Aussie Men Earn First Win at World Juniors in Perth
Australia bounced back from its opening-day, two-goal loss to title favourite Croatia to wear down South Africa and win their Junior World Championship Group B encounter 15-4 in Perth.
Australia did not have it all its own way in the first half with the first quarter squared at two, before Australia had a 3-1 second quarter that did not look convincing.
WAIS athlete William Mackay scored the first two goals of the game for Australia, while Murray Howard with a screamer from 8m, and Kyle Westman from centre forward, matched the Aussies.
Australia went two up after the first break through Justin Trabinger (8m) and Gordon Marshall (centre-forward goal). Then two penalty goals, one apiece, had the game at 5-3 with halftime looming.
The halftime score moved from 5-3 to 12-3 and the difference was the ultra-impressive Gordon Marshall and his five-goal tidal wave in the third quarter for a game-high seven.
Australia went to full press looking for counters in the third period and twice hit the post or crossbar before Matthew Skinner drilled one off the left post for 6-3. Marshall scored twice in succession, once on counter from 5m and the other off a near-post pass on extra-man attack.
South Africa called a timeout immediately after Marshall’s exploits but Australia pressed the green caps well out and turned over the ball. Michael Young (RSA) transgressed and gained a red card from which Marshall converted the six-on-five attack.
Marshall made it four in succession on the next attack and half a minute later was not passed the ball when clear in front of the cage but it was given instead to the free Blake Buckley to score.
Marshall closed the quarter with a centre-forward shot for his fifth goal in under five minutes and sixth for the game.
Davis Verboon (WAIS) and Trabinger, both on counter, took the score to 14-3 at the top of the fourth quarter. It took a while for another goal to come as both teams defended stoutly and Australia kept hitting the wood.
Marshall was the man to score at 1:12. South Africa was not to be denied in a rare foray into Aussie waters with Kyle Gibson taking a 5m foul and scoring inside the final minute.
A South African timeout at 0:27 yielded nothing and Australia had a first win.
Marshall was happy with his performance: “It was definitely a team effort. The game plan suited me a lot. I just converted the chances that I was provided.”
Australian head coach Chris Wybrow said his troops had warmed to the task and shown their true potential.
“It was a very good turnaround in the third quarter and we showed what we can do when we put our minds to it,” Wybrow said.
“We obviously have to be more clinical in our next match but our extra-man conversion was reasonably good and hopefully they can keep on improving.”
Next up Australia play’s New Zealand on Tuesday night.
Earlier:
Home town heroes Australia have pushed tournament favourites Croatia to within two goals in their opening Group B game on day one of the FINA World Youth Championships at Challenge Stadium, Perth.
Australia led early and was able to restrict the more experienced Croatians, before the European heavyweight nailed two late goals to seal the 8-6 win.
Australian coach Chris Wybrow was encouraged by his team’s performance and cited a lack of concentration at crucial times as the reason for the narrow defeat.
“Croatia is the number one seed and we made a few mistakes which let them get a way early in the third period. While we are disappointed at the result those mistakes are easy to fix and overall the performance was very good,” Wybrow said.
“One of our main positives was our defence, particularly in extra-man, and we were also very good at channelling our shots at the keeper. So if we can keep those aspects of our going we should continue to improve.”
Australia began strongly taking the game to the more fancied Croatians. Matt Skinner opened the scoring with a fine strike from the right hand side.
Croatia got on the board courtesy of a goal to Luka Bukic, before Lachlan Edwards put the home team ahead with an extra man goal just seconds later.
The second term started evenly with both teams defending strongly. Croatian coach Mate Zeljak received a yellow card after Croatia conceded an exclusion. They were able to defend that situation and in their very next attack converted from eight meters through Andrija Basic.
Australia replied with an outside shot from Justin Trabinger, before Basic and Antun Goreta found the back of the net to give Croatia a 4-3 lead at half time.
Croatia jumped out of the gates in the third term establishing a quick three goal advantage, before local Perth stars and WAIS scholarship holders Davis Verboon and Luke Pavillard reduced the margin to one.
Pavillard’s goal was a thunderous seven meter strike which snuck past the inside post of the keeper.
The early exchanges of the fourth period were tight with Australia keeper Anthony Hrysanthos holding firm in a brilliant display all game.
The young Australians continued to build the momentum and with 4min16sec remaining on the clock fellow Perth local William Mackay levelled the scores.
Croatia struck back immediately through Marino Cagalj and re-established their one goal lead before Bukic scored his second/third goal to hand his team an unassailable lead.
Hrysanthos, who formed the heart of Australia’s defence alongside centre backs Justin Trabinger and Matt Perrott, said it was a fantastic feeling to represent Australia at home world championships and said the boys were optimistic by their performance against Croatia.
“It’s pretty good start in our first game and Croatia is supposed to be the favourite for gold so to get to within two goals is great,” Hrysanthos said.
“I’m pretty happy with my game today and I felt like I was playing well, but it’s also great to play in front of a good defence.
“The whole experience has been amazing so far and to play in front of a home crowd with your friends and family in the stands is a great feeling and it definitely helped us play better.”
– Water Polo Australia
