Australian teams qualify for World League Finals

Australia’s men’s and women’s water polo teams have booked their tickets to the FINA World League Finals after winning their quarter final games at the Inter-continental Cup in Perth.

Although there are still two days of the event to go, qualification is guaranteed to the top four men's and women's teams.

Hannah Buckling opened the goal scoring for the Stingers before Zoe Arancini hit the back of the net twice to give Australia a 3-1 lead at the quarter interval.

Goals from Bron Knox, Rowie Webster and Elle Armit extended Australia’s lead 6-1 at half time.

Knox and Webster were back on the attack in the third, Webster scoring a double and Knox adding one more to Australia’s overall tally. As Australia seemed to find its groove, New Zealand created two more opportunities, and it was Australia leading 9-3 at three quarter time.

Arancini scored her third of the night early in the fourth and there was no denying the in-form Australian Captain Rowie Webster’s as she scored her fourth, fifth and sixth goal of the night.

Lena Mihailovic joined in on the goal scoring, and Arancini added one more to bring Australia’s tally to 15.

Webster’s six goal spree awarded her a player of the game accolade for the second consecutive night.  

“I think we were a little bit rusty at the start we didn’t put away some opportunities we probably should have,” Webster said.

"It’s a long game and its four quarters and we definitely got better by the end and came out and did a job and got the result so we’re looking forward to tomorrow’s game and the challenge that it brings.

“There were a bit of nerves there as well. Any quarter final is a tough game. We came out slow but I think this team has a lot of energy and we can go 13 deep so we just kept making subs, making changes, working on combinations and we came through with the goods at the end.

“It’s a team game and it’s really good to see that we can basically score from anywhere and that’s what we’re looking to do. We’re looking to be aggressive, creative and giving everyone an equal opportunity and I think we showed that tonight,” she said.

The Aussie Stingers will need to overcome a strong China team to advance to the Inter-continental Final.

The Aussies Sharks faced an early test as New Zealand kept them to a 3-2 score-line at the first quarter. Goals came the way of Nathan Power, Aidan Roach and Richie Campbell.

By half time the Sharks had extended their lead to 6-2 thanks to two goals from Lachlin Hollis and one from Joe Kayes. A further four goals in the third to Campbell, Roach, Nicholas Brooks and Blake Edwards, bolstered Australia’s lead 10-3.

Five more goals in the fourth sealed the deal for the Sharks who now face Canada in Saturday’s semi-final.

Player of the Game Richie Campbell said New Zealand proved a challenging opponent.

“They really stuck it to us that first quarter,” Campbell said.

“It was a tough game, especially that first half they came out really strong and wanted to play aggressive water polo,”

Campbell said it was good to square away qualification for the World League Final.

“Weight off our shoulders but we still want to take the competition out so one game at a time," he said.

RESULTS

WOMEN

China 16 defeated Kazakhstan 4

Australia 15 New Zealand 4

Canada 9 defeated Japan 6

USA 22 defeated South Africa 4

MEN

Japan 13 defeated Argentina 8

Canada 11 China 10

Kazakhstan 14 South Africa 8

Australia 15 New Zealand 4