Photos credit Energy Images

Forced to pack their kit and leave it outside their doors before the match against Greece, the Sharks were not in the right mind to push for the seventh position they had hoped for following a tournament where they came close to shooting for the top six.

The Sharks lost 9-8 in a match where they led at the start but then trailed and had to level three times before retaking the lead at 8-7 when Richie Campbell scored on counter at 5:58 in the final period.

Greece responded soon after with a shot from eight metres and then the clincher from centre forward at 3:24.

The Sharks did not look the team it was in the earlier games and the result was three wins, one draw and three losses.

Head coach John Fox said he was proud of the team to get back into the top eight in the world after seven years in the wilderness.

In the gold-medal final, Hungary gained its third consecutive title and ninth overall with a 14-10 victory over the United States of America.

A depleted Serbia beat Montenegro for the bronze medal, winning 6-4 despite having two players sidelined through injury.

Spain had the better of world champion Croatia, winning 11-9 for fifth place.
In the play-off for ninth, Italy beat Germany 10-8.

Results:
Day 8: Classification 9th & 10th: Italy 10 Germany 8. Classification 7th & 8th: Greece 9 Australia 8 (P Figlioli 3, A Martin, R Campbell 2, G Woods). Classification 5th & 6th: Spain 11 Croatia 9. Bronze medal: Serbia 6 Montenegro 4. Gold medal: Hungary 14 USA 10.
 Beijing, China (August 24).— Gold Medal game, Hungary (Gold) d USA (Silver) 14-10, Serbia (Bronze) d Montenegro (4th) 6-4, Spain (5th) d Crotia (6th) 11-9, Greece (7th) d Australia (8th, Figlioli 3, Campbell, Martin 2, Woods 1) 9-8, Italy (9th) d Germany (10th) 10-8

  Detailed game results 

Heart-stopper for Sharks
Beijing, China (August 22).—
A heart-stopping penalty shootout victory over Italy sent the Aussie Sharks into the play-off for seventh and eighth a the Beijing Olympic Games at the Yingdong Natatorium today.

For the second time in two days, an Australian team has had to prevail in a shootout after the women claimed the bronze medal against Hungary yesterday.

The Sharks drew their match 10-10 and then 13-13 after extra time before winning the shootout 4-3 for the 17-16 victory.

What a match it was with the see-saw working overtime.

The Sharks had their traditional slow start but came back from 2-0 down to lead 4-2 at the break.  Then Italy scored four in a row before halftime came at 7-5 for the Italians.

The Sharks dominated the third period, finishing 9-7 up, with Anthony Martin and Thomas Whalan scoring on extra and Robert Maitland on counter.

Italy, or more precisely the tournament’s best centre forward, Alessandro Calcaterra, dominated the final period. He scored three goals with two from two metres, the last securing the draw 56 seconds from time.

Italy went one up in the first period of extra time before an explosive second period had the crowd electrified.

Gavin Woods scored from centre forward to level when seemingly he had lost the ball. Calcaterra responded. Tim Neesham scored on extra for 12-12.

Pietro Figlioli finished off counter in an amazing barrage on the Italian when firstly Neesham and then Martin, shot with Figlioli picking up the rubbish to send the Sharks 13-12 ahead.

Leonardo Sottani scored on extra for 13-13 to give the fans five goals in two minutes!
An Aussie timeout at 11 seconds could not gain a goal and the game went to penalties.

Maurizio Felugo opened for Italy and he hit the left post. Figlioli had his slow shot blocked.

Alberto Angelini and Whalan netted for 14-14.

Calcaterra and Trent Franklin made it 15-15.

Sottani hit the post while Maitland converted for 16-15.

Luigi Di Costanzo brought Italy level with their last shot, leaving Sam McGregor to make no mistake with the winner.

Greece rattled through Germany13-9 to set up an Australian-Greek play-off for the seventh spot.

In the medal semifinals, reigning champion Hungary came through in the last two minutes to beat European champion Montenegro 11-9 and the United States of America stunned Serbia by a fantastic 10-5 to make their first Olympic final since 1988.

Results:
Olympic Games, Beijing, China:
Day 7: Classification 11th & 12th: Canada 8 China 7. Classification semifinals 7th to 10th: Australia 17 (S McGregor 3, T Franklin, P Figlioli, R Maitland, A Martin, T Whalan 2, R Campbell, T Neesham, G Woods, R Howden) Italy 16 in penalty shootout (FT: 10-10. ET: 13-13. Pens: 4-3), Greece 13 Germany 9. Semifinals: Hungary 11 Montenegro 9, USA 10 Serbia 5.

Beijing, China (August 22).— USA d Serbia 10-5, Hungary d Montenegro 11-9, Greece d Germany  13-9, Penalty shootout 4-3 to Australia, after 2nd extra time period Australia (McGregor 3, Franklin, Figlioli, Maitland, Martin, Whalan 2, Campbell, Neesham, Woods, Howden 1) d Italy 13-13, Canada d China 8-7 for 11th and 12th position.

Detailed game results

Beijing, China (August 20).— Serbia d Spain 9-5, Montenegro d Croatia 7-6, Greece d China 13-8, Italy d Canada 13-11

GUT-WRENCHING DRAW FOR SHARKS
Beijing, China (August 18).—
The Aussie Sharks suffered a gut-wrenching 5-5 draw with European champion Montenegro in men’s Olympic Games water polo action at the Yingdong Natatorium today.

The draw consigned the powerful Sharks combination to the classification round of 7-12, meaning they will not get a shot at a medal.

This is despite the team losing by only one goal twice — to Spain and to Olympic champion Hungary. Australia is the unluckiest team in the tournament and the best side not to compete in the top six on current form.

The United States of America was in a similar position to Australia in the other group, having to beat Germany to make the top three or finish fourth. In fact, the USA won 8-7 and finished top of the group, earning a semifinal berth.

The Sharks were dejected after the match, giving a brilliant performance all week and coming within a whisker of levelling with Hungary two days earlier. Now the team has to regroup to show that it was a genuine medal contender.

Australia scored first for the first time in the tournament when Sam McGregor scored off a five-metre free throw. Montenegro had the quarter-time lead at 2-1 but Jamie Beadsworth responded on extra early in the second quarter.

Gavin woods gave the Sharks a 3-2 lead but Montenegro struck back. Anthony Martin scored on extra when Pietro Figlioli was heavily guarded, for the only score of the period.

Montenegro worked hard for two goals by midway through the fourth quarter but it was Richie Campbell who calmly slotted a goal on extra at 2:31 and 5-5.

Both teams went to a timeout with Australia gaining its chance 28 seconds from time.

Australia took time and eventually gave the ball into Robbie Maitland on the near post, turning and planting the ball firmly into the goalkeeper’s chest with eight seconds left. The game was over and Montenegro advanced as the third team in the group.

Hungary thrashed Canada 12-3 to win the group while Spain held out Greece 10-6 to claim second spot.

In Group B, Croatia thumped China 16-4 for second spot on the countback and Italy suspiciously beat Serbia 13-12, giving Serbia third place, thus avoiding Montenegro in the quarterfinals.

Results:
Olympic Games, Beijing:
Day 5:
Group A: Hungary 12 Canada 3, Australia 5 (S McGregor, J Beadsworth, G Woods, R Campbell, A Martin) Montenegro 5, Spain 10 Greece 6. Final points: Hungary 9, Spain 8, Montenegro 6, Australia 5, Greece 2, Canada 0.
Group B: USA 8 Germany 7, Italy 13 Serbia 12, Croatia 16 China 4. Final points: USA 8, Croatia 8, Serbia 6, Germany 4, Italy 4, China 0.

 Beijing, China (August 18).— Croatia d China 16-4, Spain d Greece 10-6, USA d Germany 8-7, Australia (Campbell, Martin, McGregor, Woods, Beadsworth 1) dr Montenegro  5-5, Hungary d Canada 12-3, Italy d Serbia 13-12, This draw means Australia playoff for 7th to 12th

  Detailed game results

Sharks on the brink of draw with Hungary
Beijing, China (August 16).—
Australia nearly did the unthinkable against Hungary at the Olympic Games men’s water polo competition t the Yingdong Natatorium today. The Aussie Sharks took the dual Olympic champions to 13-12 and, if a last-gasp, point-blank shot by Richie Campbell had progressed another 10cm, Australia could have almost been in the top six.

In one of the most thrilling matches of the men’s competition, the Aussie Sharks once again started on the back foot, going two goals down, as they have done for three matches while the fourth has been by four goals.

However, the difference today was that the Sharks bit back, levelling the game at 4-all by the quarter break.

Hungary pulled away to 7-4 and again to 9-5 at halftime with Pietro Figlioli (3) and captain Thomas Whalan (2) taking the goals.

At the top of the third, Hungary went further ahead but Rob Maitland tried and succeeded with a lob to arrest the slide.

Norbert Madaras gave Hungary an 11-6 lead on extra before a three-goal burst by the Sharks made the game more interesting than it had been.

Tim Neesham converted extra man with the third shot in the 20-second period.

Richie Campbell latched on to a long cross pass to snap in a goal and Gavin accepted a Rhys Howden pass on counter for 11-9.

Then Peter Biros converted a penalty goal called against Whalan in what was a questionable decision as the player did not look like scoring.

Sam McGregor scored on  extra but committed a fatal mistake soon after — his third major foul. Hungary tried the timeout but could not score off the play while Australia went to a timeout and Anthony Martin joined the scorers for 12-11 at 3:48.

The crowd was now whipped into a frenzy as it was witnessing sublime water polo from both teams.

Gergely Kiss, who played a Tom Hoad Cup for Fremantle Mariners two years ago, scored his only goal of the match on extra for 13-11 at 3:22.

Whalan then gained a suspension foul for chatting to the referee.

The Sharks went on attack, gained an extra and the ball smashed into the goal. Hungary flipped it to the side and Rhys Howden entered the fray with his left hand grabbing the ball and shooting from 30 centimetres into goal, much to the delight of father Phil in the crowd.
It was now 13-12 and there was still 3:02 on the clock.

Water polo legend Tamas Kasas sprayed a penalty goal against Raf Sterk in what could have been the major turning point of the game.

However, neither team scored and it was an extra-man situation where the ball crossed to Campbell on the near post in the dying seconds, only to se the ball crease the right upright and fail to completely cross the line.

The match was a joy to watch and it came on a day of upset in which the United States of America beat world champion Croatia 7-5 and Spain spanked European champion Montenegro 12-6.

Thanks to Spain’s effort, the Sharks just need to beat Montenegro in Monday’s final preliminary round match to access the world’s top-six rankings and possibly push on for a medal.

Results:
Olympic Games, Beijing, China:
Day 4:
Group A: Hungary 13 Australia 12 (P Figlioli 3, T Whalan 2, R Maitland, T Neesham, R Campbell, G Woods, S McGregor, A Martin, R Howden), Greece 13, Canada 7, Spain 12 Montenegro 6. Progress points: HUN , ESP 6, MNE 5, AUS 4, GRE 2, CAN 0.
Group B: Germany 8 Italy 7, USA 7 Croatia 5, Serbia 15 China 5. Progress points: CRO 6, SRB 6, USA 6, GER 4, ITA 2, CHN 0.

Beijing, China, (August 16) — Serbia d China 15-5, Hungary d Australia (Figlioli 3, Whalan 2, Campbell, Martin, Maitland, Neesham, McGregor, Woods, Howden 1) 13-12, Spain d Montenegro 12-6, USA d Croatia 7-5, Greece d Canada 13-7, Germany d Italy 8-7 

Detailed game results

A three-goal burst midway through the third period thanks to Richie Campbell, Pietro Figlioli and Trent Franklin, had the game controlled.

Canadian coach Dragan Jovanovic gained a yellow card and then a red card but a Canadian timeout brought another goal for 7-5 at the final break.

On a timeout play midway through the final period, Figlioli brought up his third goal and eighth for the tournament for what was the final margin — 8-5.

The win bettered the two-goal margin with Canada in the FINA World League Super Finals in Genoa, Italy in June.

The Sharks need to start faster if they wish to gain the win required against either defending champion and hot favourite Hungary or European champion Montenegro.

Australia must win one of these games to hope to get into the top six.

Results:
Group A: Australia 8 (P Figlioli 3, T Franklin 2, S McGregor, A Martin, R Campbell) Canada 5, Montenegro 10 Greece 6, Hungary 8 Spain 5. Progress points: HUN 5, MNE 5, ESP 4, AUS 4, GRE 0 CAN 0.
Group B: Croatia 13 Germany 5, Serbia 4 USA 2, Italy 19 China 7. Progress points: CRO 6, SRB 4, USA 4, GER 2, ITA 2, CHN 0.

Beijing, China (August 14).— Italy d China 19-7, Australia (Figlioli 3, Franklin 2, Campbell, Martin, McGregor 1) d Canada 8-5, Montenegro d Greece 10-6, Hungary d Spain 8-5, Serbia d USA 4-2, Croatia d Germany 13-5 

Detailed game results

Aussie Sharks lose to Spain
Beijing, China (August 12).—
It wasn’t to be for the Aussie Sharks in their second match of the Beijing Olympic Games today. Australia lost to Spain 9-8 after yielding a four-goal deficit in the first quarter. It didn’t seem bad play by the Sharks but poor shooting made it look worse.

The Sharks fought back, winning the last three quarters 8-5 but it wasn’t enough and chances of a draw did not look good.

By halftime the margin was just two at 6-4 down. Two excellent centre-forward goals by Gavin Woods were helpful, bringing the team within one early in the third but the Sharks were still two adrift at the final break.

Captain Thomas Whalan struck a blinder from the top for 8-7 on the first attack of the fourth period but Spain responded promptly on extra.

Pietro Figlioli scored off counter at 1:44 for a chance but, despite both teams taking a timeout, neither side could breach the defences.

The loss means Australia now has to beat Canada on Thursday and then muscle out one of the big two in Hungary and Montenegro. Hungary, in particular, looks the strongest team at the tournament, chasing a third consecutive gold medal.

The Aussie Stingers play Hungary in their second match tomorrow.

Scores:
Olympic Games, day 3:
Group A: Spain 9 Australia 8 (G Woods, T Whalan 2, T Franklin, A Martin, R Maitland, P Figlioli).

Beijing, China (August 12).— Germany d China 6-5, Croatia d Serbia 11-8, Hungary d Greece 17-6, USA d Italy 12-11, Spain d Australia 9-8 (Whalan, Woods 2, Franklin, Figlioli, Martin, Maitland 1) (4:0, 2:4, 2:2, 1:2 ), Montenegro d Canada 12-0 

Beijing, China (August 10).— The Aussie Sharks claimed a huge scalp in Greece on the opening day of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games men’s water polo competition at the Yingdong Natatorium today.

The 12-8 scoreline was reflective of the tremendous effort put in by the Sharks and the four superb goals scored by Pietro Figlioli set the pool alight.

The Sharks survived a 2-0 deficit to level the game at 5-5 by the quarter and continued the scoring onslaught in the second quarter to take a 9-8 lead at halftime.

The Sharks levelled an incredible seven times in that half and then produced a defensive effort worthy of the Great Wall of China, shutting Greece out of the game.

Australia won the third period 2-0 and cruised home in the last 1-0 for victory.

Sam McGregor scored three goals before being fouled out in the third period as the Sharks gained the worst of the referees’ decisions but had a high conversion rate of the extra man.

Head coach John Fox said the team had completed the day’s task and he was looking forward to Tuesday’s encounter with Spain.
One of the Greek players described the loss as a disaster, especially since finishing fourth at the previous Olympic Games.

In Australia’s group, Olympic champion Hungary and European champion Montenegro battled to a 10-10 draw while world No 3 Spain drilled Canada 16-6.

The Aussie Stingers women will also play Greece in their opening game tomorrow.

Result:
Olympic Games, Beijing, China:
Day 1: Australia 12 (P Figlioli 4, S McGregor 3, R Campbell, T Whalan, T Neesham, G Woods, A Martin) Greece 8.

Beijing China (August 10) - Men's results - USA d China 8-4, Croatia d Italy 11-7, Australia d Greece 12-8, Serbia d Germany 11-7, Hungary dr Montenegro 10-10, Spain d Canada 16-6
Detailed game results