Following a year out from water polo post London Games, WAIS athlete and dual Olympic bronze medallist Gemma Beadsworth has played an instrumental role in Australia’s 13-10 victory over China in their tight opening match of the 2014 FINA World League Intercontinental Cup in Riverside, California.
Beadsworth struck four goals in the Stingers’ win and was one of four WAIS athletes in action, with youngsters Lilian Hedges, Eliesha Browne and Jessica Zimmerman joining Beadsworth in the green and gold.
For many of the Australian players it had only been a short break between their duties in the National Water Polo League and their opening international tournament, while FINA World Championship silver medallist Jayde Appel returned after recently winning bronze with the USC Trojans at the prestigious NCAA Championships in the USA.
The opening quarter saw the Stingers take an early lead thanks to captain Rowie Webster scoring off the post, while strong driving by Keesja Gofers and excellent play in centre forward from Gemma Beadsworth both delivered goals. Unfortunately for the Aussies, China scored four goals with two coming from penalty shots to lead 3-4 at the first break.
Tough calls by the referees saw the Australians concede another penalty to China early in the second period. However, strong extra man play saw another FINA World Championship silver medallist, Ashleigh Southern, score from five-metres only for Appel to earn a contra foul to level the scores at 5-5 at the half-time break.
It was again China who started on the front foot in the third stanza, scoring first before the lead changed a handful of times during the quarter. London Olympic bronze medallist Sophie Smith scored off the back of vigilant counter attack, while Webster took advantage in extra man to score, before backing up that effort with another goal, her third of the game to put the Stingers in the lead 8-7 at the final break.
It was a familiar story in the fourth with China scoring the first two goals to lead by one. The Stingers then rallied to score four unanswered goals thanks to Southern who fired one into the cage from nine metres out before taking her third goal for the game during extra man play.
It was Beadsworth who then helped the Aussies storm home with two goals, one of which came with the assistance of Isobel Bishop. Australian goalkeeper Kelsey Wakefield denied China a penalty goal opportunity, as the Stingers defence was broken just once more, before Beadsworth ensured victory with her fourth goal of the game to have the final score reading 13-10.
Stingers assistant coach Eddie Denis said the game lived up to expectations and that experience was the key to victory.
“We expected this game to be tough and it was,” Denis said.
“Our experience was evidenced in the final quarter as our senior players took control of the game to take out the win by three goals. However, it’s early days as a team and there’s plenty to still work on.”
Standout performers for the Stingers were Gemma Beadsworth, Rowie Webster and Ash Southern, with the three girls combining to score 10 of Australia’s 12 goals for the game.
The Stingers next game will be against Brazil who took a 12-2 victory over Venezuela in the first game of the tournament. The game will be played Thursday.
-WaterPoloAus
