News Latest News Gynther magic steers Stingers to 3-0 series victory | Gynther magic steers Stingers to 3-0 series victory |
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 Sydney (January 15).— A three-goal, second-quarter burst from Queenslander Kate Gynther turned the game for Australia and ensured a 3-0 series victory against the world champion United States of America at the Sutherland Leisure Centre here tonight.
The Aussie Stingers beat USA 11-9 in the fifth and final Test after trailing by two goals midway through the second period. Gynther, twice the highest goal-scorer at FINA World League Super Finals series in the past three years, scored two on extra and a third from outside to change the face of the game from 7-5 down to 8-7 up and see the Stingers lead 9-7 at halftime. Two more goals from Western Australian Gemma Beadsworth stretched the lead to 11-8 in the third period before the USA responded through Alison Gregorka late in the period for what was the last goal of the match. The victory means the world No 2 Stingers, winners of the World Cup in 2006, have not lost to the USA in seven straight games since early last month and augers well for the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing. Stingers head coach was in raptures after the game. “We started slowly against the Americans who were pretty fired up to go home on a winning note. However, we sprung into life in the second quarter and then lapsed again. “Kate Gynther played brilliantly and Macca (Alicia McCormack) was fantastic in goal. It was an excellent result all up,” he said. On the importance of the unbeaten streak against the USA, McFadden said: “If they don’t know that they can consistently beat the best team in the world by now, then I don’t know what to say.”
The Stingers won two games in Perth and drew the opening match 8-all and Monday’s clash 6-all.
Result:
First Quarter: Late start. Brittany Hayes on extra 0-1; Lauren Wenger
from outside 0-2; Suzie Fraser on extra 1-2;Erin Douglass on c/a 2-2;
Brenda Villa on extra 2-3;Bronwen Knox cf 3-3; Mel Rippon extra 4-3;
Jerssica Steffens extra 4-4; Wenger extra 4-5.
Stingers draw 6-all with USA in fourth test to win series The Aussie Stingers have an unassailable 2-0 lead with the first match drawn 8-all, the second match won 13-11 and the third test 10-8, all played in Perth. The dead rubber will be played at the Sutherland Leisure Centre at 6.30pm tomorrow. For the first time in the series, world No 2 Australia had to play second fiddle to the North Americans, trailing 2-1 at the quarter, 3-2 at halftime and 4-5 heading into the final quarter. When Queenslander Kate Gynther, one of the most potent scorers in the game, brought the Stingers to within one in the third period, it looked like Australia had the momentum to win the match. Early in the fourth quarter, Rebecca Rippon bombed a shot to level for the third time in the game after being on even terms at one and three. However, Alison Gregorka snuck the USA ahead on action soon after, leaving left-hander Suzie Fraser to gain the equaliser with another outside shot late in the game. Stingers head coach Greg McFadden was relieved after the match. “It was pleasing to have a draw because we didn’t play our best game of polo in the series. We missed a few opportunities. “In defence we lost concentration and we were lucky for the Americans not to punish us. In the second half we really stepped up and were lucky enough to get away with a draw.” On winning the series and not dropping a game, McFadden said: “We’re extremely happy to consistently win against the best team in the world even though they are missing a few of their top players. “But you don’t win a gold medal in January. I’m happy where we are but we have a long way to go (to the Beijing Olympics),” he said.
Result:
Stingers taking on USA in fourth Test
Stingers gunning for third straight victory over USA The world’s two best women’s teams played three matches in Perth with the Stingers winning the second and third Tests after the first was drawn. A win tonight will secure the series and extend the World Cup Stingers’ unbeaten run against the 2007 FINA World champion and FINA World League champion to six after two victories in North America last month. Stingers head coach Greg McFadden said the key to his team’s excellent performance was depth and the fact that players were beginning to know their roles. The USA is expected to see the appearance for the first time on tour of veteran Brenda Villa, the normal captain, during Monday’s clash.
Villa, who first visited Australia for the 1998 FINA World
Championships in Perth and returned for the 2000 Olympics and 2002 FINA
World Cup and a few subsequent trips, is one of the world’s leading
players and has been sorely missed by the Americans. Stingers captain Mel Rippon missed the second Test due to a recurring injury but burst back in Saturday night’s 10-8 victory with two game-breaking goals.
The fifth and final Test will be played at Sutherland Leisure Centre at 6.30pm on Tuesday.
Stingers shoot to 2-0 lead over USA A 10-8 victory gave the Aussie Stingers a draw and two wins in the three matches played in Perth ahead of the final two Tests in Sydney on Monday and Tuesday. World Cup champion Australia extended its unbeaten run against the North Americans to five games since early last month and augers well for the upcoming Olympic Games where the two teams will be billed as the leading favourites. Australia led 3-2 at the quarter but fell behind in the second period before equalising at 4-all just before halftime. The Stingers twice held three-goal leads in the third period and again in the fourth at 9-6. The USA struggled to counter the punishing Australian defence and its big shooters were thwarted time and again. Bronwen Knox and captain Mel Rippon, who missed the second Test because of injury, scored twice with USA’s power shooter Nat Golda claiming three goals for 10 in the three Tests. The crushing defence led to some fantastic counter-attacks and Stingers head coach Greg McFadden rued some lost opportunities but was happy with another win over the World and World league champions. “It was a very pleasing performance once again. We started well but didn’t get to a good lead like the 5-0 score on Thursday. “It was pretty close early but in the third quarter our defence and counter-attack created a lot of opportunities for us.
“Two nice counter-attack goals to (captain) Mel Rippon were wonderful but another couple of chances went begging.” “Our six on five (attack) is struggling. For the game we scored four from 10 and we’re going to have to get better. “The third quarter they scored their first two opportunities. We could not come back from that. “I’m happy with where we’re at. I don’t expect to be playing that great at the moment. Australia is playing great and all credit to them,” he said.
Result:
Perth (January 12).—
Second Quarter: 7:43 Nat Golda penalty 3-3; 4:36 Lauren Wenger on extra 3-4; 0:38 Rebecca Rippon, outside 4-4. Third Quarter: 7:11 Bronwen Knox on extra 5-4; 5:23 Mel Rippon c/a 6-4; 3:46 Mia Santoromito top off cross pass 7-4; 3:19 Nat Golda extra 7-5; 2:43 Sarah Mills top 8-5; 0:36 Heather Petri top 8-6. Fourth Quarter: 7:08 Katie Finucane cross-pass 9-6; 5:53 Lauren Wenger on extra 9-7; 4:17 Kate Gynther at end of extra 10-7; 3:48 Nat Golda penalty 10-8.
Stingers sting USA to go one up in series The win follows an opening 8-all draw the previous night. Australia started strongly once again and led 5-0 early in the second quarter but only had a 5-4 lead at halftime after a magnificent USA fightback. The advantage was the same at the final break with the USA drawing level at 9-all and 10-all in the final period before Australia went 13-10 up, only ceding a penalty goal in the last 35 seconds. Nikita Cuffe scored four goals for the World Cup champions while the USA’s best was dual Olympic medallist Nat Golda with three goals to go with the four she scored in the first Test. Aussie Stingers head coach Greg McFadden was delighted with the result. “It was a very pleasing start but a lack of discipline in the second quarter allowed the Americans back into the game. “We were surprised at the Americans’ intensity. The game then became a real tussle, typical of Australia-US matches. “However, we maintained the lead and stepped up in the final quarter and our defence tightened. “It was pleasing to come away with a two-goal win,” McFadden said. USA head coach Guy Baker was somewhat relieved after the match. “When we down 5-0, I was worried for the crowd that we weren’t going to put on any type of performance. I’m just glad we got back into the game. “We were always playing from behind and couldn’t get over the hump. We never got the lead. “ I was worried the great and understanding crowd wouldn’t understand how we were world champions. “We’re trying to work on a few things and we will keep preparing and get as much out of the games as we can. We’ll just keep doing what we are doing,” Baker said. The third Test will be played in Perth on Saturday night with the final two Tests in Sydney on Monday and Tuesday.
Result:
Stingers taking on USA in second Test
First Quarter:
Australia led 2-0 at the quarter and had a one-goal lead heading in the final period. The game looked in the bag for Australia when Bronwen Knox and Sophie Smith took the game to 7-4 just 90 seconds into the period. However, Olympic bronze medallist Nat Golda scored three goals, including two penalties, in two minutes to set the pool alight. A goal apiece settled the game with both teams looking rusty after a three-week lay-off, according to Stingers head coach Greg McFadden.
“I think the ball skills let both teams down at crucial stages. However, it was afFairly pleasing result.
“We had our opportunities and they had theirs so it was a fitting result. We hope to do better tomorrow.” “I’m happy with the game. It’s the same for Australia, just getting back into training after a break. It was a bit ragged. That’s to be expected. “As we progress through the series the play will be better.” On coming back from three goals down, Baker said: “I think we were a little fortunate to get a tie after being 7-4 down. It was pleasing getting back into the game. “Both teams were very competitive. We have a very good rivalry in the way how hard we play. There is a friendship among the teams also. Watching the game you would never know!” The second test is at Bicton Pool, Perth tomorrow night.
Result:
Australia v USA women's Test 1 tonight
First Quarter: 5:02 S Smith slider into bottom right 1-0; 0:03 K Gynther x pass 2-0
Teams shaping up for tonight's clash The North Americans flew in yesterday afternoon and went striaght to the pool after their long flight. They trained again this morning but only lightly before finishing with a team scrimmage. The Australians have been doing likewise in the teams' first outing of the Olympic year. The first Test starts at 7.30pm local time with the second and third Tests in Perth before the final two matches in Sydney next week. ABC Television took a keen interest in both teams, interviewing USA head coach Guy Baker and Australian captain Mel Rippon.
USA has injury problems leading into Test series
Dual Olympic medallists Brenda Villa and Ericka Lorenz are
recovering from shoulder injuries and are doubtful for the first of the
five-test series, three of which are in Perth and the last two in
Sydney next week.
Villa and Lorenz were members of the 2000 Olympic team that lost
to Australia and then gained bronze over Australia in Athens in 2004.
The team will be captained by the third dual Olympic medallist in Heather Petri.
Aussie Sharks head coach Greg McFadden is confident of a good
showing in the series against the team that beat the Aussie Stingers in
the two major gold-medal finals of 2007 — the FINA World Championships
in Melbourne and the FINA World League Super Finals in Montreal, Canada.
“We beat the US in our last two outings (Canada Cup and Holiday
Cup last month) but this series is still a long way from the Beijing
Olympics.”
The best two teams in the world will use the series as the first
stage of their 2008 Olympic preparation, after which the USA will host
Canada and Australia will travel to Greece and Italy later this month.
The opening game starts at 7.30pm with the second test at Bicton Pool on Thursday and the third test at UWA on Saturday.
Stingers squads named for series with USA McFadden expects some tough competition as the two teams are the hot favourites for the Olympic gold medal later this year. “Every time Australia and the USA play the games are always close and full on. They will be played at 100 per cent because we both don’t like to lose.” McFadden said he would use 18 players in the series with some just playing in Perth or Sydney while the rest will play both segments. “It’s a good opportunity to test some of our players coming back from injuries and it gives us a chance to narrow down our squad for the Olympics. “It’s great to have the USA out here. They’re the No 1-ranked team going into the Olympics. We have on eye on developing for Beijing but we are expecting the series to be very close encounters — one or two goals max,” McFadden said. Recent clashes between the two countries have been tense with USA edging out Australia in the Melbourne World Championships last March and the World League Super Finals in Montreal, Canada in August. The Stingers turned the tables on the USA in December, winning the Canada Cup in Montreal and holding off the USA in the Holiday Cup a week later in California. The two nations have been at the forefront of the sport globally with Australia winning the inaugural world (1986) and Olympic (2000) crowns and three World Cups. The USA have won two world championships, one World Cup and three World League titles. They are also the only nation to win two Olympic medals, losing to Australia in the 2000 final and beating Australia for the bronze medal in Athens four years ago. The opening match will be played at Challenge Stadium on Wednesday with the second at Bicton Pool on Thursday and the third at the University of WA on Saturday. The Sydney matches are at the Dan Fraser Pool in Balmain on Monday and the fifth and final test at Gunnamatta Bay, Cronulla on the Tuesday.
The squads:
World's best women set to clash in Perth next week World Cup champion Australia will host World and World League champion United States of America on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday in an important pre-Olympic series. The two are the hottest favourites for the Olympic crown with Australia winning the inaugural title in 2000 and USA taking silver and bronze in the two editions. Wednesday’s opener will be played at Challenge Stadium with Thursday’s encounter at Bicton Pool and the third game at UWA on Saturday.
Two more Tests will be played in Sydney the following week.
Corporate packages available for Test series
USA vs Australia Women’s Test Series Corporate Package
A corporate package is now available for the USA vs Australia Women’s Test Series being held on:
The corporate package includes: A one-game corporate package of your company’s choice is also available.
Contact - Michelle at WA Water Polo tel: 9387 7555 mobile: 0437 908 599 or
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