WATER POLO: The Australian men's water polo team, the Aussies Sharks, have shaken off their holiday season cobwebs ahead of Friday's blockbuster Water Polo By The Sea game at Bondi Icebergs with a comfortable four goal victory over the International All-Stars at Balmain's Dawn Fraser Baths on Thursday evening.

Touted as the precursor to the main event, the new look Aussie Sharks produced a clinical display to take out the inaugural Water Polo By the Sea - Balmain fixture 12-8.

Featuring London Olympians Rhys Howden, Billy Miller, Richie Campbell, Johnno Cotterill, Aaron Younger and James Clark, the Aussie Sharks led from start to finish as they outmuscled their well-travelled rivals.

BJ Howden was superb at centre forward netting four goals while Richie Campbell and Joel Swift each bagged two. Leading the way for the International All-Stars was Italian world champion and Olympic silver medallist Maurizio Felugo with four.

The two teams now head to Bondi Icebergs for the second annual Water Polo By The Sea contest. The action begins with Sydney University Lions versus UNSW Wests Magpies at 5pm, followed by the Aussie Sharks versus the International All-Stars at 6.30pm.

Water Polo By The Sea is the brainchild of four time Australian Olympian Thomas Whalan and is designed to showcase the physicality and ruggedness of the sport.

Water Polo Australia Inc.