A stunning six goal second quarter has propelled the Australian Stingers women's water polo team to a 9-7 victory over China in the last game of the FINA World League preliminary round at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.
The game was billed as the tournament's clash of the titans between the world's second and third ranked teams but the Stingers second period blitz ensured they put away their lower ranked rivals in what was a typically physical fixture.
Stingers captain Bronwen Knox continued her brilliant week with three goals, while goalkeeper Lea Barta staked her claim for a permanent spot in the cage with a player of the match performance.
Next up for the Australians is the Kirishi Cup in Russia in two weeks followed by the World League finals in Tianjin in mid June and the FINA World Championships in Shanghai in July.
Barta said she had been determined to play well in a benchmark game against a world class opposition.
"One of my goals was to be chosen in the team for this match to play China and I wanted to earn respect from the other teams and make them afraid when they have to play me in the future," Barta said.
"I'm very proud to have been chosen and to have played the way I did but it was a team effort. Our communication was the best it has been all tournament and everyone fulfilled their job."
But despite her fantastic performance a humble Barta said she had room for improvement.
"I'm happy with how I went but I probably could have got to a couple more balls and I will keep working hard," she said,
While both teams had already been guaranteed a spot in the World League finals courtesy of their performances in the preliminary rounds Australian coach Greg McFadden said the game offered a real indication of where each team sits ahead of the season's bigger international tournaments.
"I think we have had three hard weeks with the national league finals and both world league rounds with no down time," McFadden said.
"The girls have shown fatigue at times because we have been training really hard as well as playing but it was good to see them pick themselves up tonight and show what they're made of.
"I'm quite happy where we are. China are a very good team and a couple of times tonight when they scored we went right back down and scored ourselves and that shows character."
Australia's squad for the Kirishi Cup and World League finals will be announced next week.
Australia
Victoria Brown, Holly Lincoln-Smith, Sophie Smith, Rebecca Rippon, Jane Moran, Bronwen Knox, Rowena Webster, Nanda Stoltz, Patrice O'Neill, Keesja Gofers, Melissa Rippon, Nicola Zagame, Lea Barta
Result: Australia 9 bt China 7
Quarters: 2-2, 6-2, 1-1, 0-2
X Man for: 0 from 2
Defended: China scored 3 from 4 (Pen: 1 from 2)
AUS scorers: B Knox 3, S Smith 2, H Lincoln-Smith 2, N Zagame, R Webster
Best Players: L Barta, B Knox, R Rippon
