They might have made hard work of it but the Australian Stingers women’s water polo team have overcome Trans Tasman rivals New Zealand 10-6 in their FINA World League preliminary round match at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.
 
The world number two Stingers were expected to make light work of New Zealand after thrashing them 16-5 in last week’s Auckland preliminary round but an improved effort from the Kiwis and some uncharacteristic errors from the Australians ensured a willing contest.
 
Rowie Webster was the main attacking weapon for the Stingers, firing four past a helpless New Zealand goalkeeper, while Bronwen Knox and Nicola Zagame chipped in with two each.
 
The Australians won all three of their games last week before disposing of Japan and now New Zealand here in Sydney to give them a perfect five from five in the tournament so far but according to coach Greg McFadden the Stingers will need to improve markedly if they are to beat world number three China tomorrow night.
 
“Hopefully the true Australian players will step up tomorrow because we haven’t played like near our potential over the last few night,” McFadden said. “We will need to improve.”
 
“Tonight our execution just wasn’t there. We missed the frame too much and kept hitting the keeper.
 
“On the flip side we controlled things well in defence and to restrict them to just six goals is a fair performance defensively.”
 
The Australians hung on to beat China 11-10 in a thriller last week. The swim off for Friday’s game is 8pm.

Australian Water Polo Inc.