The Aussie Sharks failed to add to their trophy cabinet, losing 9-7 to world No Three Croatia in the play-off for bronze at the men’s water polo FINA World League Super Finals in Nis, Serbia this week.
WAIS was represented in Serbia by scholarship holders James Stanton, Joel Swift, Daniel Lawrence, Tim Cleland and Aaron Younger.
In a giant-killing week in which Australia beat Croatia and world No two Spain, the Sharks could not replicate that form and opened badly with a 1-4 quarter that saw them scrambling to bridge the gap.
The margin went to four by halftime, drawing the third 3-3 before winning the last 2-0 when the game was gone.
Considering the excellent feats of the past week, head coach John Fox was bitterly disappointed with the effort on the brink of collecting a third bronze medal in four years.
“It was a very disappointing finish to this tournament. I expect better from this group of players and hopefully we can regroup and perform well in Romania,” he said.
He was referring to the quadrennial FINA World Cup, which starts in Oradea, Romania on Wednesday week.
The major sticking point for the Sharks was on extra man where the referees seemed to be on Australia’s side.
Australia had 17 chances on the critical man-up situation but only converted four while defending three of Croatia’s seven chances.
That 10-foul imbalance should have been the impetus for Australia to roll Croatia.
Queenslander Billy Miller boosted his goal tally to eight for the tournament with a hat-trick.
World champion Serbia stole the World League crown off Montenegro with a 14-12 gold-medal effort.
The United States of America continued Spain’s woes with a 7-6 result for fifth and China beat South Africa 11-5 for seventh.
– Australian Water Polo
