Two matches were scheduled with the up-and-coming Chinese in the Yingdong Natatorium with the first game nearly a boilover.

Australia won both matches — 9-8 and 10-6 — with head coach Greg McFadden happy with most of the team’s efforts except in the fourth quarter of the first encounter where China came back with a 4-1 quarter, nearly clinching a draw.

“The first game we had a fantastic start (5-1 at the first break) but then relaxed and were too slow to capitalise on opportunities created. Our defence was pleasing except in the final quarter, which China won 4-1," McFadden said.

Kate Gynther starred with three goals while Gemma Beadsworth with two and Jenna Santoromito were the pick of the group.

The quarter scores were 5-1, 1-0, 2-3 and  1-4.

Both games saw the foul count go heavily against the Stingers, thanks to two Chinese referees, with the one exception being the ejection from the second game of Chinese coach Juan Jane, the former Olympic-winning Spanish men’s coach.

In that game, the Stingers turned a 2-1 quarter-time deficit into a 5-3 halftime lead and 7-4 at the final break.

Both games saw the Stingers score one from two extra-man attempts at goal while defending four from seven in the first and five from seven in the second match.

The deadly Gynther again scored three goals while goalkeeper Alicia McCormack had a great game, along with Bec Rippon and Mia Santoromito.

The quarters scores were 1-2, 4-1, 2-1 and3-2. 

The Stingers, who won the four-nation Good Luck China Open on Saturday, return home tonight.

Results:
Friendly women’s internationals, Beijing, China: Test 1, Australia 9 (K Gynther 3, G Beadsworth, M Santoromito 2, S Fraser, J Santoromito) China 8. Test 2: Australia 10 (K Gynther 3, R Rippon, T Gofers 2, G Beadsworth, N Cuffe, B Knox) China 6.


Sharks join Stingers as China Open winners
Beijing, China (March 24).—
The Aussie Sharks mirrored their Aussie Stingers female counterparts by winning the Good Luck China Open here yesterday. The Sharks beat China 12-7 in the four-team Olympic test event for three straight wins in the pool to used during August’s Olympic Games.

A day earlier the Stingers beat world champion United States of America for the women’s title.

The Sharks led the quarter breaks, 4-1, 4-2 and 8-5.

The highlight of the men’s game was Luke Quinlivan’s save of a penalty goal attempt and his six other saves while Laurie Trettel also spent time in goal, dragging down three balls.

The Sharks, missing most of the European-based athletes, scored a wonderful five from eight on extra while denying China six of its nine attempts.

Guandong beat Shanghai 10-8 for third place.

Results:
Good Luck China Open, men, day 3: Australia 12 (Howden , Richardson, Lawrence, Woods 2, Cody, Martin, Cotterill, Beadsworth) China 7, Guangdong 10 Shanghai 8.
Final points: Australia 6, China 4, Guangdong 2, Shanghai 0.

Stingers win China Open with 7-6 score over USA
Beijing, China (March 23).—
Australia extended its unbeaten run over world champion United States of America to nine games in winning the Good Luck China Open here last night.

The Aussie Stingers beat the USA 7-6 to clinch the Olympic test event and take bragging rights ahead of the Olympic Games in August.

Centre forward Gemma Beadsworth threw a penalty goal with two minutes remaining to win the match in a game where the Stingers started poorly, being three goals down.

Kate Gynther snapped in a shot with a second left of the first half to bring the game to level terms at 4-all. The Stingers went 6-5 up by the final break only to see the USA equalise ahead of Beadsworth’s winner.

Goalkeeper Alicia McCormack was one of the stars of the game with five saves while two-goal hero Mel Rippon and Taniele Gofers were selected by head coach Greg McFadden for special mention.

A statistic the USA will be ruing will be four blocked shots on extra while the Stingers claimed three from six.

China upset European champion Russia 9-8 to finish third in the four-team event.

Results:
Good Luck China Open Olympic test event, women, Beijing, China, day 3: Australia 7 (M Rippon 2, Beadsworth, N Cuffe, B Knox, K Gynther, J Santoromito) USA 6, China 9 Russia 8.
Final points: Australia 6, USA 4, China 2, Russia 0.

Sharks race through Shanghai at Good Luck China Open
Beijing, China (March 22).—
The Aussie Sharks ripped through Shanghai 19-6 in the Good Luck China Open men’s water polo competition at the Yingdong Natatorium here last night.

It was the second victory against a provincial team and sets the team up for the finale against China on Sunday, the final day of the Olympic test event.

Young NSW Institute of Sports athlete Steven Cody scored four goals in the effort, which saw the Sharks lead 4-1, 10-3 and 15-5 at the breaks.

Sydney University Lions’ Grant Richardson also scored four in the rout.

Results: Olympic test event, men, Beijing, China, day 2: Australia 19 (S Cody, G Richardson 4, G Woods, T Franklin, J Cotterill, A Martin, R Howden 2, J Beadsworth) Shanghai 6, China 17  Guangdong  11.
Progress points: Australia 4, China 4, Shanghai 0, Guangdong 0.

Stingers topple Russia for second win in China
Beijing, China (March 21).—
The Aussie Stingers beat Russia 13-8 for a second straight victory in the Good Luck China Open women’s water polo competition at the Yingdong Natatorium here last night.

Head coach Greg McFadden was not pleased with the result against a Russian team missing many top-flight players who are currently involved in European finals.

The Stingers, however, led 4-1 at the quarter and 7-4 at halftime, extending the lead to five goals at the final break.
Goalkeeper Victoria Brown made seven saves while the extra-man conversion rate was three from six, compared to Russia’s three from five.

Bec Rippon, Kate Gynther and Mel Rippon were the standout players with Bec Rippon and Gynther scoring three goals each.

The test event for the Olympics winds up on Sunday when the Stingers play world champion United States of America, who beat China 8-3 today.

Results: Olympic test event, women, Beijing, China, day 2: Australia 13 (R Rippon, K Gynther 3, G Beadsworth, N Cuffe, B Knox, J Santoromito, M Santoromito, M Rippon, A Hetzel) Russia 8, USA 8 China 3.
Progress points: USA 4, Australia 4, China 0, Russia 0.

Aussie Sharks sweep past Guangdong in China Open
Beijing, China (March 20).—
The Aussie Sharks honed their Olympic skills with an 18-5 victory over Guangdong Province in a Good Luck China Open men’s encounter at the Yingdong Natatorium here last night.

Montenegro and Japan were late withdrawals from the four-team event so head coach John Fox has decided to use the tournament as not only an orientation week with the Olympic facilities but also a hard training camp against two provinces and the Chinese national team.

The first game against Guangdong produced no surprises with the Sharks winning the quarters 5-0, 5-2, 5-1 and 3-2.

The Sharks will play Shanghai tomorrow and finish against China on Sunday, a day after the Olympic draw will be made in Beijing.

Results: Olympic test event, men, Beijing, China, day 1: Australia 18 (J Cotterill 4, G Woods, A Martin 3, T Franklin, R Howden 2, J Beadsworth, B Miller, T Neesham, G Richardson) Guangdong 5, China 14 Shanghai 5.

Aussie Stingers tested by China in Beijing
Beijing, China (March 19).—
Australia tested the waters in Beijing and came up with a victory on day one of the women’s Olympic test water polo event at the Yingdong Natatorium last night.

The Aussie Stingers beat China 9-6 in the four-nation event designed to test the facilities and systems ahead of the August Olympic Games.

The Stingers started slowly against the Chinese, who are just off a 19-game swing around Australia in the National Water Polo League, before winning the match in the second quarter.

The 5-1 period lifted the Stingers to 6-2 at halftime and they controlled the match thereafter, heading into the final quarter 7-3 ahead.

Head coach Greg McFadden said the Chinese were a class team whom other nations should be wary of come August.

“They have good shooters and are physical and everyone should respect them. They are certainly going to be very competitive.”

The Stingers only arrived on the morning of the game due to a programme switch with the men, who start their competition today.

“It was good to get a win in the Olympic pool and after a slow start and an excellent second quarter, we controlled the rest of the match,” McFadden said.

He rated the Rippon sisters — Mel and Bec — Taniele Gofers, goalkeeper Alicia “Macca” McCormack and Bronwen Knox as his star players.

Australia’s next opponent will be European champion Russia, who were beaten 15-8 by world champion United States of America the other match.

The Aussie Sharks men will play a Chinese team in their opening game tonight.

Results:
Olympic test event, women, Beijing, China, day 1: Australia 9 (R Rippon, A Hetzel 2, G Beadsworth, S Fraser, B Knox, T Gofers, M Santoromito) China 6, USA 15 Russia 8.