Young Aussie water polo players deem Europe trip a success

The Australian men’s Born 1998 water polo team have arrived back in Australia following an eighth place finish at the Youth World Championships in Podgorica, Montenegro

Included in the team were NSWIS athletes Chaz Poot, Charlie Negus, Lucas Mackaway, Keenan Marsden and Sam Nangle who were all integral to the team throughout the tour.

The team had got off to a flying start at the world championships, going on a hot streak of wins to claim victory in their first four games to finish atop their group.

Hitting the water with plenty of confidence ahead of the quarterfinals, the team faced water polo powerhouse Croatia, who had thrashed them 23-14 in a pre-tournament practice game.

However the Aussies stepped up in the playoff for a semi final spot to challenge Croatia all the way to the final whistle. Despite a valiant effort, they fell agonisingly short of the win, getting beaten 14-13, but earning the respect of their peers on the international stage.

Following that game the Aussies went on to play Greece, where they were beaten 13-9. They then played Russia in the seventh-eighth playoff, eventually being overrun in the final stages to go down 9-8, finishing eighth.

Despite falling away in the latter stages of the competition, head coach Andre Kovalenko believes there were plenty of positives to take from the tournament.

“We stuck to the game plan and gave ourselves the best opportunity to win the game, the team will be better for the experience,” said Kovalenko.

“When we play to our plan and work hard we are as competitive as any team here in the top eight.”

MATCH STATISTICS – 7^th-8^th Playoff

RUSSIA 9 AUSTRALIA 8

AUSTRALIA: Damian Williams, Christian Kyriakau (1), Charles Negus, Nicholas Elphick, Timothy Putt, Lachlan Voss (3), Lucas Mackaway (4), Chaz Poot, Jed Thompson, Jack Marshall, Nicholas Porter.

Quarters: 0-3, 3-5, 2-0, 4-0

MATCH STATISTICS – 5^th-8^th Classification Game

GREECE 13 AUSTRALIA 9

AUSTRALIA: Damian Williams, Keenan Marsden (3), Charles Negus, Nicholas Elphick (2), Timothy Putt (1), Lachlan Voss (3), Sam Nangle, Chaz Poot (2), Jed Thompson (1), Jack Marshall, Nicholas Porter.

Quarters: 6-1, 2-1, 2-5, 3-2

MATCH STATISTICS – Quarterfinal

CROATIA 14 AUSTRALIA 13

AUSTRALIA: Damian Williams, Sam Nangle (2), Charles Negus, Nicholas Elphick (5), Timothy Putt, Lachlan Voss (1), Lucas Mackaway, Chaz Poot (3), Jed Thompson (2), Christian Kyriakau, Nicholas Porter.

Quarters: 6-4, 1-3, 4-5, 3-1

MATCH STATISTICS – Pool Game 4

AUSTRALIA 15 SOUTH AFRICA 9

AUSTRALIA: Damian Williams, Keenan Marsden (3), Charles Negus (2), Sam Nangle (1) Timothy Putt (2), Lachlan Voss (1), Lucas Mackaway (1), Chaz Poot (1), Jed Thompson (2), Jack Marshall (2), Nicholas Porter.

Quarters: 3-2, 3-4, 5-1, 4-2

MATCH STATISTICS – Pool Game 3

AUSTRALIA 15 EGYPT 6

AUSTRALIA: Damian Williams, Sam Nangle (4), Charles Negus (1), Nicholas Elphick (1) Timothy Putt (1), Lachlan Voss (3), Lucas Mackaway, Chaz Poot (2), Christian Kyriakau (2), Jack Marshall (1), Nicholas Porter.

Quarters: 3-1, 3-3, 5-1, 4-1

MATCH STATISTICS – Pool Game 2

AUSTRALIA 14 JAPAN 13

AUSTRALIA: Damian Williams, Keenan Marsden (1), Charles Negus (2), Nicholas Elphick (6) Timothy Putt (1), Christian Kyriakau, Lucas Mackaway, Chaz Poot (2), Jed Thompson (2), Jack Marshall, Nicholas Porter.

Quarters: 1-3, 5-4, 4-1, 5-4

MATCH STATISTICS – Pool Game 1

AUSTRALIA 10 SPAIN 8

AUSTRALIA: Damian Williams, Keenan Marsden (1), Sam Nangle, Nicholas Elphick (1) Timothy Putt (3), Lachlan Voss (1), Lucas Mackaway (1), Chaz Poot (2), Jed Thompson (1), Christian Kyriakau, Nicholas Porter.

Quarters: 3-2, 3-2, 2-4, 1-1