World Championships: Canada Beats Australia in Women’s Water Polo, Holland Ties Russia

BARCELONA, Spain, July 17. CANADA downed Australia and Russia and The Netherlands tied to highlight today's early action in women's water polo in Barcelona.

Below is a summary of the four games played:

BRAZIL 11, GREAT BRITAIN 1
Brazil was just too good for Great Britain with Camila Pedrosa in scintillating form with four goals, three of them coming in the opening quarter and in a three-minute spell. She scored two on action and one on extra. Bernice Cowton replied for Great Britain for a 3-1 scoreline at the break.

Flavia Fernandez and Mayla Siracusa had the Brazilians 5-1 up at halftime. No matter what the Britons did, they could not breach Brazil’s line with Fernandez scoring two at the other end for three in the game.

In the fourth, Pedrosa struck first for her fourth goal, then Siracusa and Mariana Resstom rounded out the scoring. Brazil was better on the counters and found plenty of space to move in front of Great Britain’s goal.

CANADA 6,AUSTRALIA 3
Melissa Collins will always remember the 14-meter lob shot at the end of possession, which turned a game. She will also remember the action goal she followed up with on the next attack to give Canada a 6-3 lead in the final quarter, which proved to be the final score.

The teams each scored a goal in the first quarter, Jodie Stuhmcke (AUS) and Ann Dow, both on extra. Elise Norwood scored for Australia in the second period to lead 2-1 at the turn. Cora Campbell from eight meters and Ann Dow with another lob on extra shot

Canada 3-2 ahead but Melissa Byram scored on extra to level the game at 3-3. Valerie Dionne scored from right-hand catch at 0:27 for the crucial lead going into the final quarter. Then Collins did her job to secure top ranking in the Commonwealth from the Commonwealth champion and, more importantly, win through to the quarter-finals.

JAPAN 12, VENEZUELA 4
Japan won through to the second round with a 12-4 victory over Venezuela, but it was the style with which Japanese played that impressed. Counter-attacks, accurate shooting and sharp combinations proved the decisive factor.

Akane Yamazaki opened the game with two counter-attack goals for Japan and Stephany Rivero replied for Venezuela. Japan led 3-1 at the quarter and shot out to 6-1 by halftime with Yamazaki gaining a third from outside.

Rivero opened the second half with a bounce shot from the top and Fabiola Godoy joined the resurgence for 6-3. However, a Japanese flurry had the score at 9-3 by the break. Rivero scored again in the fourth but Yamazaki was part of the tidal wave, gaining her fourth en route to the victory.

NETHERLANDS 8, RUSSIA 8
It was Olga Turova day as the powerful center forward proved unstoppable, contributing an incredible seven goals to her team's score of eight in an exciting draw. But the draw wasn't enough as the Dutch advance to the quarter-finals with a better goal difference against the third highest team, Japan.

Following a scoreless opening quarter between these great protagonists, the second period opened up with the Dutch going 3-1 ahead. Carla Quint scored a superb centre-forward goal. Natalia Shepelina made it 3-2 on extra but Jorieke Oostendorp from the top and Danielle de Bruin with a lob, had the Dutch 5-2 ahead. Olga Turova scored her second for Russia, turning her defender in two metres, her third from the penalty line for 5-4 at the break and then on extra for her fourth to tie the game at 5-5 early in the fourth period. Russian coach Alexander Kleimenov gained a yellow card.

De Bruin put the Dutch in front on extra but Turova scored her fifth on extra at the other end. Two Dutch goals came in quick succession before Turova struck for her sixth goal from centre forward for 8-7 and then swept in a long pass a minute later for the draw at 0:58.

(Courtesy FINA)

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