The Australian women’s water polo team, has overcome a slow start and a parochial home crowd to defeat China 8-7 in their semi-final at the FINA World League Super Finals in Changshu.
 
The Australians will take on the USA in the gold medal game tonight at 9pm (AEST) in a rematch of both the Water Polo Pan Pacs final earlier this year when the Aussie Stingers won 7-4 and the London Olympic Test event final last month that Australia claimed 6-5.
 
China, who won the silver medal at last year’s FINA World Championships, got off to a flyer in the semi final, leading 2-0 after a quarter and 4-0 early in the second period before Australia fought back to trail 4-3 at half time with goals coming courtesy of a double from captain Kate Gynther and one from youngster Zoe Arancini.
 
Another strike from Gynther and goals to Bronwen Knox and Glencora Ralph saw the Stingers even up the score at 6-all at the last break before Gynther nailed her fourth and Holly Lincoln-Smith joined the party to give Australia eight for the game.
 
Once again the Australians’ defence was key in the latter stages of the game and is testament to the great work head coach Greg McFadden and his staff have put into that area of the game in recent months.
 
Beijing Olympian Bronwen Knox, who overcame a minor elbow injury to play against China, said the team relied on defence as the cornerstone to mount their comeback.
 
“We definitely had a slow start which was really disappointing but I think the team just regathered and was set on defence being the first and foremost of our thoughts,” Knox said.
 
“We really clamped down and tried to ensure they wouldn’t score a single goal that we could prevent.”
 
Knox said the way the game played out, while not going according to script taught the Australians that they had the resolve that will be required in the trenches in the tournament’s final and indeed at the London Olympics.
 
“Tonight, we learnt that we can fight back. It’s not always a positive thing to be in that position but we know that when our backs are against the wall we pulled out a victory by working together as a team,” she said.
 
“We’ve played the USA a lot over the last five months or so and these games can go either way but we’ve had it over the top of them the last few big games and hopefully we can keep that up.”

Australian Water Polo