Aussie Sharks Put Bite into Opponents

Captain Sam McGregor spurred the Aussie Sharks to a 10-6 victory over China and a 10-game sweep of the FINA World League Asia-Oceania zone in Tianjin.

Victorian Tiger McGregor’s four-goal haul made sure of the team taking maximum points and top spot from the zone to the eight-team Super Finals in Nis, Serbia on July 12-18.

An opening 4-2 quarter became 5-3 at halftime before winning the next two periods 2-1 and 3-2.

McGregor, Rhys Howden (VICI Brisbane Barracudas) and goalkeeper John Hahn (Drummoyne Devils) were the standouts.

In a low-fouling game, the Sharks scored three from five on extra-man plays and defended one from two.

WAIS scholarship holders Tim Cleland, Luke Quinlivan, Aaron Younger, Joel Swift and Daniel Lawrence allplayed well and securing Australia’s berth.

WAIS men’s water polo head coach Paul Oberman said “I was very pleased to havefive athletes selected and hope to have just as many on the European Tour in July, where Australia will train with Spain for a week, before playing World League Finals.”

Head coach John Fox said the 10-game streak from the two legs in Japan and China set the team up with an excellent platform for the heavy training in the coming month.

He said of the tour that Mitchell Baird (Hunter Hurricanes) was the best player of the Japan leg and Howden impressed the most in China.

Aaron Younger scored ten goals in the Tianjin leg for Australia, whilst Daniel Lawrence scored six, and Joel Swift five.