Head coach's report

Australia won the final test 8-7 and the test series 4-0 at the AIS tonight.

After falling behind 2-0 early they got their act together and fought back to win the 1st quarter 4-2 after goals from Fraser, Knox, Smith and R. Rippon.

The 2nd quarter saw both teams defence tighten up and 3 missed penalties from Australia didn’t help their cause and allowed for a 1-1 quarter after a goal from M. Santoromito which had Australia leading 5-3 at the main break.

The 3rd quarter saw Australia squander many good scoring opportunities with poor passing while the Chinese made the most of their opportunities but unfortunately they could not decrease the 2 goal margin and Australia led 7-5 with goals coming from M.Santoromito and Fraser.

In the 4th the Chinese scored first through S. Hui Zi which narrowed the score to one before another missed penalty from Australia allowed the Chinese to draw level when they converted their penalty opportunity with 3.00 remaining. A very lucky Knox tap in after a 2 on 1 CA gave Australia the lead again with 1.30 remaining and was enough for Australia to hold on.

“We dodged a bullet tonight” McFadden said

“You don’t deserve to win when you miss so many penalty opportunities while also turning the ball over with so many poor passes especially in the 2nd half.”

“The Chinese played some good water polo throughout the test series and will be a threat come Beijing”

Scorers

Australia 8

B. Knox 2, S. Fraser 2, M. Santoromito 2, S. Smith 1, M. Rippon 1

China 7

T. Fei 2, G. Ao 2, S. Yu Jun 1, M. Huan Huan 1, S. Hui Zi 1 



Stingers three up over China
Canberra (May 5).—
The Aussie Stingers went three up in their four-test international women's water polo series with China at the Australian Institute of Sport yesterday. Australia won 11-7 in its week-long training amp with one of the eight teams to contest August's Olympic Games.

Report from head coach Greg McFadden:

Australia's defence once again was dominating but unfortunately the chances that this created were not capitalised on in the 1st quarter and only resulted in a 3 - 2 lead after goals from Beadsworth, O'Neill & Gynther.

The 2nd quarter was a repeat of the 1st and Australia was not doing the extra 5% needed to make sure they scored while also allowing the Chinese opportunities from not being 100% committed in defence. This allowed for a 2 - 2 quarter to put Australia 5-4 at the break with goals coming from Finucane and Jenna Santoromito.

The 3rd quarter Australia started a lot stronger and even after some missed opportunities the attack flowed from the strong defence and goals from Beadsworth, Jenna Santoromito and the Rippon sisters saw us take the quarter 4-1 quarter for a 9-5 lead.

The last quarter the Chinese fought back and held Australia to 2-2 but unfortunately for China the game was well in Australia's keeping and they came out on top with an 11-7 result.

"Tonight's game was an improvement on Thursday's game especially in defence but unfortunately poor execution and decision making did not allow us to completely dominate the match."

"Players need to work that extra 5% at crucial moments and we will score the opportunities we have created while the same needs to happen in our defence".

"Also missing 2 penalties doesn't help with your confidence".

Goal Scorers

Aust 11
Beadsworth 2, J. Santoromito 2, M. Rippon 2, Gynther, Finucane, O'Neill,
R. Rippon, Smith

China 7
S. Yating 2, S. Yu Jun, H. Jin, G. Ao, M. Huan Huan, S. Hui Zi

Extra Man
Aust 1 from 4
China 3 from 9

Penalties
Aust 1 from 3
China 1 from 1

The Stingers won the second test 10-7 with a three-goal haul to Gemma Beadsworth, who carried the Olympic Torch in Canberra recently.

Australia won the match by halftime, leading 9-4 before stepping off the gas to allow China back into the game.

Result:
International women’s series, Canberra: Test 2: Australia 10 (G Beadsworth 3, R Rippon 2, K Finucane, B Knox, S Mills, P O’Neill, M Rippon) China 7. Australia leads series 2-0.

Coach Greg McFadden had this to say on the match:

"Australia started very strongly in the 1st quarter and blitzed the Chinese with a 6-2 1st quarter. This was built on very good attack which stemmed from a solid defence. All the goals scored were from very good team work or great execution and decisions.

"The 2nd quarter unfortunately was not as promising but a 3-2 score line saw us go into half time with a commanding 9-4 lead.

"After scoring with our very 1st attack in the 3rd period we then failed to capitalise on our opportunities while also allowing the Chinese way too many chances which fortunately for us they failed to capitalise on but allowed them to win the 3rd quarter 2-1.

"The fourth quarter was a continuation of the poor execution we produced in the 3rd and in the end a 10-7 score line was flattering to us as the Chinese also missed 2 penalties.

"Hopefully the girls learnt a valuable lesson tonight that you cannotrest on your laurels no matter what the score is. The most disappointing thing about the whole game was if it wasn't for 1 quarter we probably should have lost"

"The pressure of selection, tiredness or any other reason is no excuse for our 2nd half."

"If it wasn't for the good performances from VB and Macca in goals this could have been a very embarrassing result."

Stingers beat China 15-11 in opening test
Canberra (April 29).—
The Aussie Stingers beat China 15-11 in the first of six water polo internationals at the AIS here tonight.

The Stingers came out strong against the Chinese in the first half of a high scoring match with 10 goals to China’s 6. Sarah Mills was a standout for the Aussie Stingers during the game, with a match equalling high of 4 goals. Sun Yu Jun from China also scored 4 goals in a match that will be used as great preparation for both teams before the Olympic games in August.

The young Chinese team, consisting mainly players of 17 to 21 years of age, and coached by ex-Spanish men’s Head Coach Juan Jane Giralt, played a hard and very physical game against the Stingers, scoring some fantastic goals from a wide range of positions in the pool.

But it was the Stingers who held out the Chinese, even with some poor defensive errors. With 3 minutes left, a 5-metre penalty goal scored by Mia Santoromito sealed the victory for Australia with the Stingers defeating the Chinese 15 – 11.

Head Coach Greg McFadden was happy with the win, but acknowledges that there is room for improvement, especially in defence.

“11 goals, is way to many goals. We were quite sharp in some parts of our attack, but in defence we let in to many soft goals.” McFadden said after last night’s game.

After a hard domestic season, and some time out of the pool, the Stingers have some hard training ahead to get back to the fitness levels they were at after the last camp at the AIS 5 months ago.

“The girls have had a long season with national league, and we’ve had a lot of international tours. [The team’s] fitness levels would only be at about 75 – 80% at present.” McFadden said.

McFadden was very impressed with the way the Chinese played, despite there young age.

“Over the last 12 months they’ve really improved, and I see them as a threat at the Olympics. They’re going to be quite competitive in Beijing.” McFadden said.

The Chinese Head Coach, Jun Jane Giralt was pleased with his team’s performance against the more experienced Stingers. But he also recognises that there is more work to be done before the Beijing Olympics in August.

“I am very happy with the way my team played tonight. It’s a very young team, and we need more game experience, but with more preparation and training we will improve before Beijing.”

Giralt is better know for his work as the Head Coach of the Spanish men’s team over the past few years, winning numerous Olympic and World Championship medals. Now as the Chinese national Women’s head coach, he needs a translator to communicate with his team.

“It’s a little difficult, but after 5 months the players are beginning to understand my Spanish/English more and more.”

The test series is also part of a week and half long training camp at the AIS, where the girls will have to impress selectors and head coach McFadden, before the squad of 19 is cut to 17 at the end of the camp next Tuesday. The full squad of 13 players that will be competing at the 2008 Beijing Olympics is to be announced on June 24.

The series continues tomorrow night, with the final 2 matches being played Saturday and Monday night, at the AIS in Canberra.

Australia 15 (S Mills 4, S Fraser 2,B Knox 2, J Santoromino 2, K Finucane 1, R Rippon 1, K Gynther 1, M Santoromino 1, M Rippon(C) 1)
China 11 .