Heartbreak for Stingers as Greece net late winner
The Aussie Stingers and Greece were locked at 7-7 with eight seconds left on Saturday, but Australia inexplicably turned over the ball and the Greeks swam towards the Aussie goal, shooting from outside to beat the buzzer, scoring with two seconds left.
There were never more than two goals separating the teams all game, and the Aussies seemed to have the momentum in the final quarter.
It was always going to be an emotion-charged game, the two sides having faced off in the quarter-finals at the Paris Olympics. Australia won that game and went on to claim the silver medal. But, like Australia, the Greeks have a new-look team and have already achieved strong results in this Olympic cycle.
Stingers captain and dual Olympian Bronte Halligan said the team were devastated they won't have the opportunity to play for a world championship medal.
"That's a really tough result. As Bec (Rippon, Stingers coach) said, quarter-final water polo you've got to stick it out right to the end and we did,'' Halligan said.
"The Greeks also did that, but we showed real heart out there and I couldn't be more proud of our girls.
"It's a tough loss and it's going to sting for a little bit, but the girls will hold their heads high knowing we did everything we could have.
"This is a stepping stone and we really want to build this squad, we have a lot more goals. I think it's exciting to see where we are going to go over the next few years during this Olympic cycle.''
Rippon echoed Halligan's sentiment, saying despite the disappointment of the loss there is a lot they can build on as they set their sights on LA 2028.
"We spoke about it before the game, that this is what we do all the hard work for, these big moments, and we go out there and leave everything we've got in the pool, and I think we did that tonight,'' Rippon said.
"It is a heartbreaking way to lose, but we did leave everything out there and I'm proud of the team.''
Australia now meet Japan in the classification matches on Monday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Courier-Mail
9 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
Wallabies make three changes for must-win Lions Test at MCG
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News. Desperate Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has recalled powerhouses Rob Valetini and Will Skelton into his starting side for the second Test against the British & Irish Lions. Foreshadowing a brutal confrontation at the MCG, Schmidt has opted for a 6-2 bench split with Langi Gleeson coming onto the bench for the must-win match. He's retained the same starting backline, with Tom Lynagh partnering Jake Gordon in the halves, and Tate McDermott and Ben Donaldson the only two backline players on the pine. Hooker Matt Faessler and flanker Nick Champion de Crespigny have been dropped from the squad that lost 27-19 in Brisbane, while Jeremy Williams moves to bench to accommodate Skelton's arrival. Rob Valetini will return from injury for the second Lions Test. Picture: Getty The addition of Skelton and Valetini adds much needed grunt to the Wallabies pack, who were comprehensively outmuscled in the opening three quarters of last weekend's game, before Australia made a comeback. Australia's scrum was dominant, one of the few positives from the game, and so James Slipper has retained his starting spot at loosehead, with Angus Bell to come off the bench again. Will Skelton is another huge inclusion for the Wallabies. Picture: AFP The coaches have continued with the same front-row replacements of Billy Pollard, Bell and Tom Robertson, in what will be the Wallabies 700th Test match. 'The squad has recovered well after a very physical first Test and the week's preparation here in Melbourne has allowed us a bit more time together,' Schmidt said. 'We took some confidence from the second half last week, but we know we'll need to improve further against a Lions team that will bring plenty of fire to the contest on Saturday night.' AUSSIE-BORN LIONS HERO RULED OUT OF SECOND TEST By Julian Linden Scotland's Melbourne-born centre Sione Tuipulotu has been ruled out of the British & Irish Lions team to face Australia in Saturday's second Test against the MCG. Tuipulotu scored the opening try for the Lions in last week's first Test victory over the Wallabies in Brisbane but head coach Andy Farrell said he was unavailable because of a hamstring strain. Sione Tuipulotu has been ruled out of the second Test with a hamstring injury. Picture: Getty Ireland's Bundee Aki replaced Tuipulotu at inside centre in one of three changes to the Lions' starting lineup. Ollie Chessum will start at lock after Joe McCarthy was ruled out with a foot injury while Andrew Porter got picked at loosehead prop ahead of Ellis Genge. Farrell's son Owen was named on the bench four days after captaining the Lions in their win over the First Nations & Pasifika Invitational side. Owen was originally not picked in the squad but got a late call up with Elliort Daly breaking his arm against Queensland. Owen's recall was among four changes the Lions' made to their bench. The head coach, Andy Farrell, said: 'We have put ourselves in a good position after the First Test, but we know there will be a massive reaction from this Wallaby team. 'Everyone saw the quality they have in Brisbane and we know we will have to be a lot better than we were last week. 'The opportunity to play in front of 100,000 supporters at the MCG, one of the world's most iconic stadiums, is what makes Lions Tours unique and special. 'And we know our Lions supporters will get behind the team on Saturday and create a fantastic atmosphere.' Originally published as Wallabies recall heavyweight forwards Rob Valetini, Will Skelton for second Lions Test
Sydney Morning Herald
10 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
New Olympics board will consider rowing alternatives
Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games organisers will explore contingencies should the governing bodies for rowing and canoe events decide the planned Fitzroy River course in Rockhampton is unsuitable for competition. The revelation from Brisbane 2032 president Andrew Liveris came as he prepared to host the first meeting of the new, paired-back organising committee board in the city's CBD on Thursday. 'It's amazing how, a year ago, we were arguing about stadiums and what would happen with the stadium, and now we seem to be arguing and having this conversation on rowing – we're always going to have something,' he told this masthead. 'I'd like to remind everyone that LA was still debating venues until about six months ago. Paris was debating them until a year before, so it's the nature of the beast that the OCOG [Organising Committee for the Olympic Games] will have to very much be nimble on creating alternatives in case some of these venues don't work out.' Liveris said the delivery plan handed down by the state government in March solved '80-to-90 per cent' of venue issues and while the committee was 'working to make Rocky work' it would have to also consider contingencies should World Rowing and the International Canoe Federation deem the Fitzroy River course unsuitable. 'The idea that it may not turn out is a very big debated subject, because GIICA came out with Penrith,' he said, referring to the Games Independent Infrastructure and Co-ordination Authority's recommendation in its 100-day review to host rowing in western Sydney. 'But this government in particular – and I understand why – says, 'no, I want it in Queensland'. 'And you've got [Gold Coast] Mayor [Tom] Tate talking about Hinze Dam, and you've got all sorts of possibilities.
The Age
10 hours ago
- The Age
New Olympics board will consider rowing alternatives
Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games organisers will explore contingencies should the governing bodies for rowing and canoe events decide the planned Fitzroy River course in Rockhampton is unsuitable for competition. The revelation from Brisbane 2032 president Andrew Liveris came as he prepared to host the first meeting of the new, paired-back organising committee board in the city's CBD on Thursday. 'It's amazing how, a year ago, we were arguing about stadiums and what would happen with the stadium, and now we seem to be arguing and having this conversation on rowing – we're always going to have something,' he told this masthead. 'I'd like to remind everyone that LA was still debating venues until about six months ago. Paris was debating them until a year before, so it's the nature of the beast that the OCOG [Organising Committee for the Olympic Games] will have to very much be nimble on creating alternatives in case some of these venues don't work out.' Liveris said the delivery plan handed down by the state government in March solved '80-to-90 per cent' of venue issues and while the committee was 'working to make Rocky work' it would have to also consider contingencies should World Rowing and the International Canoe Federation deem the Fitzroy River course unsuitable. 'The idea that it may not turn out is a very big debated subject, because GIICA came out with Penrith,' he said, referring to the Games Independent Infrastructure and Co-ordination Authority's recommendation in its 100-day review to host rowing in western Sydney. 'But this government in particular – and I understand why – says, 'no, I want it in Queensland'. 'And you've got [Gold Coast] Mayor [Tom] Tate talking about Hinze Dam, and you've got all sorts of possibilities.
