Stingers back on track

The Australian women’s water polo team, the Stingers, featuring four NSWIS athletes, are back on track at the 2011 FINA Aquatic World Championships after a 12-4 drubbing of New Zealand.

The Stingers’ attack misfired in the first half, scoring only five of 22 shots, but it was the defensive end where the Australians did their work as they forced seven turnovers from the Kiwis; the Stingers eventually leading 5-0 into the break.

Another six goals in the second half led Australia to a comfortable win after their shock first round loss to Canada; NSWIS athletes Holly Lincoln-Smith and Nicola Zagame scored two and one goal, respectively. The Stingers will next play Uzbekistan on Thursday.

The NSWIS athletes in the Stingers team are Lincoln-Smith, Zagame, Alicia McCormack and Rebecca Rippon.

Day five of competition sees six NSWIS athletes in competition, five as part of the Australian men’s water polo team, the Sharks, against China, and diver Alex Croak in the women’s 10m platform.