The Australian Stingers women’s water polo team has won the silver medal at the Kirishi Cup in Russia after they beat Kazakhstan 16-7 in their final match while Hungary and the USA both lost.
Representing WAIS in the match were Gemma Beadsworth, Zoe Arancini and Glencora Ralph, with all three scholarship holders finding the net in the nine goal win.
It was an up and down week for the Stingers losing against gold medallists Russia, drawing against both the USA and Hungary while defeating bronze medallists Greece and the Kazakhs.
The result augers well for the Australians ahead of this year’s big tournaments – FINA World League Finals that begin in the Chinese city of Tianjin on June 14 and the FINA World Championships in Shanghai in July.
Against Kazakhstan the Stingers were too big, too fast and too technically skilled scoring five goals a piece in the first, second and fourth quarters.
Rising star Ash Southern, the Queenslander that will spearhead Australia’s chances at this year’s World Junior Championships in Trieste, Italy, scored five goals, while Croa centre-forward Holly Lincoln-Smith bagged three and club teammate Nicola Zagame notched two.
Dual Olympian Kate Gynther was named as Australia’s player of the tournament.
The Australians next head to a training camp in Italy before moving on to Tianjin.
– Water Polo Australia
