Australian SIS/SAS Water Polo Team Defeats Japan

The Australian men’s water polo team, the Aussie Sharks, have begun their first steps towards the Rio2016 Olympic Games with a 12-9 victory in their opening match of their combined SIS/SAS tour of Japan.

Australia, who is helping Japan prepare for the Asian Championships, played beyond their years as the young Sharks showed great tenacity to hold out the fast finishing Japanese.

Japan led 2-1 at the first break before a second and third quarter onslaught by the Aussies stunned the locals. The Sharks scored eight goals to three in the middle two terms to all but seal the contest.

WAIS duo Daniel Lawrence and Joel Swift scored two goals each while Jarrod Gilchrist and keeper Edwards Slade (WAIS) were superb in defence.

Co-coach Paul Oberman (WAIS men’s water polo head coach) was enthused by the result and praised the players for their performance.

“This is a very pleasing result for such a young group of men to contain a Japanese team hoping to qualify for the 2013 World Championships,” Oberman said.

“We had an outstanding middle two quarters where we were in total control of the game.

“We relaxed and lost our way in the final quarter allowing them to come back from 11-5 down, but overall it was a very pleasing win.”

Fellow coach Chris Wybrow was also ecstatic with the victory and said it was exciting to see some of the younger players step up.

“The younger players adapted well to play a very good team game, with some good individual performances, in particular from Eddie Slade who made numerous saves and Jarrod Gilchrist with five steals and a goal,” Wybrow said.

“Both centre forwards, Joel and Gordon, proved a handful for the Japanese defence and they needed to change their normal defensive structure to stop the dominance.”

Australia’s tour of Japan will continue this week before the boys return home on November 17.

– Water Polo Australia