AUS SCHOOLBOYS

Game 4 vs United States of America
Australia slam dunks the Yankees The Australians at no time allowed the USA to get into the game and forced errors constantly from the opposition.
Australia scored four goals but allowed two goals in. A lot of swimming and some good extra man results were a highlight of this quarter.
The Australians clicked into gear and played open fast water polo that constantly left our opposition in our wake.
Thus in the 2nd quarter we scored six unanswered goals to lead at half time by 10 – 2.
The 3rd quarter was much tighter and the USA team were able to score three goals while we scored five – the score at the end of the quarter was 15 - 5.
Australia again extended its lead to 20 – 5.
One very good feature of this game was the conversion rate of our extra man – it was over 80% - so much better than our last two games.
Goal scorers – Ross O’Brien (5), Matt Saville (4), Trent Blewitt, Brodie Bol, James Woods, Damien Hicks (2), Toby Hunt, Jarrod Gilchrist, Corrie Eames (1).

Game 2 vs Great Britain
Australia puts Lions to Rest The game was characterised by outstanding defence and flowing attack with our two goalies, Carl and Clay, having exceptional games.
Australia dominated the first quarter with 4 unanswered goals. Australia’s left hander, Toby Hunt, scored two quality goals early in the quarter by bouncing the ball under the GB goalkeeper’s arm from the left hand catch position.
The 2nd quarter saw Australia extend it’s lead to 7 – 1 by using a tight pressing defence and utilizing their speed across the team in counter-attack.. Australia lead at the end of the 3rd quarter 12 – 4, despite a poor conversion rate in extra man attack, of 30%, down from 80% in the previous game.
In the last quarter Australia extended it’s lead to 15 – 5, however, Australia’s shooting was well below the team’s potential, with far too many shots hitting the posts.
Goal scorers – Ross O’Brien (5), Mace Rapsey (4), Damien Hicks, Toby Hunt (2), Brodie Bol, James Woods (1).

Pan Pacific Tournament Canada
Well we have arrived and the temperature has dropped to -10*C – good water polo weather.
Game 1 vs Canada
Australia Wins Comfortably
The game was characterised by strong counter attack and generally solid defence.
Australia dominated the first quarter with 5 unanswered goals.
Australia’s first goal came in the first 30 secs after we won the swim up.
A few lapses in concentration and the 2nd quarter was a closer tussel – 10 - 4.
Australia settled and struck back in the 3rd with some good steals and tight pressing to take the score to 17 – 6.
Some lazy defence in the last quarter cost Australia 3 goals while we scored 4 goals.
This left the final score as 21 – 9.
Goal scorers – Ross O’Brien, Matt Saville (5), Jeff Disken, Mace Rapsey, Brodie Bol (2), Damien Hicks, Trent Blewwitt, Toby Hunt, Jarrod Gilchrist, Corrie Eames(1). 
Bob G
Team Manager

DAY 3
Australian Schoolboys Lose 3rd Test
In another keenly contested game the Australian Schoolboys went down for the first time while on tour.
The first quarter went Australia’s way with the scoreline at the end of a very tight quarter being 3 – 2.
At half-time everything had evened up and the score was 5 – 5, neither team were able to break away to get a commanding lead.
In the third quarter the New Zealanders scored two very quick goals and we were not looking good.
However, to our boys credit they came back and at the end of the quarter it was 7 – 7.
Again they scored early in the quarter but in not panicking our boys came back to make it 8 – 8.
However a few lapses in concentration and some good play by the NZ’s saw us behind and time gone on the clock.
The final score was 10 – 8.
Congratulations to all who played and it just shows that their was nothing between the two teams this year.
Our last game in New Zealand will be against the South Africans at midday Thursday.
Bye for now,
Bob G
Team Manager  

DAY 2
Australian Schoolboys Win 2nd Water Polo Test Against New Zealand
Millennium Pool, Auckland - 19/12/06
Today the Australian Schoolboys Water Polo team played the 2nd Test against the New Zealand Schoolboys in the three test match series.
The first game ended in a draw and thus this second match was the all important lead-in to the final to be played on the 20th December.
The game started well for the Australians scoring the first two goals and finishing the quarter leading 4 – 2.
Strong defence and flair in the attack had dominated this period.
The 2nd quarter was a repeat of the first with Australian boys outscoring the New Zealanders 2 – 1 to give a half-time scoreline of 6 – 3.
The 3rd quarter saw both teams score two goals and the water polo was going end to end with strong defence by both teams.
Thus leading into the final quarter the score to Australia was 8 – 5.
The final quarter was a repeat of the third with each team scoring 2 goals and contesting every metre of the pool.
The Australian extra man attack and defence was a feature of the game and showed off our skills in preventing goals from being scored while a man down and conversely our ability to score goals when a man up.
Congratulations to Mick O’Brien the Australian coach and the boys on their fine win.
This win guarantees the Australian Schoolboys retain the Trans Tasman Shield won on the Sunshine Coast in 2005.
Bob G
Team Manager

17.12.06
The Australian Schoolboys played two games today against the South African Schoolboys and the NZ Youth Team (their U20 squad + a few others)
South African Game - Test 1
They came out firing and we were overwhelmed - they scored the first 4 goals and at quarter time we were down 4 - 1.
A decision by our boys to play to our original game plan and to press everywhere in the 2nd quarter immediately began to bring dividends.
At 1/2 time we had at least started to claw back and the score was now 5 - 3.
The second half belonged to us.
The Aussie boys went on a blitz and at 3/4 time we led 7 - 6 a reflection of the turn-around in the game.
The SA's were not out of it and they scored the next 2 goals to lead 8 - 7 with 5 minutes to go.
The Aussie boys stepped up a gear and scored 4 unanswered goals to finish up winners 11 - 8.
A hard fought but well deserved winners.

New Zealand Youth Team
A close game all the way through with the end result of 11-all a true reflection of the game.
We won the first quarter to lead 3 - 2, the half time score was 5 - 4, 3/4 time it was 9-all and the full-time 11-all.
It was a good hit out and showed our boys that they will have to work very hard if they are to beat the Schoolboys team.

18/12/06
South African Game - Test 2
Today the boys came out on fire and reversed yesterday’s 1st quarter – they led 4 – 0 at the end of it.
The second quarter they dominated and led at the end 9 – 2.
The final score was 14 – 5 and all players had quality water time.
This has therefore given us the Test Series 2 – 0 in the 3 test competition.

New Zealand Schoolboys – Test 1
A game of contrasts – brute strength and below the belt tactics against team play and staunch defence.
The first quarter was a very tight affair and at the end of it the Aust. team had a lead of 3 -2.
The 2nd quarter again went to Australia and we took the lead out to 6 – 3.
Then the kickouts started to overwhelm us and the NZ team started their comeback.
The kickouts were puzzling as we were out yet the same did not occur at the other end – I was told it was smart play by their players.
At the end of the 3rd quarter it was 7 – 5 and we should have won it from here.
Again we were let down and the final score was 8-all – not a true reflection of the game.

Tomorrow we have only the 2nd Test against the NZ boys and thus we will have more time to relax and prepare for the game rather that 2 tough games in the one day.
NZ have to play SA in the morning – so they have the tougher day.
Bob G
Boys Team Manager

AUS SCHOOLGIRLS 

Game 6 AUS vs Canadian Youth West
win 14-4 K.Gofers 4, N.Stolz 2, M.Laauw 2, A.King 1, A.Brightwell 1, S.Farquhar 1, M.Kearney 1, J.Cox 1, N.Davies 1.
Game 7 AUS vs Quebec A Youth
win 11-7 A.Brightwell 3, N.Stolz 2, K.Gofers 2, A.King 1, M.Kearney 1, M.Laauw 1, N.Davies 1.

Following our successful Canadian U17 tour, the team enjoyed some downtime in Montreal and Quebec City with tobogganing and snow fights. Many thanks to for their hospitality throughout the tournamment. Our home trip via Los Angeles meant that the team also enjoyed a day at the beach and some final shopping at Santa Monica before heading back to Oz. School Sport Australia wishes to thank the following coaches for their hospitality and support throughout the 2006-07 Australian Schoolgirls tour: Auckland, NZ - Chris Hayward, Steve Knight Stanford, USA - John Tanner, Kyle Utsumi Montreal, Canada - Jeff Lindell, John Stockdale, James Gardiner and Pat Oaten
Jenny Liessmann
Manager AUS Schoolgirls  

Australian Schoolgirls at Stanford University, California

Team: Anna Petridis (GK), Allison King, Alicia Brightwell, Amanda Wynants,
Nanda Stolz, Natalie Davies, Keesja Gofers, Sally Farquhar, Gabi Wikman,
Michelle Kearney, Jess Cox, Michelle Laauw

For 6 days the AUS Schoolgirls trained at the magnificent Stanford University facilities with and against Stanford. We were priviliged to train under John Tanner (USA Olympic Men's coach 1992, 2000) and Kyle Utsemi (USA U20 Girl's coach). The camp was invaluable as it allowed the team to train set moves and tactics for their Canadian Youth tournament.

Australian Schoolgirls in Montreal, Canada  (7 game tournament)
 
27th Dec   Game 1 AUS vs West Canada U17   win 15-7
Allison King  2, Alicia Brightwell 2, Amanda Wynants 2, Nanda Stolz 2,
Natalie Davies 2, Keesja Gofers 3, Sally Farquhar 1, Gabi Wikman 1
 
27th Dec   Game 2   AUS vs Nation's Capital U17   win 16-5
Alicia Brightwell 2, Amanda Wynants 1, Nanda Stolz 1, Natalie Davies 1,
Keesja Gofers 2, Sally Farquhar 3, Gabi Wikman 2, Michelle Kearney 1, Jess
Cox 3
 
28th Dec   Game 3  AUS vs Quebec U17 B   win 17-6
Allison King 3, Alicia Brightwell 3, Nanda Stolz 3, Natalie Davies 2, Keesja
Gofers 3, Sally Farquhar 1, Michelle Kearney 1, Jess Cox 1
 
28th Dec   Game 4   AUS vs Quebec U17A   win 18-3
Allison King 3, Alicia Brightwell 2, Natalie Davies 6, Keesja Gofers 4, Gabi
Wikman 2, Jess Cox 1
 
Jenny Liessmann
AUS Schoolgirls Manager

NEW ZEALAND

The AUS Schoolgirls tonight were unable to take the Trans Tasman Trophy back home after a 3rd exciting 4-5 loss to the Kiwis.
The team now heads for San Francisco for a week to play training games against Stanford University followed by a week in Montreal at the Canadian U20s tournament.

Game 2 on Tuesday 19th December
NZ 6 AUS 4
Sally Farquhar 1, Alicia Brightwell 1, Natalie Davies 1, Allison King 1
Game 3 on Wednesday 20th December
NZ 5 AUS 4
Allison King 2, Alicia Brightwell 1, Keesja Gofers 1
Jenny Liessmann
Manager AUS Schoolgirls

The New Zealand Schoolgirls have taken the first match in the Trans Tasman Schoolgirls Shield series at the Millennium Pool on Monday 18th coming away in the final quarter to beat Australia 10-7.
Australian scorers: Gabi Wikman 3 Keesja Gofers 1 Amanda Wynants 1 Jess Cox 1 Natalie Davies 1

Game 2 Tuesday 6:30
Game 3 Wednesday 8:00

Jenny Liessmann
Manager AUS Schoolgirls Manager