Australian women’s water polo star Rowie Webster has confirmed her status as one of the best players in the world with a match winning strike two seconds from full time to seal a 9-8 victory for Australia over Canada at the Canada Cup in Quebec.
Webster powered home four goals for the match, including three in the final term, to make it two wins on the trot for the Aussie Stingers at the tri-nations tournament in Ottawa.
Canada had seized the advantage in the third term to set up a 6-5 lead heading into the decider, only for Webster and left-hander Isobel Bishop to propel Australia back into the lead. Three consecutive goals within four minutes had the Stingers 8-6 in front.
The home side rallied and reduced the margin to one via a five meter goal to Christina Robinson, and when Canada dramatically equalized with nine seconds remaining the match was destined for a draw.
With time against them Aussie skipper Bronwen Knox, herself with two goals for the game, seized control from the restart and having eluded her defended, found Webster on the eight meters who in turn swivelled and fired one into the top right-hand corner to claim victory.
Stingers coach Greg McFadden was pleased with the result but insisted there was plenty of improvement left in his team.
“Today was a good performance especially in defence, our first half was excellent,” McFadden said.
“If we converted our opportunities today we could have been6-2 up at half time, so our extra man attack is an area we can improve on.”
WAIS athlete Zoe Arancini played in the match for Australia, and scored one goal.
Click here for video comments from Zoe Arancini
– Water Polo Australia
