Ranking

Results & Schedule

By their performances this week Australia, ranked 14th, had earned the right to compete for the ninth place in this tournament, taking on world number nine Catalonia. In the first quarter, as both teams figured each other out, scores were even. In the second Catalonia’s more focused defence restricted Australia to one-shot attacks, establishing a comfortable lead that they did not let slip. Using a dynamic rebound strategy did not work for Isabel Teixeira and Australia, with Catalonia continuing to build their advantage. Although Josh Burney for Australia had probably his best match of the tournament, and Jess Phillips was effective with her free passes, Catalonia’s shooting, with Aida Puntas and Daniel Gran to the fore, was much better: most of the team scored, and Catalonia eased to a comfortable 26-13 victory.

In a fierce battle between closely matched East European rivals, although Hungary took an early lead, it was never enough to give them any comfort and Poland stuck closely on their tails throughout. Into the final quarter, Poland scored two quick goals to draw level and appeared to have the momentum to take out the match. Each team’s big unit, Gyorgy Dorfi and Kami Nowacki, fought a titanic battle in the end that Poland was attacking, and the scoring dried up for five minutes with Poland having most of the attack, though neither team able to break through. Although Hungary eventually broke the deadlock, Poland struck back immediately, and was in the attack in the final minute, looking most dangerous. However, a simple stepping error when Poland looked most likely to score turned the ball over, Hungary was awarded a penalty for contact on a running in shot, which Noemi Toth scored with with 4.66 seconds remaining: not enough time for Poland to score again, earning a win to Hungary by 15-14.

In the pool for places nine to 12, Hungary and Australia contested one of the strangest matches at this or any other tournament. An incredibly low scoring and scrappy first half, where Hungary’s strength in the rebound, built around the control of Kristof Bellusz, ensured most of Australia’s attacks were limited to a single shot, and those shots did not go in. Only one goal was scored in the first 15 minutes, and by halftime it was just 2-2. Veteran Jess May came off the bench and made an impact, scoring quickly and adding composure to the Australia line up. An injury to Jess Phillips threatened to derail Australia, though Darian Huddleston settled them and effectively won the match with two quick goals from running in shots with three minutes remaining, giving his team a two goal buffer. Although Hungary clawed one back through top scorer Tamara Bellusz, it was not enough, and Australia prevailed by 11-10.

In the pool for placings 9-12, Poland took an early lead. Each side’s most experienced female player, Tamara Siemieniuk and Berta Aloma, assumed responsibility for executing their chances and therefore building the score. After half time Catalonia did that more effectively as the intensity of the tournament began to take its toll on Poland. Catalonia’s 21-16 victory keeps them on track for ninth place and qualification for the European A Championship, though that will not be fully decided until Saturday and the final games in the mini pool that also includes Hungary and Australia.

After a low scoring match yesterday against Hungary, Australia started slightly better today, though as the first half progressed both teams struggled to find the korf. A running in shot taken from an outside feed and smartly converted by substitute Jessica May four seconds from the end of the second quarter brought a rare buzz of excitement and levelled the scores. As the second half progressed, the tension rose, though scores remained tightly balanced. Josh Berney looked to have sealed the match for Australia with two quick goals to put his team two up with three minutes remaining. However, Poland captain Tamara Siemieniuk had other ideas, hitting back with two of her own to draw the game level again. Cool under pressure, Izabella Kolodziejczyk then put her team back in front. However, with time left Australia still had a chance. Their last attack was snuffed out though when Siemieniuk darted in for a brave interception, leaving Poland the opportunity to run down the clock for an 11-10 victory. As a win would have secured a top 11 spot for Australia, and therefore World Games qualification, it was a double blow.

In the mini-pool to determine places nine to 12, Catalonia had enjoyed comfortable wins over Australia and Poland, while Hungary had lost to the former and only beaten the latter by one: at the start of this match, the momentum therefore appeared to be with Catalonia to seal ninth place. Hungary however had other ideas, and imposed their more physical style on their opponent from the start, racing to a comfortable lead that was never threatened. Captain Zsolt Majer led by example, scoring five while most of his team-mates also chipped in. Catalonia coach Miguel Tobaruela tried plenty of different squad members, though apart from Adria Delgado, who came off the bench to score five, none of the other changes made enough difference to prevent a victory for Hungary, easing up at the end though still winning by 21-18.