The Australian women’s water polo team has scored a stunning 14-5 victory over China in their second Group stage game at the FINA World Championships in Barcelona.
China, who won this year’s FINA World League – the world championships’ biggest lead up tournament – scored the game’s first goal and led 3-1 at quarter time but the Stingers fought back to trail by a goal, 4-5 at the main break.
That comeback was nothing on the Australians’ third term effort though – a mind blowing 6-0 demolition of one of the competition’s favourites that was followed by a 4-0 final quarter run that gave the Australians a 10 goal to nil second half blitz.
All of Australia’s six London Olympic Games bronze medallists got on the scoresheet with WAIS athlete Glencora McGhie (nee Ralph) netting three, Rowie Webster, sharp shooter Ash Southern and Nicola Zagame all nabbing a pair, with skipper Bronwen Knox and centre forward Holly Lincoln-Smith each grabbing one.
Rising stars Isobel Bishop (two) and WAIS athlete Zoe Arancini also put the ball in the back of the cage.
The victory follows their opening day 15-4 thumping of New Zealand and means the Aussie Stingers go into Thursday’s final round robin clash with minnows South Africa with the top spot in their Group all but guaranteed.
Australian head coach Greg McFadden said the game was clearly one of two distinct performances from his team.
“The first half was pretty disappointing because we’d worked on a lot of things and we didn’t execute many of them at all and I think we were pretty lucky to be going in at half time down only 5-4,” McFadden said.
“But the second half was fantastic. Everything we spoke about, we executed and the girls were unbelievable.”
Despite the dramatic turn around McFadden said there were no magic words during the half time break, rather a simple message to stick to the game plan.
“I just said ‘we couldn’t have picked a worse first half to play and if we just do what we are supposed to do we will win this game easily’,” he said.
Olympic star Zagame said the Australians had started nervously but never felt like the game was slipping away.
“I think everyone was a little on edge because we all knew it was a really important game, but saying that, we were all calm in the water and knew we had things in control but just weren’t putting our shots in the frame,” Zagame said.
“We know we’re a better team than them and we just had to stick to the game plan in the second half.”
The Stingers’ game against the South Africans is scheduled for 2.50am AEST on Friday morning, whilst the Australian men’s team, the Aussie Sharks, play China on Wednesday at 8.10pm AEST.
-WaterPoloAustralia
