WPWL 2018: USA triumph in Auckland

Both the Men and Women’s teams from the U.S. claimed the gold medals at stake yesterday in Auckland (NZL) where the Intern-Continental Cups of the FINA Water Polo World League were take place since Tuesday April 3.

The USA men’s team were too fit and fast for Australia with a 9-6 victory in the final.

Japan won the bronze match 12-7 with an impressive half that saw them out score Kazakhstan 7-2, and Canada dominated New Zealand to win 12-6 and finish fifth.

In the women’s competition, the USA clinched the gold medal after defeating Australia 10-7. The win came with a huge second half effort that saw the USA go from 3-5 down at half time to score four unanswered goals in the second half and carry on to win 10-7.

Canada beat China 9-8 to win the bronze medal and Japan, who finished fifth with an 11-9 win against Kazakhstan, will go to the Super Final because China are the hosts.

The Inter-Continental Cups rankings are as follows:

MEN: 1. USA, 2. Australia, 3. Japan, 4. Kazakhstan, 5. Canada, 6. New Zealand, 7. Argentina, 8. China, 9. Saudi Arabia

WOMEN: 1. USA, 2. Australia, 3. Canada, 4. China, 5. Japan, 6. Kazakhstan, 7. New Zealand

The World League Super Finals which gather the best European teams and the best teams from the Inter-Continental Cups will be played in Russia (city tbc) from June 18-23 for the men, while the women will meet in Kunshan (CHN) from May 28- June 2.