The Australian Stingers have qualified for the gold medal match of the six nations tournament in Rio where they will face arch rivals the USA.
The Stingers have found a rich vein of form in Brazil, winning four and drawing just one of its five matches in reaching the gold medal playoff and proved far too strong for their hosts in the final qualifying match, easing to a clinical 10 goal win, 14-4.
Gemma Beadsworth, who is one of four WAIS scholarship athletes in Brazil, alongside Zoe Arancini, Glencora McGhie and Lilian Hedges, said the Aussies would come out firing against an American side looking to avenge its 13-6 defeat to the Stingers in the pool round.
“I think it’s going to be another really tough game. They are going to be pretty angry that we beat them so convincingly last time.
“We are going to be expecting big things and we’re going to come out really hard,” said Beadsworth.
While the Aussies have had a great run in Rio as part of the six nation tournament, having beaten; USA, China, Brazil and Netherlands and recording a draw against Canada – all games have been hard fought.
The final match against Brazil saw the Aussies get another convincing win but Beadsworth admitted it was tough.
“Those games are really hard to focus and get the team together after a couple of really physical games, but I think the girls lifted and we started really well.
“We did well to finish out the game and I think 14-4 was a good finish,” she said.
The Stingers are building towards next year’s Rio Olympic Games, where they will look to repeat their medal winning performances from Beijing (bronze) and London (bronze).
