New champions will be crowned in the boys’ section, while Hudson Park will defend the girls’ title at the Woodridge Stayers Water Polo Tournament this weekend.
Hosted by Woodridge College in Thornhill, the annual event runs from Thursday, 8 October, to Sunday, 11 October.
It’s the fourth edition of the tournament, which was created to provide valuable game time for players who are remaining in school the following year.
Hudson Park won the girls’ section last year after beating Glenwood House 9-5 in the final in their maiden appearance.
On the boys’ side, Wynberg Boys’ High, from Cape Town, secured gold after edging out Selborne College 4-3 in a thrilling final.
While Hudson, led by coach David Carter, is back to defend the title, Wynberg won’t be taking part in this year’s tournament.
There are 16 boys’ teams, divided into four groups.
The winner of the inaugural tournament, Selborne College, is in Pool A and will face Glenwood House, Hudson Park, and Kingswood College.
Grey High missed out on the final, losing in the semifinals, and had to settle for the bronze medals. They are in Pool B alongside the hosts, Woodridge College, Merrifield College, and Somerset College, from the Western Cape.
Stirling High will aim to improve on a fourth-place finish in 2025, but they face stern opposition in Pool C. The KuGompo school takes on Grey College, the Grey High 2nd team, and the unpredictable Oakhill College.
The winner of the tournament in 2024, St Andrew’s College, is in Pool D and will have to beat Pearson High, NMB Invitational, and Paarl Boys’ High if they are to get their hands on the silverware again.
In the girls’ section, the teams are split into two groups of six.
Hudson Park is in a tough Pool A alongside their town rivals, Stirling High, Oakhill College, Collegiate Girls’ High, Woodridge College, and Glenwood House.
DSG Makhanda, who recently impressed at the St Anne’s Water Polo Tournament, where they finished third, will also be in action in Pool B. They previously won the tournament in 2024.
They’ll be up against Pearson, Clarendon, Merrifield, Somerset College, and Steyn City, from Gauteng.
The boys’ action kicks off on Thursday with a clash between Grey High and Merrifield College at 13:40.
Meanwhile, in the other pool, the Merrifield College girls’ side will battle DSG Makhanda.
GROUPS
BOYS
Pool A: Selborne College, Glenwood House, Hudson Park, Kingswood College
Pool B: Grey High, Woodridge College, Merrifield College, Somerset College
Pool C: Stirling High, Grey College, Grey High 2nd, Oakhill College
Pool D: St Andrew’s College, Pearson High, NMB Invitational, Paarl Boys’ High
GIRLS
Pool A: Stirling High, Oakhill College, Collegiate Girls’ High, Woodridge College, Hudson Park, Glenwood House
Pool B: Pearson, Clarendon, Merrifield, Somerset College, DSG Makhanda, Steyn City
FIXTURES
Day 1
Boys
Main Pool
14:20 – Grey High 2nds vs Oakhill College
15:00 – Pearson High vs NMB Invitational
17:00 – Paarl Boys’ High vs St Andrew’s College
17:40 – Steyn City vs Pearson High
Carter Pool
13:40 – Grey High vs Merrifield College
15:40 – Woodridge College vs Merrifield College
17:00 – Hudson Park vs Kingswood College
Girls
Main Pool
13:00 – Merrifield College vs DSG Makhanda
13:40 – Glenwood House vs Oakhill College
15:40 – DSG Makhanda vs Pearson High
16:20 – Oakhill College vs Woodridge College
18:20 – Clarendon vs Somerset College
Carter Pool
13:00 – Clarendon vs Pearson High
14:20 – Collegiate vs Woodridge College
15:00 – Clarendon vs Merrifield College
16:20 – Collegiate vs Hudson Park
