AUSTRALIA CROWNED COMMONWEALTH CHAMPS - RIPPON FEMALE PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT
[Jan 30 | 06]- Source Australian Water Polo] Perth - Australia is the toast of the Commonwealth after winning both water polo crowns at the II Commonwealth Champs held in Perth this week. The Australian women retained their crown with a 12-4 victory over Canada and the men lead by Queenslander Pietro Figlioli ensured the Aussie Sharks gained redemption after losing to Canada in Manchester in 2002 to win 12-3 today. Figlioli capped his short visit to Australia from his Italian water polo club with five goals in the victory and in the process, was the tournament’s highest goal-scorer with 26 goals.
The well-drilled Australians were sharper all over the pool and with women’s captain and Barracudas own Melissa Rippon capping off a fantastic tournament with three goals in the final, the future looks good for the World League events mid-year.
These Commonwealth Championships were dominated by Australians with captains Thomas Whalan and Mel Rippon being named the Most Valuable Players by the coaches. Both were runaway winners as selected by the coaches but there was some hot competition. In the women there was no stopping Mel Rippon, who gained more than double the votes of any other player. Australia¹s Italian-based outside shooter Pietro Figlioli was the tournament¹s highest goal-scorer with 19 in the rounds and six in the finals. Valerie Dionne (CAN) finished with 18 in the rounds but she was pipped as the highest goal-scorer for the whole tournament by Mel Rippon, who scored 22.
Congrats to all our Barracudas who represented their country proudly - Adam Richardson, Sophie Smith and Mel Rippon! Barracudas were also represented among the referees with Nicola Johnson being given honours among the select referees in the country who participated in these Championships.
Results:II Commonwealth Water Polo Championships, Challenge Stadium, Perth
Men: Bronze medal: New Zealand 8 (D Broome, M Payne 2, L Tijsen, R Tindall, S Williams, T Grace) South Africa 5 (K O’Brien 2, S Daley, B Manson, P Le Roux).
Gold medal: Australia 12 (P Figlioli 4, T Franklin, P Tresise, T Neesham 2, J Beadsworth, R Maitland) Canada 3 (K Graham, Noah Miller, K Mitchell).
Most valuable player: Thomas Whalan (AUS).
Most valuable goalkeeper: James Stanton (AUS)
Highest goal-scorer after rounds: Pietro Figlioli (AUS), 19.
Women: Bronze Medal: New Zealand 10 (E Cox, R McGuinness, A Sieprath, K Hudson 2, L Van Raalte, L Smith) England 7 (L Davies 2, K Lewis, F McCann, C Wilcox, C Mohan, A Winstanley-Smith).
Gold medal: Australia 12 (M Rippon 4, G Beadsworth 2, S Smith, R Rippon, S Fraser, G Hadley, E Douglass, Y Balla-Gow) Canada 4 (A Braden, K Monton, V Dionne, C Robinson).
Most valuable player: Melissa Rippon (AUS)
Most valuable goalkeeper: Alicia McCormack (AUS).
Highest goal-scorer (after rounds): Valerie Dionne (CAN) 18.