*** Congratulations to our many club members on their recent selection in NSW teams & squads (see NSW website for full team lists) ***

What a Month!

Presentation Night 
Saturday 23 June 2012
Cronulla Leagues Club
Showroom Room
5.30pm-8.30pm then Disco
Smart Casual
$25 per/head (includes entry, entertainment, disco and Cocktail Meal)

Please contact your summer team manager
And inform them of how many will attend.
Which one of the following are you?
Manager
Have you taken the names of people from your summer team going to the presentation night and emailed them to Lisa at lisa@ecoya.com.au
Have you determined the MVP for your team?
Player
Have you told your summer manager if you and your family are going to presentation night?
Do you have photos or a video you would like to be shown at presentation night? If so email to richarddavies@parkesconstructions.com or contact him on 0407433 468

The Annual General Meeting of the
Cronulla Sutherland Water Polo Club
Will be held at the Sharks Leagues Club
In the Immortals Room at 3:00pm
0n 30.06.2012
Click Here for Agenda
  
Australia's women's water polo team charged into Olympic gold medal contention after defeating the USA 6-5 in the final of the London test event.
Since capturing gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Australia finished fourth at the 2004 Athens Games and picked up bronze in Beijing four years ago.
The performance of the Stingers on Sunday against the Beijing silver medallists demonstrated they were a legitimate shot of taking out the Olympic competition.
Australia and the USA have played off for medals at the past three Olympics and the latest edition of the rivalry was always going to be a tight affair.
Australian goalkeeper Alicia McCormack had an outstanding game while Nicola Zagame top-scored for the winning team with two goals.
After finishing a disappointing fifth at last year's world titles, emerging victorious in the four-nation tournament at the temporary venue with the distinctive inflated roof was a major boost.
"We came here wanting to win every game in this pool, we went down to America the other night (10-9 in a round robin match) but we have the gold medal and now we know what today felt like," McCormack said.
"The coach (Greg McFadden) tried to put as much pressure on us today about how it is going to feel in two and half months time.
"He tried to make it as realistic as possible. Hopefully it will go that way (in August)."
Australia's coach Greg McFadden said his team had plenty of improvement in them before the Olympic competition begins on July 30.
"We are happy with where we are at," he said.
He said playing in front of the big crowds at the Olympic venue this week had been invaluable with eight of Australia's players having not competed at an Olympics.
"This is new to the eight of them and it is great for them to experience such an atmosphere," he said.
The USA made a bright start with two quick goals before Australia fought back to capture a 4-3 halftime lead.
Zagame scored back-to-back goals to hand Australia a two-goal advantage and, at 6-4, McCormack produced a fine save to deflect American Lauren Silver's penalty shot onto the bar.
The Stingers led 6-5 heading into the final quarter and neither side was able to add to the score sheet in a tense finish.
The match followed the release of the Olympic draw on Saturday.
McFadden was happy with his side being grouped with Italy, Great Britain and Russia.
"You have to beat them all," McFadden said.
"There is no easy path to get to the final and I am pretty confident we can beat all three teams."
The Cronulla Sharks have won their first National Water Polo League title since 2006 ending the three year reign of the Brisbane Barracudas with a 6-3 victory at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre today.
After losing last year’s gold edition in an agonising penalty shootout, Cronulla came out with all guns blazing as they attempted to end the Barracudas shot at four straight titles.
The Sharks were superb in defence all game as Nicola Zagame at centre back and Alicia McCormack in goals dominated the Barracudas attack.
The scores were level at 1-1 at the first break, before the Sharks netted four goals to one in the second term, including a double to 16-year-old Lena Mihailovic, to open up a three goal lead.
A single score in the third then increased the margin to 6-2 going into the last quarter.
Brisbane tried to mount a fight back in the last netting an early goal through Gynther, but the sharp reflexes of McCormack worked to deny the Barracudas’ a shot at further history.
McCormack, who was part of the championship winning team in 2006, said it was a fabulous feeling to know they had triumphed over one of the best team’s ever.
“The team spoke earlier today and all we wanted to focus on was playing our style of polo,” McCormack said.
“Our coach was also great as he told us there was no pressure and that all he wanted to see was a great team effort. And I think we did that.
“Last year we had a stacked team and unfortunately we came up short, so to do what we did this year with a much younger team is great.
“All our younger girls really stepped up and to know that we will only get better next year makes this even greater.”
Despite the loss, the Barracudas remain one of the most successful team’s ever with three straight wins, a sliver and a bronze from the last five season.

The Australian Junior Women’s water polo team has ended their three match test series against New Zealand undefeated after securing a second consecutive draw against their Trans Tasman rivals in Sydney on Tuesday night.
The Aussie girls came out of the blocks firing jumping out to a 2-0 lead at quarter time before the Kiwis won the next two terms to set up a tantalising finish.
Both teams then exchanged multiple goals to end the game at 9-9. KFC Queensland Breakers star Emily Benson scored four goals for the Aussie girls, while Drummoyne’s Morgan Baxter pitched in with two.
Australian coach Peter Szilagyi said he was pleased with the team’s effort and believed the girls had progressed nicely heading towards the FINA World Junior Championships next year.
“It was a good quality game tonight,” Szilagyi said.
“I was very pleased with the way we started and our defence was much improved, but in saying that they should not have scored four goals against us in the last quarter.
“Overall the players improved a lot in this test series, both as individuals and as a team, and I think our great extra man defence in all three games is something that we can take with us into the future.
“To be the best junior team in the world, however, and to be the gold medallists at the world junior championships next year, we will need to work on a lot of other areas before we leave Australia.”
Australian goalkeeper Michaela Davies agreed with her coach, saying that the 9-9 draw was one of the group’s better performances.
“I think our game last night was our best game but in defence there were a few lapses in concentration which cost us some silly goals. Overall, though, this was the game when our team came together,” Davies said.
For the trio of Taylor Leonard, Jess Brooks and Claire Negus, they believed their time with squad was highly beneficial.
“We all came into the squad for this camp and it’s been such a great opportunity to train with Peter and the Australian Junior team,” the girls said.
“We have been able to train and play with the best girls in this age group and we have all learnt greatly from the experience.”
New Zealand coach Richard Claridge echoed the thoughts of everybody saying that it was a fantastic week and that both teams had bright futures ahead of them.