Australia is into the quarterfinals of the women’s water polo competition at the FINA World Championships in Shanghai after a 10-9 defeat of Hungary.
In what was a fast and furious battle the Aussie Stingers scored within the first 60 seconds then led for all but three minutes in the second quarter and when WAIS-AIS athlete Glencora Ralph converted an extra man opportunity with two minutes left in the third to make it 8-4, the game looked all but over.
But the Hungarians fought back hard and snared four final quarter goals, including two unanswered strikes off the back of some Australian errors in the closing 60 seconds, to make the final score a lot closer than the game really was.
The Stingers win earns them a quarterfinal on Monday against rising European powerhouse Italy.
Despite the last minute lapse it was a great team effort by the Stingers and Victorian Rowie Webster was brilliant, scoring four, making a number of critical steals and earning several fouls when it counted to lead the Stingers into the next round.
Webster was well supported by Beijing Olympians Gemma Beadsworth (WAIS-AIS), who was targeted for some particularly physical marking by her opposition, and goalkeeper Alicia McCormack.
After the match Webster said the side was determined to get off to a good start and personally she had focused on being ready to go from the opening whistle.
“We really wanted to play well early today and we were able to do that,” Webster said.
“In games like this it’s important to start well and even though it was close in the end it was our start that won it.
“I am happy with how I played and I really wanted to do well for the team. I knew we needed to score early and we did.”
Australian head coach Greg McFadden said he was relieved to have gotten away with the win, especially after the late Hungarian fight back courtesy of a few Australian errors.
“Those sort of games are always the hardest because there’s so much riding on it,” McFadden said.
“If you lose the best you can finish is ninth and you’re out of contention, now we live to fight another day so I’m very relieved, even though we made it a lot closer than it should have been in the end.
“In the last couple of minutes there were silly mistakes from senior players who should know better and all I can put it down to is the pressure of the situation.”
Looking forward McFadden believes his side can still win the tournament despite the late match scare.
“We still believe we’re good enough to win the gold medal, our next game against Italy’s going to be hard but we’re at the quarter finals,” he said.
“I just think we need to be a little more relaxed and play to our potential and we’ll be fine.”
The Stingers quarter final against Italy is on Monday night (2100 Shanghai / 2300 AEST) and shapes as another tight tussle – the Italians were surprise silver medallists in this year’s FINA World League tournament when Australia took the bronze, however the draw dictated the two teams didn’t meet in the tournament.
The last time they played a series, in Perth in January, the Stingers won four and drew one with the nucleus of the squad they have in Shanghai however the young Italian side has improved markedly since as they get to know their new coach.
-Australian Water Polo
