Australia has won the bronze medal at the women’s FINA World League Water Polo tournament in Tianjin, China.
The Australian Stingers beat the host nation 7-5 in a tough physical battle with some brilliant defence in a gripping last two minutes of the game.
The bronze was a great reward for the Australians who lost their semi final against the world number one Americans by a mere goal.
Australian captain Kate Gynther opened the scoring with a penalty in the first quarter but that would be the last time the Stingers would lead until two minutes into the last term.
In the fourth period when a sharp Rebecca Rippon strike sent Australia back to the lead there was still six minutes left for China to come back. The hosts had most of the attack and in one instance twice regained the ball off a shot and gained extra man but no score came.
The game was put beyond doubt when Gemma Beadsworth lobbed from six metres with 2:04 remaining and despite China having four more attacks and two extra-man chances before the buzzer Australia’s brave defence held out.
Gynther was happy with her squad and said the bronze medal was a fitting way to end the three-week tour that has taken in the Kirishi Cup in Russia, an intense training camp in Italy and the World League finals.
“It was a great team effort today, particularly in our extra man defence,” Gynther, a two-time Olympian said.
“It’s a great way to finish what’s been a hard tour.”
The team’s Head Coach, Greg McFadden, agreed with his star.
“It was a fantastic effort by all of the team today at the end of a long tour,” McFadden said.
“Our extra man defence was outstanding and that bolstered our confidence in attack.
“Beating China in China is always satisfying.”
In the gold medal match the USA won their sixth women’s World League title with a 9-7 win over surprise finalists Italy who lost all of their round robin matches before upsetting 2011’s form team, Russia, in the quarter finals and China in the semis.
The World League is the number one lead in tournament to July’s FINA World Championships, the biggest tournament in the world between now and the 2012 London Olympic Games.
McFadden said Australia were in a good place heading into the World Championships.
“I am happy where we are,” he said.
“We were unlucky against the USA and against Russia we had a bad start. It’s close at the top of the world.
“Now it’s Shanghai and we have a big game first up against Canada.”
