Manager's Report:

Hello Everyone, well this will be the last report from Europe as we will be leaving Slovakia today to for our long trip home via Budapest, Milan, Tokyo, and for some of us also Sydney.
Although for Mark who will be staying on in Europe to meet up with the Junior Men who arrive in Slovakia later this month. The team secured first place in this tournament going through undefeated, even though there was no consistency in their performances.  The players are certainly looking forward to getting home, even though this has been a shorter tour than last year the players have worked hard during the training camps with Italy, France and certainly with Hungary.   
Here is the information from our last two games.
Graeme  

DATE: COMPETITION: 6th to 8th July 2007 Slovak Water Polo Federation (SVK)
DAY: 2
Match 3
MATCH: Australia v Japan
 
RESULT: Australia 10 V Japan 9
 
VENUE: Topocany
 
QUARTER SCORES (Aus first): Q1 2 - 3, Q2  5 - 5, Q3 7 - 8, Q4 10 - 9
 
AUS SCORERS: Dyson 4, Robertson 2, Roach, Gilchrist, Batty, McCann 1
 
GOALKEEPER: Zvekan & Slade
 
EXTRA-MAN (Aus): 2/5 plus 4 Penalties
 
EXTRA MAN (Opponent): 4/11 plus 1 Penalty
 
OTHER RESULTS: Slovenia 2 V Hungary 13,  Slovakia bye
 
COACH COMMENTS: An incredibly poor performance following on from solid win on the previous day against Hungary. The only positive could be, that despite such a low standard perform we achieved a win
 
NEXT GAME: v  Slovakia
 
 
 
DAY: 2
Match 4
MATCH: Australia v Slovakia
 
RESULT: Australia 12 V Slovakia 2
 
VENUE: Topocany
 
QUARTER SCORES (Aus first): Q1 3-0, Q2 6-0 , Q3 10-1, Q4 12-2
 
AUS SCORERS: Gilchrist, O’Brien 3, Younger 2, Dyson, Rapsey, Roach, Batty 1
 
GOALKEEPER: Slade& Zvekan
 
EXTRA-MAN (Aus): 6/11
 
EXTRA MAN (Opponent):  0/6
 
OTHER RESULTS: , Hungary 9 V Japan 7, Slovenia Bye
 
COACH COMMENTS:. Following on from previous low stand performance against Japan, the players rebounded and adhered to the game play which resulted in a clockwork performance giving a win over the host nation. A positive way to finish a tour of some extreme lows as well as some highs.
 
NEXT GAME: v  Home

Youth Boys win twice in Slovakia
Topocany, Slovakia (July 6).—
Australia beat Slovenia and Hungary on the opening day of an international youth boys water polo tournament in Topocany, Slovakia.
The first match was a 12-3 romp while the 9-8 margin over super power Hungary was a pleasant surprise, according to coach Mark Hubbard. The national Youth B team is competing in New Zealand and has had mixed results, thrashing the New Zealand Schoolboys 28-4 but losing to the national junior team 14-6. Results:
International youth boys’ tournament, Topolcany, Slovakia:
Day 1: Australia 12 (C Dyson 4, L Hollis, M Rapsey 2, A Roach, R O’Brien, J Swift, J Gilchrist) Slovenia 3, Japan 15 Slovakia 5, Australia 9 (C Dyson 4, L Hollis, R O’Brien, J Gilchrist, C Eames, M McCann) Hungary 8, Slovakia 15 Slovenia 8.
International boys’ series, Auckland, New Zealand:
Day 1: New Zealand Juniors 14 Australia Youth B 6 (L Northcott, J Disken, A Lee, M Emery, J Howden, J Frost).
Day 2: Australia B 28 (S Nicholson, J Fannon 4, J Howden, J Dodd 3, L Beer, J Disken, M Emery, A Lee, M Polivka 2, M Gronow, L Northcott, J Frost, J Davis) NZ Schoolboys 4.
Day 3: NZ Juniors 16 Australia Youth B 15 (J Frost 3, L Beer 2, J Disken, J Davis, J Dodd, J Fannon, J Howden, L Northcott, M Emery, S Nicholson, A Lee, M Gronow).

Manager's Report:
Hello from rainy Topocany, Slovakia. The boys survived the training camp with Hungary and got to see some World League games to boot. Although the general feeling seems to be that the games were fairly boring and slow, especially compared to the Euro League we saw in Milan. However, they did get to have their photos taken with some of the players they had only read about.

It was good to see these world recognized players giving their time to sign autographs and have their photo’s taken with the players. As you can see Mark was very happy with how the team performed against Hungary, everything just came together and they seemed to do everything right.

Well we have two more games tomorrow and then the bye on Sunday and back to Budapest for our return flight on Monday. I think the hours and traveling have taken their toll on a number of the boys, at the team meeting before the Hungary match there were a lot of coughing going on so some of you may get a fluy player back next Wednesday.

I have tried to make sure everyone has called home but not sure if they all have or not.

Graeme

DAY: 1 Match 1
MATCH: Australia v Slovenia
RESULT: Australia 12 V Slovenia 3
VENUE: Topocany
QUARTER SCORES (Aus first): Q1 5 – 1, Q2  6 -2, Q3 9 – 3, Q4 12 - 3
AUS SCORERS: Dyson 4, Hollis, Rapsey 2, Roach, O’Brien, Swift, Gilchrist 1
GOALKEEPER: Zvekan & Slade  - 1 Penalty shot saved by Zvekan
EXTRA-MAN (Aus): 5/10 plus 1 Penalty
EXTRA MAN (Opponent): 2/7
OTHER RESULTS: Slovakia 5 V Japan 15,  Hungary bye

COACH COMMENTS: Despite a dominating 1st quarter the players lapsed allowing a closer contest for the 2nd & 3rd periods. The players need to learn to play a more consistent game.

NEXT GAME: v  Hungary

DAY: 1 – Match 2

MATCH: Australia v Hungary
RESULT: Australia 9 V Hungary 8
VENUE: Topocany
QUARTER SCORES (Aus first): Q1 2 -3, Q2 6 - 6, Q3 8 - 6, Q4 9 - 8
AUS SCORERS: Dyson 4, Hollis, O’Brien, Gilchrist, Eames, McCann 1
GOALKEEPER: Slade & Zvekan
EXTRA-MAN (Aus): 7/13 Plus 1 Penalty Goal
EXTRA MAN (Opponent):  3/8 Plus 1 Penalty Goal
OTHER RESULTS: Slovakia 15 V Slovenia 8,  Japan bye

COACH COMMENTS: The sharpest most clinical performance in the past 2 years to win against such a traditionally strong water polo nation was extremely satisfying especially given all players played to their potential.

NEXT GAME: v  Japan 

Acireale, Italy (July 2).— The Australian youth boys’ water polo team claimed the bronze medal in an international tournament here at the weekend.
The medal was secured with a 9-all draw against Italy on the final day, following two wins and two losses. The 17 and under boys defeated Russia 8-4 and Romania 15-5 while they lost 6-4 to Greece and 12-10 to France. The team next plays a tournament in Slovakia.
Results:
International youth boys’ tournament, Acireale, Italy:
Day 2: France 12 Australia 10 (M Rapsey, C Dyson, T  Martin, J Gilchrist 2, A Younger, M McCann), Australia 15 (R O’Brien 3, J Swift, T Martin 2, C Batty, A Roach, C Dyson, S Robertson, M McCann, J Gilchrist, C Eames, L Hollis) Romania 5.
Day 3: Australia 9 (C Dyson 3, A Roach 2, A Younger, T Martin, C Eames, S Robertson) Italy 9.

Here’s all the information from Team Manager Graeme Bryce:

Vs France Day 2

QUARTER SCORES (Aus first): Q1 1-2, Q2 3-5,Q3 9-8, Q4 10-12

AUS SCORERS: Rapsey, Dyson, Martin, Gilchrist 2, Younger, McCann 1

GOALKEEPER: Slade, Zvekan

EXTRA-MAN (Aus): 1/7

EXTRA MAN (Opponent): 6/8

OTHER RESULTS: Greece 10 V Russia 8, Italy V Romania 4

COACH COMMENTS: Poor inconsistent performance against team while well drilled should have been contained.  When the game plan was adhered to the game was within our control, this is reflected by the third period 6 – 3 score in our favour. This placed us in a position to secure the game, however, poor discipline permitted the French a 1 – 4 fourth quarter.

NEXT GAME: v Romania


Vs Romania Day 2

QUARTER SCORES (Aus first): Q1 5-2, Q2 9-3, Q3 14-4, Q4 15-5

AUS SCORERS: O’Brien 3, Swift, Martin 2, Batty, Roach, Dyson, Robertson, McCann, Gilchrist, Eames, Hollis 1

GOALKEEPER: Zvekan, Slade

EXTRA-MAN (Aus): 3/6

EXTRA MAN (Opponent): 1/8

OTHER RESULTS: Italy 10 v Greece 9, France 10 v Russia 11

COACH COMMENTS: Improved disciplined performance permitted complete control of the game for it’s entirety, however, the team now needs to prove consistency against Italy tomorrows game.

NEXT GAME: v Italy


Vs Italy Day 3

QUARTER SCORES (Aus first): Q1 2-2, Q2 5-6, Q3 7-8, Q4 9-9

AUS SCORERS: Dyson 3, Roach 2, Younger, Martin, Eames, Robertson 1

GOALKEEPER: Slade

EXTRA-MAN (Aus):

EXTRA MAN (Opponent):

OTHER RESULTS: France V Greece  , Russia  V Romania

COACH COMMENTS: The team executed our systems well and performed to an overall high standard considering our short amount of time together.  While a positive result secured a third placing the game could have been won through better shooting options in attack.

NEXT GAME: Slovakia Tournament