Sharks Split Opening Fixtures at World League
The Australian men’s water polo team has split its opening two fixtures at the 2018 FINA World League Super Final in Budapest.
The Sharks side led by Western Australian dual Olympian Aaron Younger dropped its opening match to competition heavyweights Hungary 5-12 before responding with a clinical 11-7 win over Japan in their second pool match.
Younger scored six goals in the win over Japan and he is joined in the Australian squad by fellow WA talents; Andrew Ford, Tim Putt and Nicholas Elphick.
Elphick – still two months shy of his 20thbirthday – is on his first senior Australian tour squad following an impressive season in the national water polo league.
Conversion was the key difference in the Sharks’ opening defeat against Hungary with the Australians registering 28 shots at goal to Hungary’s 23. Despite this advantage, the Europeans were more clinical in attack and they outscored the tourists in each quarter bar the second.
The Sharks responded well in their second clash however, with a dominant 4-1 opening quarter the main difference in a four goal win over Japan.
In a reverse of their opening fixture, the Australians had less shots on goal than their opponent, but were more effective in offense, capitalising on two of their three extra-man attacks.
Australia will meet Montenegro in its third and final pool round clash on Wednesday. The Montenegrins have recorded wins over both Japan and Hungary and sit top of Group A.
