WATER POLO: Australia’s Men’s Team have suffered a 7-14 loss to European heavy weights Italy in the Opening Round of the World League Super Final in China.
It was not the start the Aussies had been hoping for but the side are determined to bounce back when they take on Japan in game two.
As Rio selection looms for the men’s side, the squad are out to sure up spot of the 2016 Olympic Team which will be named at the end of this month.
Australian Men’s Captain Rhys Howden said the team have a lot of work to focus on ahead of their next games.
“It was a disappointing start the to Tournament. We started quite slowly and as the game progressed little errors and fatigue in our game crept in and Italy put on a few quick goals which we couldn’t recover from.
“We need to work on our extra man attack and we need move the ball and stay out a little bit further. And we need to be more dangerous, I think at the moment we’re being a bit too passive and the defence are easily marking us.
“Usually we match up quite well against the Italians, but today they were on top of us unfortunately. We need to show our aggression and put it back on them, especially in defence – and then attack should come from that,” said Howden.
Australia will take on Japan at 5:00pm(AEST) Wednesday 22 June – live updates on the WPA twitter @WaterpoloAus.
MATCH STATISTICS
Result: AUS 7 ITA 14
Score Quarters: 2-3; 2-3; 2-4; 1-4
Extra Man for: 5 from 12
Extra Man against: 6 from 10 and 0/1 penalties
AUSTRALIA: Joel Dennerley, Richard Campbell, George Ford, John Cotterill, Nathan Power, Jarrod Gilchrist, Aidan Roach, Aaron Younger, Lachlan Edwards, Joe Kayes, Rhys Howden, (Captain), Tyler Martin, James Stanton.
Goal Scorers: Campbell (2), Power (2), Kayes (2), Roach (1)
Water polo Australia