Australia finished top of their groups in men's and women's play after preliminary play in the Commonwealth Water Polo Championships at the Manchester Aquatics Centre here today.

Canada men claimed top spot in Group B of the men's competition and will play Malta in Saturday's semifinals. Group A winner Australia will clash with England.

Australia hammered Singapore 18-2 and Canada beat New Zealand 8-2 to confirm their positions as the best two teams.

In other men's matches, South Africa crushed Wales 19-6 and England downed Northern Ireland 15-4.

In women's play Olympic champion Australia had a battle on its hands before besting England 12-5, leading by only two goals early in the third period. Canada confirmed second placing with an 11-2 victory over South Africa.

AUSTRALIA - 18 R.Moody (5), T.Jenkins (4), T.Neesham (3), T.Whalan (2), A.Richardson (2), N.Thomas (1), D.Semmens (1)

SINGAPORE - 2 T.Tan (1), N.Tan (1)

Referees: Stéphane Roy (CAN), Chris Freebury (ENG)

Toby Jenkins tapped in a cross pass at 6:32 to give Australia a good start. Thomas Whalan made it 2-0 at 5:33 on counter down the left. Adam Richardson had a big hand in the next two goals with cross passes along the four-metre line to Nathan Thomas at 4:54 and to Toby Jenkins at 3:57 to go 4-0 up. Chock Yee Lau was drawn into a penalty foul by Ryan Moody at 0:33 but Nick Falzon's penalty shot was stopped by Ker Wei Ng. On the next Australian attack, Tim Neesham scored from left-hand catch with just six seconds left and a 5-0 lead at the break. Moody struck from centre forward at 6:17, followed by Jenkins at 5:32 to go 7-0 up. Richardson grabbed one for himself at 4:09 from the same position after stealing it from the Singapore defence when everyone else had gone up field At 3:24, Whalan baulked his way in from the top right and handed off to Neesham, who scored immediately. Dean Semmens scored the luckiest goal of the tournament from centre forward, scooping the ball around and falling a metre short. As Ng grabbed for the ball, more likely fumbled, the ball progressed to the goal-line. Ng lunged for it and accidentally knocked it in at 2:47. Neesham scored his third on counter at 2:14 for an 11-0 lead. Gavin Woods was excluded and Terence Tan converted the extra at 1:49 for an 11-1 margin. Moody struck again at 1:07 on deep left-hand catch. Thomas should have scored but for Ng's excellent blocking, something he did on at least five occasions of the first half. Singapore shifted up a gear and Australia went back into first with a lacklustre effort. Nicholas Tan took an opportunist goal from centre forward at the end of possession time at 5:01. Both sides missed chances for some time and it wasn't until 0:52 that Whalan scored after a Falzon cross pass to the middle top and bring the score to 13-2. Australia called a time-out with 19 seconds left but the ball was passed too often and Woods' successful shot came a fraction after the quarter-time hooter sounded. Moody scored his third when driving down the near post to Thomas who made a short pass just as Moody propped at four metres, turned and scored in the top right at 5:15 of the fourth period. Jenkins scored his fourth on counter, baulking Ng until the last second before a defender closed in at 4:39. Moody scored his fourth and fifth in quick succession, both from deep left-hand catch with the second on extra. They came at 3:39 and 2:48. Richardson collected his second on the break at 1:19 after Singapore had the extra-man at the other end but had the shot blocked. Australia won 18-2.

CANADA -11 J.Begin (3), C.Campbell (3), S.Gardiner (2), W.Horn-Miller (1), C.Bardecki (1), T.Campbell (1)

SOUTH AFRICA - 2 N Poulos (1), C.White(1)

Referees: Andrew Allen (WAL), Peter Balzan (MLT)

South Africa has improved from the competition as its defence attests. Canada, expected to make the final, took until 3:13 before scoring through Joanne Begin. Olympian Waneek Horn Miller made it 2-0 at 1:43. South Africa was not to be denied and Nikki Poulos connected with a shot at 1:27 to narrow the score to 2-1. Cora Campbell, also an Olympian, opened the scoring on extra at 6:21, scoring from the left-hand catch position. Susan Gardiner shot on action after a strong right-hand drive and scored at 4:43 to advance to 4-1. Gardiner swims in for another at 2:48 as Canada starts getting into its stride at 5-1, 2:48 from the break. South Africa puts up the shutters and plays smart on attack, keeping possession for long periods. Canada fails to break through for the rest of the quarter. Christi Bardecki and Cora Campbell scored at 4:40 and 4:09 but Cheryl White scored from centre forward for South Africa while double teamed, lobbing the goalie at 3:03. Cora Campbell scored on the drive, receiving a swift pass from Begin at 0:45 for an 8-2 margin. South Africa is playing the best polo of the tournament by taking the ball in and maintaining possession and getting numerous shots away. Nicki Van Houten, having a great game in goal for South Africa, stops a backhand from Cora Campbell. South Africa coach Brad Rowe calls a time-out at 5:33. Tammy Heydenrych's shot goes high. Tara Campbell scored on the left-hand break at 2:53 to go 9-2 up. Begin shoots from out top at 1:41 and then again 17 seconds from time on the drive when unchallenged, winning 11-2.

SOUTH AFRICA - 19 G.Schultz (4), D.DeBruyn (3), S.Bond (3), S.Daley (3), W.Cowden (2), J.Oosthuizen (2), M.Bond (1), R.Bell (1)

WALES - 6 A.Holt (2), D.Edwards (2), R.Hopkins (1), G.Simons(1)

Referees: Stephen Knights (NZL), Gaetan Turcotte (CAN)

Wales leading goal scorer David Edwards

Darren DeBruyn opened for South Africa on action at 6:34. He swam in on counter at 5:49 to go 2-0 up. Simon Daley had to work hard in centre forward, having two shots, the second successful at 4:50. Wales' Robert Hopkins responded at 4:16 ‹ 3-1. DeBruyn swam in on extra, received the pass and scored at 3:21 for 4-1. Jean Oosthuizen drove down the left to score at 2:04 and Mike Bond rounded out the quarter from in front at 1:29 and a 6-1 advantage. Shaun Bond fumbles the catch but composes himself and shoots through the defence on extra at 6:17 of the second period for a 7-1 lead. Greg Schultz can't believe his luck on extra, being left alone in front of the goalie at 5:01. He received the pass from Ryan Bell, turned and scored. Wales collects a couple of power plays, gaining deflects on three shots. South Africa gains the counter and loses the ball for being offside. David Edwards, who couldn't, or didn't, keep up with the break, was exposed and countered for a goal at 3:27 ‹ 8-2. Wales' James Ross collects his third foul and Bell speeds the ball to Daley on the far low post to score at 2:28. Bell scores himself on extra when Wales offers no resistance at 1:48. Edwards lobs from halfway at 0:40 for his second goal and Wales' third ‹ 10-3. Wayne Cowden converts South Africa's sixth extra-man play at 1:10 for a, 11-3 halftime lead. South Africa switches goalkeepers, Paul Tselentis stepping down in favour of Marvyn Kilian. Shaun Bond scores from a perfect centre forward turn at 5:02 of the third period for stretch the lead to 12-3. Gary Simons draws a penalty foul on South Africa's Alastair Stewart at 1:49 and steps up to take and score the penalty shot to narrow the margin to 12-4. Edwards was ejected and Cowden fires in from the top with eight seconds left for a 13-4 edge. Schultz gained his second on extra at 6:32 and Andy Holt replied for Wales with a sharp shot on the next attack at 6:15 ‹ 14-5. Wales has a time-out at 3:32 but Kilian stops the shot on the restart. Schultz powers the ball in on extra at 2:33 for a 16-6 lead. Shaun Bond scores on counter at 1:53 and the scores goes out to 17-6. Oosthuizen is fouled and he shoots on extra after a quick one-two at 0:59. Shaun Bond goes for his third major but the shot is blocked. The second shot soars over the crossbar. Schultz scores his fourth at 0:09 for a 19-6 victory.

CANADA - 8 T.Bader (1), M.Sabo (1), T.Marks (1), V.Cosic (1), K.Mitchell (1), N.Miller (1), M.Gordon (1), I.Lark (1)

NEW ZEALAND - 2 A. Stockdale (1), T.Grace (1)

Referees: Ian Melliar (RSA), Tad Detko (ENG)

Ted Bader gave Canada the start it wanted with a power shot at 5:37 and skipper Mikeal Sabo fired in one off centre forward at 3:43 but there the scoring ended as both teams used excellent defence with the goalkeepers on fire. Solid defence was the order of the second quarter, as well, with the sole goal coming through Thomas Marks at 2:10, shooting low into the bottom right as Kiwi goalkeeper Zane McAlpine was unsighted. Canada leads 3-0. Vladimir Cosic used his superior strength to score while under water and guarded by two players at 6:05, a fine feat for one so young ‹ 18 years of age. Michael Gordon is fouled out at 5:38 in the fourth and Kiwi coach Wouly de Bie calls a time-out. Richard Claridge shoots from the side but is blocked. he regains the ball and flings it across to Aaron Stockdale on the far right who gets New Zealand on the board at 5:18 and a 4-1 scoreline. Kevin Mitchell strikes back on the next attack for a 5-1 lead at 4:47. Sabo was ejected and Tim Grace converts from the near post after a Stockdale pass to narrow the game to 5-2 at 3:14. Grace has another shot on counter but defence tips the ball for a corner. Jaques Venter scoops a shoot but another corner. Canada steals the ball. Nat Miller slices the ball in from outside at 1:59 for a 6-2 lead, then Michael Gordon scores on counter at 1:21. Iain Lark scores an identical goal at 1:04 to go 8-2 up. New Zealand has a time-out at 0:24. Grace's shot hits Robin Randall in goal. Another shot is also stopped by Randall to round out the game.

AUSTRALIA - 12 Y.Higgins (5), J.Flaskas (2), J.Fox (2), M.Rippon (1), J.Taylor (1), K.Gynther (1)

ENGLAND - 5 A.Norris (2), S.Winter (1), B.Cowton (1), L.Davies (1)

Referees: Guy Pinker (RSA), Thomas Ng (SNG)

Julia Flaskas opens the scoring for the Olympic champion at 6:07 on a drive down the left hand side of the goal. Emma Knox makes her first save for the Aussies on an England extra attack. Rebecca Rippon draws a penalty foul on Helen Dacre and skipper Yvette Higgins converts at 5:02. Flaskas scores her second on counter with Rebecca Rippon whipping the ball across the face of goal to Flaskas at 3:07 ‹ 3-0.
English goalkeeper Jennifer Braddock is having a blinder of a game, stoping plenty of shots, at one stage three in a row. At 3:44, Melissa Rippon fired in a long shot to go 4-0 up at the end of possession time. Jo Fox already has two majors and a handful of other Aussies have spent time out of the pool. Siobhan Winter fed the hunger of the large English crowd when she brought up the first goal on extra at 2:05. Higgins replied for Australia at
1:48 to ease out to 5-1.
The pressure was on in the opening minutes and Australia finds it hard to penetrate with Braddock softening the impact of all shots. Andrea Norris finds herself clear at 5:05 and all of a sudden we have a game with the score at 5-3. Norris is excluded and Higgins converts from left-hand catch at 4:31 and out to 6-3 again. Jodie Taylor increases the lead by slipping in a pass from Higgins at 3:21, seemingly effortlessly, which is in complete contrast to the match so far. Larissa Davies is excluded and Higgins converts at 2:22. England calls a time-out at 2:18 when 8-3 down. Kate Gynther drives the length of the field to score at 1:45. Nikita Cuffe is excluded but England's first shot is blocked. Winter regroups, lobs Knox but the ball hits the far post. Davies stretches in a taps the ball over the line at 1:13. Jo Fox scores on extra at 0:53 to go 10-4 up.
Cuffe picks up her second ejection and England has a time-out at 6:09 of the fourth period. Knox tips over Cowton's shot. The pass crosses to the centre and Gynther commits a penalty foul, sending Norris to the line. She converts at 5:44. Liz Green pulls off a nice steal but the England charge comes to nought, as does Australia's next attack. Norris tries for her third goal but it bobbles along the crossbar. Rebecca Rippon drives up the right and Fox
was waiting on two metres for the pass, which she sent to the top right, outfoxing Braddock at 3:54, taking the game further from England's grasp 11-5. Australia calls a time-out at 2:07 but Braddock stopped the point-blank shot on the restart. Higgins scores her fifth goal four seconds from time after an interchange with Cuffe, for a 12-5 victory.

ENGLAND - 15 C.Burgess (4), C.Figes (3), C.Kirby (3), G.Martin-Dye (1), S.Love (1), J.Read (1), D.Williams (1), M.Cowburn (1)

NORTHERN IRELAND - 4 D.Kirk (1), M.Campfield (1), R.McGlue (1), C.French (1)

Referees: Noel Harrod (AUS), Scott Schweickle (AUS)

Craig Figes started the scoring at 5:41, followed by Chris Kirby at 4:50. Graham Martin-Dye had a long drive down the right for an easy goal at 4:12 and a 3-0 lead for England. Denver Kirk replied for Northern Ireland at 3:45 from centre forward. Colin Burgess fired one in from close at 3:29 and Michael Campfield returned the favour for the Irish at 2:14 and a 4-2 scoreline. Burgess sent in another from in front at 1:50 while Sean Love
score exactly a minute later with a 10m shot into the top right. Jerome Read coveted an Irish mistake and swam with the ball from his nine-metre mark all the way to beat Irish goalkeeper Chris Hodgekinson six seconds from time for a 7-2 lead.
Daniel Williams scores England's eighth goal at 2:52 in what is a tight quarter after a dazzling start by both teams. Shots are going high and wide with plenty of steals as well. Rownan McGlue fires wild after spinning like a top at 0:33 and his shot goes in the top right from seven metres. Figes gets his second and England's ninth with an extra-man goal two seconds from time.
Burgess opens the second half on extra at 6:37 in the third period. Chris French adds another for Northern Ireland at 2:17 and Figes gets his third for England at 11-4 on extra after Kirk goes for his third major. Michael Cowburn gets an extra-man goal at 0:33 and England has a healthy 12-4 difference.
Kirby wastes no time in the fourth period with a backhander which creases the crossbar and shoots over the line at 6:32. Kirby finds the next goal easier, moving out of centre forward, receiving a pass, lying on his back and lobbing the goalie at 5:37. He nearly gets another at 4:12 but Hodgkinson blocks and the Irish call a time-out at 4:10. A neat two-pass move on counter gives Burgess a gift at 3:29 and England a 15-4 lead.