WATER POLO: Australian Women's Water Polo team have taken out the first test match against China 14-9 in front of the home crowd in Perth.

The Aussies Stingers are in Perth as part of a ten days training camp and three test match series with China, who are one of the top five ranked countries in the world.

It’s the first major competition for the Aussies Stingers in 2016, with the test matches in Perth forming a vital part of their Rio Olympic Games preparation.

Coach Greg McFadden said while the game was ‘quite patchy’ the team did deliver some excellent water polo.

“We played some really good water polo but silly uncontrolled moments allowed the Chinese opportunities to get back in the game at the end of the first and fourth quarters,” said McFadden.

“The end of the first quarter could have seen the score a lot closer but luckily for us, China did not convert those opportunities.

“As a team we need to maintain a high level of discipline if we want to improve our consistency. We’re in camp to work on these areas and heading into

Saturday’s match we’ll certainly focus on consistency as well as eliminating undisciplined play that put us under pressure in the first test match,” he said.

The China test series in Perth provides the Stingers squad the opportunity to test different combinations ahead of final Olympic Team selection in June this year. It also provides the squad members the chance to stake their claim on Olympic selection while competing in an international tournament at home.

Stand out goal scorer for the night was London Olympian Ashleigh Southern (Brisbane) with four goals. Other goal scorers on the night were Gemma Beadsworth (1), Holly Lincoln-Smith (1), Glencora McGhie (3), Rowie Webster (2) and Nicola Zagame (3).

Quarter time results; Q1, AUS 5 CHN 2; Q2, AUS 9 CHN 4; Q3, AUS 12 CHN 5; Q4, AUS 14 CHN 9.

The next test match will be Saturday 30 January, 7:00PM (local time), UWA Aquatic Parkway Entrance 4, Crawley.

Water polo Australia