On the penultimate day of World Cup, the Aussie Stingers went down fighting against hosts Greece.

Having spent a week in Athens before the World Cup alongside Greece, the Aussies were looking forward to a tough battle.

Paris Olympic silver medalist Sienna Hearn, a NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) athlete scored the first goal of the game, converting from six metres just 30 seconds into the game.

Two goals from fellow medalist Abby Andrews drew the scores to 3-3 at quarter time. Emma Putt scored her first international goal early in the second quarter, before two-time Olympian Bronte Halligan (NSWIS) scored a goal to end the Greeks one and close the gap back to two at half time, 5-7.

In the third quarter, Paris Olympian Alice Williams added another goal to her tournament haul, and West Australian Pippa Pedley scored in the dying seconds of the third quarter.

Trailing by three heading into the last quarter, centre Dani Jackovich(NSWIS) put one into the back of the net to close the gap back to two. But it wasn’t enough to hold off the Greeks in front of a passionate home crowd, the end score 12-8 falling in favour of the home side.

Australia will play one more game, against the Netherlands tomorrow at 2am AEDT to determine their final ranking for the World Cup Super Final in April.

AUSSIE STINGERS DRAW

Wednesday 15 January | Australia 9 def by Netherlands 11

Thursday 16 January | Australia 15 d Israel 6

Friday 17 January | Australia 12 d Italy 8

Saturday 18 January | Australia 11 def by Spain 14

Sunday 19 January | Australia 8 def by Greece 12

Monday 20 January | 2am AEDT | Australia v Netherlands

Photo and story courtesy of Water Polo Australia

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.