Story by Jon Nio

Singapore Sports School, Thursday, July 31, 2008 – Germany beat Australia 12-5 on Day One of the Pre-Olympics Water Polo Invitational. The national teams are in town together with seven other Olympic Water Polo teams to acclimatise for the Beijing Olympic Games.

The game started slow with both teams trying to adapt to the warm and humid conditions despite a short warm up session before the opening game. The first quarter also saw the nimble Australians trying to outmaneuver the Germans with limited success and their only reward was a solitary goal from Sam McGregor in an extra man situation.

Both teams picked up the pace in the second quarter with more intense action and attempts at goal. The Germans took the lead with goals from marksman Tobias Kreuzmann and Thomas Schwertwitis. Australia came right back into the game to restore the lead at 3-2 with Jamie Beadsworth and Sam McGregor from a quick offhand shot. Heiko Nossek immediately pulled a goal back to end the quarter tied at 3-3.

At half time, both teams started with their 2nd choice goalkeepers and this proved the turning point of the game. Captain Thomas Whalan opened the scoring for Australia in the third quarter to take a brief 4-3 lead but it was the Germans who dominated from this point onwards. Thomas Schwertwitis immediately drew level on the restart and with a tactical timeout, the Germans took control thereafter and ended the third quarter with a two goal lead at 5-3.

The final quarter was a lop-sided affair. The Germans, led by Tobias Kreuzmann, outplayed the Australians in most departments. Tobias ended the game as a top scorer with 4 goals.

Australia: James Stanton; Richie Campbell; Trent Franklin; Pietro Figlioli; Robert Maitland; Anthony Martin; Timothy Neesham; Sam McGregor (2); Thomas Whalan (1); Gavin Woods (1); Rhys Howden; Jamie Beadsworth (1); Rafael Sterk
COACH: John Fox

Germany: Alexander Tchigir; Florian Naroska; Julian Real (1); Marko Savic; Marko Stamm; Marc Politze (1); Heiko Nossek (3); Thomas Schwertwitis (2); Tobias Kreuzmann (4); Moritz Oeler; Andreas Schlotterbeck (1); Soren Mackeben; Michael Zellmer; Eric Bukowski; Timo Purschke
COACH: Hagan Stamm

Referees: Mladen Rak and Tan Hong Boon