Eighth in the world for New Zealand at World Aquatics U18 Water Polo Championships

The New Zealand U18 Women have rounded out their time at the 2024 World Aquatics Women’s U18 Water Polo Championships in Chengdu, China by placing eighth in the world and gaining valuable experience facing off against some of the world's most powerful water polo nations.

Congratulations, team - you have done New Zealand very proud!

Game 1 - NZL vs AUS

Final Score: 12-15 (4-4, 2-2, 3-5, 3-4)

It was a strong first game from New Zealand, with our team pushing Australia right until the very end. 

The close game saw the two teams go goal for goal in the first quarter, scoring four goals each in the first eight minutes. The pattern continued in to the second quarter, with nothing separating the two teams as they tied 6-6 going into the second half of the match.

As the third quarter proceeded, Australia pulled away outscoring New Zealand by two goals. But a big push in the final quarter saw New Zealand try to claw their way back, but it wasn't to be with the just three goals separating the two teams at the buzzer. 

Holly Dunn and Riaan Bryant each scored four goals to be joint top scorers for the game, with Bella Knight, Gabrielle Doyle, Bianca Pennington, and Katie Marshall each scoring a goal as well.

Goals/Shots: NZL - 12/31, AUS - 15/30
Extra player shots: NZL - 3/11, AUS - 4/7
Action shots: NZL - 1/2, AUS - 4/8
Center shots: NZL - 0/0, AUS - 3/5
6m shots: NZL - 7/16, AUS - 3/6
Fastbreak shots: NZL - 0/0, AUS - 0/2
Penalty shots: NZL - 1/2, AUS - 1/2
Sprints won: NZL - 0, AUS - 4
Personal fouls: NZL - 11, AUS - 15
Turnover fouls: NZL - 4, AUS - 2
Steals: NZL - 9, AUS - 5
Blocks: NZL - 2, AUS - 2
Assists: NZL - 5, AUS - 5

Game 2 - HUN vs NZL

Final Score: 17-4 (4-0, 3-1, 5-1, 5-2)

It was a tough second game at the World Aquatics Women's U18 Water Polo Championships, with New Zealand facing off against a dominant Hungarian team that went on to place third in the world later on in the tournament.

The Hungarian team were in a league of their own throughout the game, shutting the New Zealand attack out over the first quarter to lead 4-0. The Kiwis got on the board courtesy of a goal from Katie Marshall in the second quarter, with the score sitting at 6-1 at the halfway mark of the game.

Hungary continued to extend their lead over the final two quarters - accumulating ten further goals, while New Zealand managed to get on the board three more times.

Emison Styris, Katie Marshall, Riaan Bryant, and Bailee Swindells each scored a goal in the game.

Goals/Shots: HUN - 17/34, NZL - 4/23
Extra player shots: HUN - 4/7, NZL - 2/6
Action shots: HUN - 2/7, NZL - 0/5
Center shots: HUN - 3/7, NZL - 0/2
6m shots: HUN - 2/3, NZL - 0/8
Fastbreak shots: HUN - 3/5, NZL - 0/0
Penalty shots: HUN - 3/5, NZL - 2/2
Sprints won: HUN - 3, NZL - 1
Personal fouls: HUN - 13, NZL - 13
Turnover fouls: HUN - 2, NZL - 2 
Steals: HUN - 14, NZL - 2
Blocks: HUN - 3, NZL - 1
Assists: HUN - 5, NZL - 0

Game 3 - USA vs NZL

Final Score: 12-6 (4-1, 2-3, 3-1, 3-1)

New Zealand gave it their all in their fight against defending champions USA, gaining valuable learning experience competing at the top level against against high calibre competition.

After the United States got off to a strong start in the first quarter, scoring four goals to New Zealand's one, our Kiwi team tried their best to reel the defending championships back in over the second quarter. It was a brave showing from our team with New Zealand outscoring USA by one goal in the second quarter, bringing the score to 6-4 at the halfway mark of the game.

USA pulled away over the second half of the game, building a margin of six goals over New Zealand by the final buzzer.

Holly Dunn and Bianca Pennington each scored a pair goals over the game, while Bailee Swindells and Tallulah Goldsworthy notched a goal each.

Goals/Shots: USA - 12/29, NZL - 6/29
Extra player shots: USA - 2/7, NZL - 2/9
Action shots: USA - 4/5, NZL - 0/0
Center shots: USA - 1/4, NZL - 0/3
6m shots: USA - 2/7, NZL - 2/15
Fastbreak shots: USA - 1/1, NZL - 1/1
Penalty shots: USA - 2/5, NZL - 1/1
Sprints won: USA - 3, NZL - 1
Personal fouls: USA - 10, NZL - 14
Turnover fouls: USA - 3, NZL - 2 
Steals: USA - 6, NZL - 6
Blocks: USA - 5, NZL - 5
Assists: USA - 5, NZL - 3

Crossover - NZL vs CHN

Final Score: 11-8 (3-2, 1-2, 2-1, 5-3)
Player of the Match: Emison Styris

There was a lot at stake in this match, with the game deciding who was going to make it to the top eight on the tournament - with China eager to impress in front of their home crowd and New Zealand looking make it back to the quarter finals after finishing eighth at the previous edition of the championships.

New Zealand got off to a strong start, leading through the first quarter by scoring three goals to a pair of goals from the host nation. But China came back strong in the second quarter, with the score all tied up as it hit the halfway mark of the game.

New Zealand clawed their way into the lead over the third quarter, scoring two goals to China's one, and a dominant display in the final quarter saw the Kiwis score a further five goals to convincingly take the win.

Emison Styris earned Player of the Match, courtesy of her four goals scored. Bailee Swindells, Riaan Bryant, and Gabrielle Doyle each scored a pair of goals, while Katie Marshall got on the board with a single goal.

Goals/Shots: NZL - 11/33, CHN - 8/26
Extra player shots: NZL - 3/7, CHN - 4/8
Action shots: NZL - 0/2, CHN - 3/9
Center shots: NZL - 1/4, CHN - 0/3
6m shots: NZL - 6/19, CHN - 0/5
Fastbreak shots: NZL - 0/0, CHN - 1/1
Penalty shots: NZL - 1/1, CHN - 0/0
Sprints won: NZL - 3, CHN - 1
Personal fouls: NZL - 9, CHN - 8
Turnover fouls: NZL - 1, CHN - 1
Steals: NZL - 8, CHN - 2
Blocks: NZL - 3, CHN, 5
Assists: NZL - 0, CHN - 2

Quarter Final - NZL vs ESP

Final Score: 5-16 (2-5, 0-2, 2-3, 1-6)

It was a tough quarter final for New Zealand, facing off against an impressive Spanish team that went on to win the championship. 

New Zealand put up a strong fight in the opening quarter, scoring two times to Spain's five, however were unable to get on the board in the second quarter - with the Spanish team leading 2-7 at the halfway mark.

Our Kiwi women put up a strong attack and defense across the third quarter, scoring two points to Spain's three, but were unable to keep the momentum going as Spain pulled away over the final quarter to take the win by 11 goals.

Emison Styris and Riaan Bryant each scored two goals, with Bianca Pennington also scoring a goal.

Goals/Shots: NZL - 5/27, ESP - 16/31
Extra player shots: NZL - 3/8, ESP - 2/3
Action shots: NZL - 0/1, ESP - 5/14
Center shots: NZL - 0/3, ESP - 4/7
6m shots: NZL - 1/14, ESP - 0/1
Fastbreak shots: NZL - 0/0, ESP - 1/1
Penalty shots: NZL - 1/1, ESP - 4/5
Sprints won: NZL - 0, ESP - 4
Personal fouls: NZL - 8, ESP - 12
Turnover fouls: NZL - 0, ESP - 2
Steals: NZL - 6, ESP - 13
Blocks: NZL - 2, ESP - 3
Assists: NZL - 1, ESP - 6

Classification (5-8) - NZL vs ITA

Final Score: 6-10 (1-1, 2-3, 1-2, 2-4)

There was very little separating the New Zealand and Italian teams in their match up, with the winner of the game to earn a berth in the coveted play-off game for fifth place.

With a goal each on the board by the end of the first quarter, Italy edged ahead by just one goal at the halfway mark - with the score sitting at 3-4. 

The second half of the game saw Italy pull away, outscoring New Zealand by one goal in the third quarter and two goals in the final quarter to take the win. New Zealand put up a great fight, keeping the Italian team honest right until the very end.

Holly Dunn and Gabrielle Doyle both scored a pair of goals, while Emison Styris and Tallulah Goldsworthy added a goal each.

Goals/Shots: NZL - 6/37, ITA - 10/28
Extra player shots: NZL - 0/2, ITA - 5/7
Action shots: NZL - 2/7, ITA - 2/10
Center shots: NZL - 0/0, ITA - 0/4
6m shots: NZL - 4/27, ITA - 0/3
Fastbreak shots: NZL - 0/1, ITA - 2/2
Penalty shots: NZL - 0/0, ITA - 1/2
Sprints won: NZL - 1, ITA - 3
Personal fouls: NZL - 11, ITA - 2
Turnover fouls: NZL - 2, ITA - 4
Steals: NZL - 7, ITA - 1
Blocks: NZL - 3, ITA - 6
Assists: NZL - 0, ITA - 5

Classification (7-8) - NED vs NZL

Final Score: 10-7 (3-3, 1-2, 4-2, 2-0)

With seventh place up for grabs, the final game for New Zealand at the World Aquatics Women's U18 Water Polo Championships provided the opportunity to improve on New Zealand's eighth place finish from the previous edition of the championships.

It was all even through the first quarter, with each team scoring three times. New Zealand pulled ahead in the second quarter, scoring twice to the Netherlands' single goal, with the score standing at 4-5 by the halfway mark of the game. 

The Dutch team upped the ante over the second half of the game, notching a further four goals in the third quarter while our Kiwis notched two goals, and extending their newfound lead in the final quarter to take the win by three goals. 

Our New Zealand team put up a great fight, with seventh place not to be on this occasion.

Holly Dunn scored a hattrick of goals, while Riaan Bryant, Emison Styris, Bianca Pennington, and Tallulha Goldsworthy each scored a goal. 

Goals/Shots: NED - 10/29, NZL - 7/25
Extra player shots: NED - 3/9, NZL - 1/5
Action shots: NED - 4/10, NZL - 1/3
Center shots: NED - 3/5, NZL - 0/0
6m shots: NED - 0/5, NZL - 1/12
Fastbreak shots: NED - 0/0, NZL - 2/2
Penalty shots: NED - 0/0, NZL - 2/3
Sprints won: NED - 3, NZL - 1
Personal fouls: NED - 9, NZL - 9
Turnover fouls: NED - 2, NZL - 0
Steals: NED - 4, NZL - 7
Blocks: NED - 4, NZL - 4
Assists: NED - 3, NZL - 0

New Zealand Women's U18 World Championships Team

Madi Searle (Sea Wolf), Zoe Crisp (Canterbury), Bella Knight (Sea Wolf), Bianca Pennington (Sea Wolf), Ellie Millard (Marist), Emison Styris (Sea Wolf), Holly Dunn (Atlantis City), Katie Marshall (Atlantis City), Gabrielle Doyle (North Harbour), Abby Welsh (Atlantis City), Tallulah Goldsworthy (Atlantis City), Taylor Fisher (Marist), Bailee Swindells (Marist), Riaan Bryant (Marist).

Non-travelling reserves: Olivia Shine (North Harbour), Charlotte Coughlan (Canterbury), Lucy Gilleece (Atlantis City), Lia David (Atlantis City).

Travelling staff: Angie Winstanley-Smith (Head Coach), Facundo Policarpo (Assistant Coach), Rachael Roset (Assistant Coach), Simon Breen (Sports Therapist).

NZWP Referee appointed by World Aquatics: Ryan McEwen