Arancini Helps Stingers to Crucial Win

A Zoe Arancini brace has helped the Aussies Stingers wrap up the preliminary rounds of the FINA World Championships with a 9-7 win over Japan.

The result will see Australia finish second in their pool, with the cross over matches for Saturday still to be determined.

Dual Olympian Rowie Webstercaptained the side to victory, celebrating in her 300th game for Australia.

“It’s a massive honour to be in the 300 club along with Mel Rippon and Bron Knox. It’s pretty cool that I’m still playing with Bron now. I think it just shows the longevity and love for our sport in Australia,” said Webster.

While Webster said they were pleased to get the win, she admitted that Japan really pushed the Aussies.

“We did come away the win… but Japan took us all the way through four quarters. They started really well, they played their game, we got a little frazzled through there.

“But we stayed confident, stuck to our systems and eventually finished the game out with some good goals at the end. I’m pretty proud of the girls,” said Webster.

 

 

Aussie Stingers Assistant Coach Bec Rippon, herself a dual Olympian, said they knew Japan were going to be tough.

“We have been training a fair bit with the Japanese lately so we know they are strong and have a great shooter in No 2 (Yumi Arima). We had to shut her down and play to our strengths and take away their strengths.

“We know we can score and we know they can just as well.

“At three-quarter time we told the players to play better and press the pass and let the defence do their job. We spoke about being more mobile in attack and we changed that later,” said Rippon.

While Japan got the first points on the board, goals from Webster, Arancini and Gofers gave Australia a 3-2 lead, at the end of the first period.

In a low scoring second period it was clear this match was going to go down to the wire, with Bishop the only Aussie to get points on the board and scores locked 4-4 at half time.

The Aussies wrangled back a one-point lead at the end of the third period courtesy of goals from Arancini and Buckling, heading into the final period up 6-5.

But Japan were determined to finish strong and scored first to once again lock up the scores. It was Buckling, Bishop and Buckling again who helped secure the win with a three-goal advantage with two minutes remaining. Japan got one more on extra with 35 seconds left in the match, but the Aussies had done enough to secure the win and finish second in their pool.

Australia are through to the cross over stage and will play again on Saturday, with their opponent still to be determined.

JAPAN 7 AUSTRALIA 9

Quarters: 2-3, 2-1, 1-2, 2-3

AUSTRALIA:Gabriella Palm, Keesja Gofers (1), Hannah Buckling (3), Bronte Halligan, Isobel Bishop (2), Bronwen Knox, Rowie Webster (1), Amy Ridge, Zoe Arancini (2), Lena Mihailovic, Elle Armit, Madeleine Steere, Lea Yanitsis. Head Coach: Predrag Mihailovic.

-WaterPoloAus