The one-goal semifinal loss to the United States of America galled as the Americans went on to claim their fourth World League crown in five years by downing Canada 9-6.

It was Australia’s second consecutive bronze medal and one placing behind its best effort of silver in 2007. Australia has medalled at four of the six editions including a bronze at the same venue in 2005.

The Stingers had to come from 3-1 down early in the opening quarter to have the game tied at 4-4 by the first break and then led 7-5 at halftime.

The lead was still two at the final break (9-7) while Spain punched back with a goal at the top of the fourth.

However, Australia shut out the Spanish with Jane Moran, Sarah Mills and captain Mel Rippon scoring the final goals for the podium finish.

Bronwen Knox (pictured) led the Aussie scoring in the game and the tournament, notching four against Spain, including a goal from the top on a drive, for a total of 12 goals.

Aussie Sharks head coach Greg McFadden said: “It was a fine effort to shut out the Spanish considering the high foul count against. The girls showed professionalism and the result was a good pointer to the FINA World Championships in Rome next month.”

China beat Russia 10-9 for fifth place and Greece shot down Italy 13-6 for seventh.

Zoe Arancini became the first Australian to join her mother on an international podium. Wendy Meloncelli won gold at the 1984 FINA World Cup and 1986 FINA World Championships. 

Results:
FINA World League Super Finals, women, Kirishi, Russia, day 6:
Play-offs: 1st & 2nd, USA 9 Canada 6; 3rd & 4th, Australia 12 (B Knox 4, M Rippon 3, K Gynther 2, J Moran, R Webster, G Ralph) Spain 8; 5th & 6th, China 10 Russia 9; 7th & 8th, Greece 13 Italy 6.
Final placings: USA, Canada, Australia, Spain, China, Russia, Greece, Italy.

Last-minute goal sinks valiant Stingers in semifinals
Kirishi, Russia (June 14).—
A goal in the last 39 seconds sunk Australia’s hopes of FINA World League Super Finals glory here last night.

The Aussie Stingers women’s team went down 9-8 to nemesis United States of America in the semifinals and will now play Spain for the bronze medal.

The one-goal loss to the USA continues a tradition of close encounters between two of the world’s best teams but Australia is by far the least experienced team of the two.

It came down to a penalty shot that was saved by Victoria Brown but the rebound was converted to give the Americans victory. It was the second penalty shot missed by the USA.

Australia led 3-1 at the quarter and 4-3 by halftime but the game was levelled four times in the third period.

The Stingers went ahead again through Glencora Ralph with less than three minutes remaining but the USA replied soon after and then earned a gold-medal clash with Canada with the last-gasp goal.

Australia converted three from five on extra and defended three from six plus the two penalty shots.

Canada beat Spain 10-7 while in the second half of the tournament, China defeated Italy 11-9 and Russia bested Greece 11-8.

Results:
FINA World League Super Finals, women, Kirishi, Russia, day 5:
Semifinals, group 1-4: USA 9 Australia 8 (G Ralph, R Webster 2, H Lincoln-Smith, J Moran, B Knox, J Dessauvagie), Canada 10 Spain 7.
Semifinals, group 5-8: Russia 11 Greece 8, China 11 Italy 9.

Stingers stun Russia for semifinals date with USA
Kirishi, Russia (June 13).—
The Aussie Stingers charged into the semifinals of the women’s water polo FINA World League Super Finals in spectacular fashion here last night.

A three-goal tidal wave in the final two minutes gave Australia a stunning 13-12 quarter-final victory over host nation Russia and set the team up for a semifinal clash with perennial big-game opponent United States of America.

Top-ranked in the other group, the USA defeated Greece 7-5 but a day earlier lost to Russia by a goal — also 13-12.

Australia began the match badly, trailing 4-1 at the quarter and were still 6-3 down at halftime.

The news was worse in the third period as a five-goal margin opened up midway through the third period before it was trimmed to 10-7 at the final break.

With the game reaching the critical phase and assistant coach Peter Szilagyi incurring the referees’ wrath with a red card, the Stingers scored three goals at the top of the fourth for 10-10 only to see Russia slip out to 12-10 ahead.

Action goals from dual Olympian Bec Rippon and Jane Moran had the game even at 1:21 while the winner came from Rowie Webster on extra a minute later, silencing the normally raucous home crowd.

The Stingers closed out the second and third periods with penalty goals at the death via Sarah Mills and Bronwen Knox, who impressed with four goals.

Spain caused an upset by beating world No 5 China 14-11 to earn a semifinal clash with Canada, who whipped Italy 11-5.

Stingers head coach Greg McFadden, who utilised both goalkeepers in the game (Alicia McCormack and Victoria Brown) said: “We played roughly but we are a young team. The switch of goalkeepers allowed a little change in defence and had a psychological effect on the team.”

Results:
FINA World League Super Finals, women, Kirishi, Russia, day 4:
Quarterfinals: Australia 13 (B Knox 4, M Rippon 2, H Lincoln-Smith, G Ralph, R Rippon, J Moran, R Webster, K Gynther, S Mills) Russia 12, Spain 14 China 11, USA 7 Greece 5, Canada 11 Italy 5.

Stingers finish second in group at Super Finals
Kirishi, Russia (June 12).—
A five-goal haul to Victorian Rowie Webster surged the Aussie Stingers to a 14-9 victory over Spain at the women’s FINA World League Super Finals here last night.

The powerful centre forward with a devastating outside shot scored three goals in the second quarter as the Stingers progressed from 2-2 at the quarter break to a 7-3 halftime advantage.

She scored another two in the third to take the game to 10-5 and beyond Spain’s reach.

Glencora Ralph, Bronwen Knox and Kate Gynther scored twice in the victory that gave the Stingers second place in the group and a quarter-final clash with host Russia.

Canada won the group with a nail-biting 13-12 sudden-death penalty shootout victory over Greece.

The game was locked at 7-7 by full time and went straight to a penalty shootout with all 10 shooters converting five-metre shots. Then Greek captain Kyriaki Liosi missed her sudden-death attempt only to see Emily Csikos win the game for Canada on the next shot.

In the other group, tournament favourite United States of America was stunned by Russia 13-12 but the north Americans finished top of the group with a better goal differential as China also finished on six points after defeating Italy 15-6. Italy, in fact, finished third on the triple-tiebreak rule.

Results:
FINA World League Super Finals, women, Kirishi, Russia, day 3:
Group A: China 15 Italy 6, Russia 13 USA 12. Final points and finish order: USA 6, China 6, Russia 6, Italy 0.
Group B: Australia 14 (R Webster 5, G Ralph, B Knox, K Gynther 2, H Lincoln-Smith, S Mills, M Rippon) Spain 9, Canada 13 Greece 12 in sudden-death penalty shootout. (FT: 7-7). Final points: Canada 8, Australia 6, Spain 3, Greece 1.

Stingers bow to Canada at FINA World League Super Finals
Kirishi, Russia (June 11).—
Australia lost to Canada 10-8 in their second match of the FINA World League Super Finals here last night.

After leading 4-1 in the second period the Aussie Stingers allowed Canada to come back to 5-5 by halftime and go 8-5 ahead at the final break.

Canada went 10-6 ahead before Rowie Webster and Sarah Mills pulled two goals back late in the final period.

Australia now needs to beat Spain on the third day to advance to the quarter-finals as second in the group. Spain beat Greece 13-10.

In the other group, tournament favourite United States of America beat China 9-5 while Russia trounced Italy 19-10.

Results:
FINA World League Super Finals, women, Kirishi, Russia, day 2:
Group A: USA 9 China 5, Russia 19 Italy 10. Progress points: USA 6, Russia 3, China 3, Italy 0.
Group B: Canada 10 Australia 8 (R Webster, K Gynther, S Mills 2, R Rippon, M Rippon), Spain 13 Greece 10. Progress points: Canada 6, Australia 3, Spain 3, Greece 0.


Stingers beat Greece in FINA World League Super Finals opener
Kirishi, Russia (June 10).—
The Aussie Stingers beat Greece 11-7 in their opening match of the FINA World League Super Finals here last night.

The Stingers led 6-2 at halftime and withstood a second-half revival by Greece with 3-3 and 2-2 periods.

Australian head coach Greg McFadden said: “We are very glad about today's victory. It is important for us after Beijing 2008, as we are in the process of building of a new team for the Olympic Games 2012 in London.

“We hope to play successfully in Kirishi, even though in this season the World Championships in Rome (next month) will be the main tournament.”

Australia plays Canada on day two, a team that beat Spain 11-8.

In the other group, the United States of America trounced Italy 17-7 and China defeated Russia 12-8.

Results:
FINA World League Super Finals, women, Kirishi, Russia, day 1:
Group A: USA 17 Italy 7, China 12 Russia 8.
Group B: Australia 11 (J Moran 3, B Knox, M Rippon 2, G Ralph, R Rippon, R Webster, K Gynther) Greece 7, Canada 11 Spain 8.

The thumping of Italy will upset many European experts who said in the recent LEN magazine Italy would win next month's FINA World Championships with a 33% vote ahead of 31% for the USA! Australia is rated as a 23% chance. 

Stingers play Greece in FINA World League Super Finals opener
Kirishi, Russia (June 8).—
The Aussie Stingers take on Greece in their opening women’s water polo clash of the FINA World League Super Finals here tomorrow.

Winners of the Asia-Oceania zone, the Stingers have the strong conviction of making the gold-medal medal final on Sunday should they get past Greece, Canada and Spain in the coming three days and gain an automatic semifinal berth on Saturday.

The other half of the draw sees Russia, Italy and the United States of America chasing glory in the first of the two major events of the year, culminating with the FINA World Championships in Rome, Italy next month.

Stingers head coach Greg McFadden is confident the team will put up a strong showing despite the fact that only five Olympians are returning from last year.

“This is a new era for the team and our ultimate focus is the London Olympics but we hope that because we have utilised so many players in the past four years the dynamics of the team will remain the same..”

Six of the team have won bronze before in Kirishi, at the 2005 Super Finals — Olympians Mel and Bec Rippon, Alicia McCormack, Bronwen Knox and Kate Gynther, along with Victoria Brown.

The Stingers won bronze last year and silver in 2007.