Fourth Place for Aussie Juniors

The Australian Men’s Junior water polo team has finished a gallant fourth at the World Championships in Volos, after falling 7-5 to hometown favourite Greece in the bronze medal decider.

The two combatants had played out a six-all draw in the group stage of the tournament and playing for a medal in front of 2000 fans at the National Outdoor Swimming Pool was always going to be a big occasion.

Australia jumped out to an early lead and held a 1-0 advantage at quarter time before the two teams exchanged the lead a number of times over the next two periods to go into the last break locked at five-all.

From there Greece, with the boisterous local crowd making it tough on Australia and the referees, scored twice including an extra man goal with less than two minutes on the clock that proved the final nail in the Australians’ coffin.

In the end extra man chances proved the difference with Australia converting none of their five opportunities compared to Greece’s four from eight.

Six WAIS scholarship holders featured in the match for Australia, with; Edward Slade, James Fannon, Sam Quinn, Aaron Younger, George Ford and Nick Redbond all taking to the water against Greece.

The result was Australia’s equal second best at this level behind a silver medal winning effort in 1999 (and two other fourth place finishes) and several members of the team will now be serious contenders for a spot in Australia’s squad for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

In the gold medal match Serbia defeated Spain 9-6.

-Australian Water Polo