Australia has made a good fist of its men’s World League Super Final campaign with a defeat to world champions Croatia followed by a big win over South Africa.
WAIS has four athletes competing in Podgorica, Montenegro with James Stanton, Nick O’Halloran, Tim Cleland and Daniel Lawrence all selected for the Australian Sharks.
The Sharks were faced with a first quarter onslaught in its first match against Croatia, with the world champions springing to a 3-1 lead. Australia rallied in the second and third terms to be level at 6-6 heading into the final quarter. Croatia won it 3-0 to win the clash 9-6, but Australia was far from disgraced.
The Croatians’ superior extra-man attack proved the difference with six conversions from seven attempts as the youthful Aussie Sharks could do no better than two from six on their opportunities.
James Stanton pulled down 11 saves in goal in an impressive performance from the WAIS stopper.
Australia showed on day two that it would be no pushover in the World Super League by crushing South Africa 13-4 in convincing fashion.
Whilst South Africa are largely unheralded on the world stage, the Sharks looked focused both in attack and defence and controlled the match from the off.
Nick O’Halloran, Tim Cleland and Daniel Lawrence all scored for Australia in the nine point win, which sets the Aussies up for an epic clash with world power Montenegro who defeated Croatia 12-7 in their pool clash.
