The Sharks controlled the game throughout but nearly lost the way when they allowed Germany to score the last three goals in the final quarter.

Pietro Figlioli (pictured), who was dominant in the play-off, was named to the all-star team in an event won by triple champion Serbia 9-6 over Olympic champion Hungary.

Head coach John Fox said he was ecstatic with the medal, having been a member of the only other Australian team to win bronze at FINA level.

“It was a tremendous performance with every player giving 100 per cent. We knew we should have beaten them during the week and we had the team to win.

“We seemed to do our best to lose it when four goals up with four minutes left but held on to win by one. Heart attack material but we won the bronze.”

The win is a big boost to Olympic preparations for next year and gave Australian teams gold, silver and bronze in major events in the past month with the junior women winning the world championships and the women claiming silver in their World League.

The United States of America beat Romania 9-6 for fifth and Canada denied China 12-11 for seventh.
At the World Student Games in Bangkok, Thailand, Australia men lost to Montenegro 16-6.

Results:
FINA World League Super Finals, men, Berlin, Germany, day 6:
Play-offs: 1st & 2nd, Serbia 9 Hungary 6; 3rd & 4th, Australia 7 (R Campbell 2, R Moody, T Neesham, M Ainsworth, P Figlioli, J Beadsworth) Germany 6; 5th & 6th, USA 9 Romania 6; 7th & 8th, Canada 12 China 11. Awards: MVP, Vanja Udovicic (SRB); best goalkeeper, Alexander Tchigir (GER); top  scorer, Aleksandar Sapic (SRB); All-star team, Alexander Tchigir (GER), Filip Filipovic (SRB), Gergely Kiss (HUN), Marc Politze (GER), Tibor Benedek (HUN), Pietro Figlioli (AUS), Vanja Udovicic (SRB). World Student Games, Bangkok, Thailand:Day 3:  Serbia 7 Japan 5, Great Britain 16 South Africa 7, Russia 23 Thailand 6, Montenegro 16 Australia 6, Italy 12 Turkey 4, Hungary 10 Spain 8, France 22 China 6.
 

Aussie Sharks to play Germany for bronze medal
Berlin, Germany (August 11).—

Australia will play Germany for the bronze medal at  the men’s FINA Water Polo World League Super Finals here tomorrow following a gruelling 16-7 loss to Olympic champion Hungary.

Australia lost to Greece in the same play-off last year but tomorrow can emulate the 1993 team, which won bronze at the World Cup in Greece.

Germany, who lost to reigning champion Serbia 8-7 in the other semifinal, beat the Aussie Sharks in a penalty shootout on Thursday after Australia had been four goals ahead in the final quarter.

Hungary was too strong for the Sharks, who battled all game against the legends of the sport, as they did in the opening game on Tuesday when Hungary won 15-8.

As in that game, the Sharks held sway in the final quarter with four unanswered goals to decrease the deficit.

Goalkeeper James Stanton denied dual Olympic champion Hungarian Gergely Kiss a goal in the final period when he stopped a penalty attempt with his head.

Hungary gained the better of the foul count, converting four from 10 on extra and missing the penalty shot while the Sharks managed just two from nine.

In the classification games for places five to eight, the United States of America beat Canada 11-5 and Romania headed China 13-10.

At the World Student Games in Bangkok, Thailand, Australia lost to Russia 8-6 on Friday and today thrashed Thailand 24-7.

Results:
FINA World League Super Finals, men, Berlin, Germany, day 5:
Classification 5-8: USA 11 Canada 5, Romania 13 China 10.
Semifinals: Hungary 16 Australia 7 (T Neesham, R Campbell 2, R Maitland, M Ainsworth, J Beadsworth), Serbia 8 Germany 7.
Play-offs: 1st & 2nd, Serbia v Hungary; 3rd & 4th, Australia v Germany; 5th & 6th, Romania v USA; 7th & 8th, China v Canada.
World Student Games, Bangkok, Thailand:
Day 1: Russia 8 Australia 6, Montenegro 36 Thailand 3, Serbia 13 Great Britain 7, Japan 12 South Africa 5, Hungary 11 France 11, Spain 16 China 4, Italy 15 Kazakhstan 5.
Day 2: Australia 24 Thailand 7, France 12 Spain 11, Hungary 25 China 6, Turkey 9 Kazakhstan 4, Montenegro 13 Russia 8, Great Britain 9 Japan 8, Serbia 19 South Africa 3.

Caption: Marton Szivos makes it 9-2 against James Stanton. Pix courtesy Wolfgang Phillips. 

Aussie Sharks crash into World League semifinals
Berlin, Germany (August 10).—
Australia has burst into medal contention at  the men’s FINA Water Polo World League Super Finals here with a superb 9-6 quarter-final victory over Romania tonight. 

The win sets up a semifinal clash with Olympic champion Hungary and comes 11 years after losing to Romania 5-4 in the same city for the final berth to the Atlanta Olympic Games.

The Aussie Sharks were in scintillating form throughout, leading 7-3 at halftime and when a back-from-illness captain Thomas Whalan took the game to 8-5 early in the final quarter, the result was beyond doubt.

Defence proved the key with the Sharks defending 11 from 14 extra-man attacks while converting four of their chances.

Goalkeeper James Stanton’s nine saves included an exceptional four on extra in a game where eight Sharks scored goals.

The win was also a minor revenge for losing to Romania 9-8 in the opening game of a tournament in Israel early last week where the Sharks went on to win the bronze medal.

Australia lost to Hungary 15-8 on the opening night of the Super Finals but has improved considerably since then.

Three countries from Australia’s group made the semifinals with top team Hungary defeating China 13-6 and second-ranked Germany downing the United States of America 9-3.

The other group winner, reigning champion Serbia, had to work to beat Canada 10-6.

Results:
FINA World League Super Finals, men, Berlin, Germany, day 4:
Quarter-finals: Australia 9 (P Figlioli 2, N O’Halloran, R Maitland, A Martin, R Campbell, T Whalan, M Ainsworth, J Beadsworth) Romania 6, Hungary 13 China 6, Germany 9 USA 3, Serbia 10 Canada 6.
Semifinals: Australia v Hungary, Serbia v Germany.

Caption: Romania's Andrei Busilja defended by the Sharks' Richard Campbell. 

Sharks bow to Germany in penalty shootout at World League Super Finals
Berlin, Germany (August 9).—
Germany beat Australia 17-15 in a penalty shootout on day three of the men’s FINA Water Polo World League Super Finals here tonight.

Germany snatched a goal four seconds from full time for a 12-all draw, forcing the shootout.

The first three shooters from each side scored but Nick O’Halloran’s shot bounced over the goal, leaving Moritz Oeler to send the ball past Luke Quinlivan for victory.

The loss left Australia third in the group and having to play Romania in the quarter-finals.

It was technically an excellent game for the Sharks, having to overcome a huge foul difference, converting one from three on extra, plus a penalty goal, compared to Germany’s five from 10 and two missed penalty attempts, one blocked by Quinlivan.

The need for a penalty shootout was disappointing as the Sharks led 12-8 early in the final quarter.
Germany scored four goals in under four minutes and the final goal came after the Sharks lost the ball with eight seconds remaining on the shot clock.

Germany went on counter and Thomas Schertwitis was fouled at six metres, scoring the instant free-throw shot for the draw.

In the shootout, Pietro Figlioli, dropped the ball but was controversially given a re-throw to score. Trent Franklin and Richard Campbell also converted their attempts.
I

t was originally thought that Figlioli and Jamie Beadsworth would miss the match due to suspension after the previous day’s match with Canada but they were allowed to play, which was fortuitous as they supplied seven of the goals.

Hungary won the group with a 20-9 thumping of Canada.

In Group A, reigning champion Serbia finished top with a 20-3 hammering of China, while Romania beat United States of America 11-10 with a last-second goal.

Results:
FINA World League Super Finals, men, Berlin, Germany, day 3:
Group A: Serbia 20 China 3, Romania 11 USA 10. Final points: SER 9, ROU 6, USA 3, CHN 0.
Group B: Germany 17 Australia 15 (P Figlioli 5, N O’Halloran 3, T Franklin, J Beadsworth 2, R Campbell, J Cotterill, R Moody) in penalty shootout. FT: 12-12; Hungary 20 Canada 9. Final points: HUN 9, GER 5, AUS 4, CAN 0.

Aussie Sharks duo suspended in World League clash with Canada
Berlin, Germany (August 8).—
Two Aussie Sharks were suspended in a spiteful men’s FINA Water Polo World League Super Finals clash with Canada here tonight.The Aussie Sharks won the encounter 9-8 but not before Jamie Beadsworth and Pietro Figlioli were ousted in the last minute of the first half for misconduct.

Beadsworth went in an altercation with Canada’s Aaron Feltham, who, ironically, plays for Victorian Tigers in the Australian National League and was also suspended.

Figlioli was sent soon after for a major foul but allegedly struck a player while leaving the pool, gaining the remainder of the game.

The Sharks led 6-5 at halftime and 9-6 at the final break before allowing Canada to drag itself back into the game with its final goal a minute from time.

Results:
FINA World League Super Finals, men, Berlin, Germany, day 2:
Group A: Serbia 17 Romania 9, USA 12 China 7. Progress points: SER 6, USA 3, ROU 3, CHN 0.
Group B: Australia 9 (T Whalan 3, T Neesham, R Campbell 2, J Cotterill, J Beadsworth) Canada 8, Hungary 7 Germany 5. Progress points: HUN 6, GER 3, AUS 3, CAN 0.


Hungary humbles Aussie Sharks in World League Super Finals opener
Berlin, Germany (August 7).—
Olympic champion Hungary eclipsed Australia 15-8 on the opening day of the men’s FINA Water Polo World League Super Finals here tonight.The Aussie Sharks had no answer to the classy Hungarians who will next year shoot for a third consecutive Olympic gold medal.

The Sharks were in trouble early, trailing 3-1 at quarter time. This became 8-2 at halftime and 13-4 after three periods. Three Aussie goals in the final three minutes narrowed the deficit.

Extra-man statistics were not kind to the Sharks, converting just two from nine compared to Hungary’s four from five. Australia gave up three penalty shots while claiming one in a game where Hungarian legend Tamas Molnar was ejected from the match for rough play.

The Sharks’ next opponent is Canada, a 13-8 loser to Germany today.

In the other group, defending champion Serbia dumped United States of America 13-3 and Romania outlasted China 8-7.

In Singapore, the Australian Country men’s team finished third in the Singapore Invitational, beating Malaysia 11-5.

Singapore Seniors beat Singapore Juniors 10-5 in the final.

he Aussie women wrapped up their visit with a fifth straight win over Singapore, 8-2.

Results:
FINA World League Super Finals, men, Berlin, Germany, day 1:
Hungary 15 Australia 8 (T Franklin, P Figlioli, R Maitland, A Martin, M Ainsworth, R Campbell, T Whalan, J Beadsworth), Germany 13 Canada 8, Serbia 13 USA 3, Romania 8 China 7.
Singapore Invitational, Singapore, day 5:
Men: For 3rd & 4th, Australian Country 11 (M Baird 4, L Ingwersen 3, A Costello, C Spence, R Best, M Henry) Malaysia 5; for 1st & 2nd, Singapore Seniors 10 Singapore Juniors 5.
Women: Australian Country 8 (L Magann, J Hoade, J Bendeich, E O’Brien, T Baines, T Elliot, L Dodd, H Miller) Singapore 2.

Caption: Aussie goalkeeper James Stanton features on the event advertising in Berlin.


 

Bronze medal boosts Aussie Sharks for World League Super Finals
Berlin, Germany (August 6).— 
Fresh from a bronze medal in an Israeli tournament, Australia will face Olympic champion Hungary on the opening day of the men’s FINA Water Polo World League Super Finals here tomorrow.

The Aussie Sharks defeated France 15-11 in the bronze-medal play-off of the seven-nation tournament in Netanya, Israel yesterday and are starting to get combinations flowing ahead of the Berlin event.

Eight teams will contest the Super Finals in which Australia finished fourth last year. The Sharks are grouped with Hungary, Canada and Germany while World, World Cup and World League champion Serbia, Romania, China and United States of America contest Group A.

In Netanya, Pietro Figlioli inspired the Sharks with a five-goal effort in a spiteful match, which captain Thomas Whalan sat out with an injured eye from the previous day’s clash with eventual winner Greece.

The Sharks led 7-5 at halftime and took the margin to 13-9 by the final break.

The most pleasing aspect of the match was the extra-man conversion rate of six from seven attempts while denying France five of its seven chances.

Greece, a non-qualifier for the World League Super Finals, beat Romania 9-7 in the gold-medal match.

The Singapore juniors earned a final berth against Singapore seniors with a 9-8 victory in what will be excellent preparation for next week’s world junior championships in the United States of America.

The Singapore seniors thumped Malaysia 26-4 in the other semifinal.

Results:
International men’s tournament, Netanya, Israel, day 4:
For 3rd & 4th, Australia 15 (P Figlioli 5, M Ainsworth, J Beadsworth, J Cotterill 2, N O’Halloran, R Maitland, G Richardson, R Campbell) France 11.
Final placings: Greece, Romania, Australia, France, Serbia, Netherlands, Russia, Israel.
Singapore Invitational, Singapore, day 4:
Men: Semifinals: Singapore Seniors 26 Malaysia 4, Singapore Juniors 9 Australian Country 8 (M Baird 3, L Ingwersen 2, J Tobin, R Best, D Robinson).
 

Aussie Sharks lose in extra time to Greece in Israel
Netanya, Israel (August 4).— 
Greece needed extra time to beat Australia 11-8 at the seven-nation men’s water polo tournament here tonight.

Greece went a goal up in the first period of extra and finished the game 2-0 in the second period for the victory.

Goalkeepers James Stanton and Luke Quinlivan had good games, Stanton making six saves with two on extra and Quinlivan three with two on extra.
I

n Zagreb, Croatia, the national junior men’s team, without the services of three key senior team members, lost to Croatia 15-10 in an international tournament.

The loss follows a first-day 9-5 victory over Montenegro and a 12-6 loss  to Hungary on day two.
The juniors will play the United States of America for third place tomorrow.

In Singapore, the Australian Country teams continued their winning form at the Singapore invitational, the men beating Malaysia 16-8 and the women downing Singapore 16-1.

Results:
International men’s tournament, Netanya, Israel, day 3:
Greece 11 Australia 8 (T Whalan 3, P Figlioli, G Richardson 2, T Franklin) in extra time (FT: 8-8).
International junior men’s tournament, Zagreb, Croatia:
Day 1: Australia 9 () Montenegro 5.
Day 2: Hungary 12 Australia 6 ().
Day 3: Croatia 15 Australia 10 ().
Singapore Invitational, Singapore, day 2:
Men: Singapore Juniors 8 Singapore Seniors 7, Australian Country 16 (S Jacobs 4, J Tobin, L Ingwersen 3, M Baird 2, A McAulay, A Cleland, M Henry, D Robinson) Malaysia 8.
Women: Australian Country 16 (L Magann, L Dodd 4, T Baines 2, J Bendeich, K Lawrence, J Lawrence, C Pantano, T Elliot, L Woodland) Singapore 1.

Captain Whalan lifts Sharks to big win over Russia in Israel
Netanya, Israel (August 3).—
Captain Thomas Whalan boosted the Aussie Sharks to victory over Russia on day two of a seven-nation international men’s water polo tournament here tonight.

Russia had seven of its 10 extra-man attempts stopped while the Sharks claimed three from five as the whole team fired.

Centre forward Ryan Moody played with vigour and persistence to gain three exclusions whilse Whalan played with characteristic sty e and grace with a full-pool effort, covering in defence and scoring some classic goals.

Pietro Figlioli stunned both the goalkeeper and the appreciative crowd with a volley of blistering shots. Goalkeeper James Stanton made six saves with three coming when a man down.

Against Israel, all field players scored with left-handers Trent Franklin, Tim Neesham and Nick O’Halloran accounting for 11 of the goals.

The Sharks will now play Greece in the cross-overs.

In Singapore, the Australian Country teams opened their Asian tour with mixed results, the men losing 13-12 to Singapore men and the women downing the national team 16-4.

On the first day of the six-team Singapore Invitational, Singapore inflicted a heavier defeat on Australian Country men — 13-7 — and the women beat Singapore 16-2.

Results:
International men’s tournament, Netanya, Israel, day 2:
Australia 27 (T Franklin, T Neesham 4, J Beadsworth, N O’Halloran, T Whalan 3, A Martin, R Campbell, G Richardson 2, P Figlioli, R Maitland, J Cotterill, M Ainsworth) Israel 8, Australia 14 (T Whalan 4, P Figlioli 3, T Neesham 2, T Franklin, R Maitland, M Ainsworth, J Cotterill, J Beadsworth) Russia 9.
International series, Singapore:
Men: Singapore 13 Australian Country 12 (M Baird, D Robinson 4, S Jacobs 2, J Tobin, R Best).
Women: Australian Country 16 (L Magann, L Dodd 4, J Bendeich, K Lawrence 2, J Hoade, E O’Brien, J Lawrence, T Elliot) Singapore 4.
Singapore Invitational, Singapore, day 1:
Men: Singapore Juniors 12 Malaysia 5, Singapore Seniors 13 Australian Country 7 (L Ingwersen, D Robinson 2, M Baird, A Costello, C Spence).
Women: Australian Country 16 (L Magann 5, T Baines, H Miller, L Dodd, J Bendeich 2, J Hoade, K Lawrence, J Lawrence) Singapore 2.

Aussie Sharks drop game to Romania in Israeli tournament
Natanya, Israel (August 2).—
Romania gained revenge over the Aussie Sharks in an international men’s water polo tournament here tonight.

The Sharks blew a two-goal advantage in the final quarter, losing to Romania 9-8 in a game riddled with errors and a poor extra-man conversion rate. Australia beat Romania at the recent FINA World Championships in Melbourne with a 15-9 scoreline.

The Sharks converted just four from 11 on extra compared to Romania’s three from six.

Head coach John Fox said: “I was unhappy with the ill discipline in play that allowed Romania to come back from a two-goal deficit in the fourth quarter.

“The team knew that a vigorous start was essential. As it was, we allowed Romania to get a start then fought back to equalise, then pulled away, only for a compendium of mistakes to gift Romania the game. It was clearly unacceptable.”

omania led 3-2 at quarter time while the Sharks drew level at 4-all by halftime. Australia led 7-6 at the final break before capitulating.

The only shining lights were goalkeeper James Stanton’s 11 saves, including two when a man down, and left-hander Trent Franklin’s three goals.

Result:
International men’s tournament, Netanya, Israel, day 1: Romania 9 Australia 8 (T Franklin 3, N O’Halloran, P Figlioli, T Whalan, M Ainsworth, J Beadsworth).

Figlioli's seven not enough to beat Greece
Athens, Greece (July 28).—
Australian professional water polo player Pietro Figlioli proved why he is one of the best athletes in the world here tonight.

He harvested an amazing seven goals as world powerhouse Greece had no way to shut him down.

Unfortunately for the Aussie Sharks, they went down 11-10 in the international friendly being used as a build-up to the FINA World League Super Finals in Berlin, Germany on August 7-12.

Figlioli, probably the fastest swimmer in world water polo, recently won the Euro League with his Italian club Pro Recco.

He was also a big scorer during the Sharks’ quest for gold at the March FINA World Championships in Melbourne.

Greece led 3-1 at quarter time and 7-4 at halftime. The Sharks won the third period 2-1 and the fourth 4-3 but it wasn’t enough.

Australia converted four from 10 on extra and defended four from seven.

The team continues to train and play games with Greece until Wednesday before travelling to Israel for a tournament and then on to Berlin.
Result:
Friendly men’s international, Athens, Greece:
Greece 11 Australia 10 (P Figlioli 7, J Cotterill 2, T Whalan).


EURO SUCCESS: Pro Recco won the Italian 2006/2007 National League for the second year in succession on June 15, winning their final series which is the best of five, 3 games to 1 game. Pietro Figlioli plays for the team and final Euro League against Jug Dubrovnik 9-8. Hungarian great Tamas Kasas scored three goals for Pro Recco, who downed Olympiakos Pireaus (GRE) 10-9 in the semifinals.