Women’s Games 5-8 Classification: Australia vs Canada

POLOAIR INDONESIA-The Canadian women’s team has progressed to the 5th-8th playoff with a convincing 16-7 win over Australia on Day 7 at Challenge Stadium.

Their extra-man play was too powerful as Australia struggle to a 2 from 11 and 8 from 13 against extra-man score line.

Canada had a scorcher of a start with Rae Lekness converting a 5m penalty after just 40 seconds.

Australia rebounded through goals to Jessica Zimmerman and Maddi Schmid, before Cara Robinson and Kyra Christmas (CAN) slotted home from long range to hand Canada the early advantage.

The Canadians continued their high intensity – pressuring the Australian attack and forcing numerous unforced errors – before sweeping down the pool to unnerve the Aussie defence.

Nikolina Mihaijlovic converted from extra-man with a minute left on the clock to hand Canada a 4-2 lead at quarter-time.

It was a much tighter affair in the second term, with both defences forcing a large number of long range attempts.

Canada scored their fifth through Lekness to extend their lead to three, only for Australia to peg back the margin with goals to Chloe Barr and Kassia Ralston.

Lekness continued to be a thorn in the side for Australia, whizzing another outside shot past Lilian Hedges, before Zimmerman sent in a rocket from eight metres to make it 6-5 at half time.

The Canadians exploded in the third, with Lekness, Hayley McKelvey (2) and Emma Wright all scoring.

It proved to be a winning move as Australia continued to struggle in the attacking third – their extra-man attack crumbling under pressure.

Australia found some inspiration through Madeleine Quinn who scored two second half goals, but Canada’s prowess in front of the cage was too much.

Lekness ended the game with five goals while Wright and McKelvey pitched in with four and three respectively.

Lekness, who spent five minutes searching the pool for her mouthguard after the match, said: “We kind of came together as a team and played the Canada style. We were relentless.

“It’s good to beat Australia at (its) home but the best thing was playing real solid water polo.”

Story by Lloyd Green

Australia vs. Canada

Result: Canada 16 beat Australia 7

Quarters: (4-2, 2-3, 4-1, 6-1)

Scorers CAN: Rae Lekness 5, Emma Wright 4, Hayley McKelvey 3, Nikolina Mihaijlovic, Cara Robinson, Kyra Christmas, Alexa Tielman

Scorers AUS: Jessica Zimmerman 2, Madeleine Quinn 2, Kassia Ralston, Chloe Barr, Maddi Schmid

Canada: Jessica Gaudreault, Hayley McKelvey, Rae Lekness, Rachel Krieger, Dankia Kotylak, Nikolina Mihaijlovic, Taylor Molde, Cara Robinson, Kyra Christmas, Emma Wright, Kindred Paul, Alexa Tielman, Claire Wright

Australia: Lilian Hedges, Ainsley Masek, Belinda Symons, Montana Perkins, Madeleine Quinn, Shannan Martin, Fiona Walsh, Lenke Dauda-Board, Maddison Schmid, Chloe Barr, Kassia Ralston, Jessica Zimmerman, Stephanie Calaizis