), New Zealand (14-0) and Japan (13-4) in Adelaide.

The Stingers who won bronze at last year’s Beijing Games looked sharp in each of their first round matches and look set for a big 2009.

WAIS scholarship holder Glencora Ralph competed in all three matches for the Stingers.