The KZN boys’ teams for the 51st Schools Water Polo South Africa (SWPSA) Inter-Provincial Tournament (IPT), taking place in Cape Town from 5 to 9 December, have been announced.
Scott Mantle is the coach of the U19A side, assisted by Jarred Applegryn. They’ve enjoyed a fine season with Northwood, helping the Knights to challenge the established top three in KZN: Hilton College, Kearsney College, and Clifton College.
The make-up of the U19 side is diverse, with no school having more than three players in the squad.
Clifton, the recent winners of the KZN Top 10 Water Polo Tournament U19 title, supplies Daniel Northard, Nabil Bejia, and goalkeeper Izah Roux. Michaelhouse provides Jed Reilly, Tane Greene, and goalkeeper Elliot Springate.
Kearsney, with Max Mills and James Whatmore; Westville, with Drew Hollingsworth and Henry Harker; Hilton, with Bradley van Loggerenberg and Liam Casey; and Northwood, with Jake Jones and John Watkins, each had two players selected.
Last year, in Johannesburg, KZN finished third, defeating Northerns 14-7 to win bronze. Central Gauteng won the title, edging out Western Province 12-11 in the final.
Glenwood‘s Rob Ambler, who coached the SA u18 team that contested the World Championships in Rio Maior, Portugal, earlier this year, takes charge of the U16 squad and is assisted by Northwood’s Connor Grant. Ambler previously led the KZN side to the U16 IPT title in 2023 in Gqeberha, and they’re the defending champions this year.
The squad features four Clifton boys, four from Hilton, three from Kearsney, two from Northwood, and one each from Westville and Durban High School (DHS).
Kearsney’s all-conquering U15A side, the recent winners of the KZN Top 10 title and Wynberg Boys’ High’s Ian Melliar Water Polo Tournament (and the Nick U16 Rey Water Polo Tournament, with a side that featured only three U16 players), has four players in the KZN side, including Cai Terblanche, the Player of the Tournament at the Ian Melliar tournament.
Hilton, third at the Ian Melliar tournament, also has four players in the squad. Michaelhouse has three, and Clifton and Westville have one each.
Maritzburg College‘s Darren Sherriff is the head coach, with Cameron Diedricks of DHS assisting him.
Like the U16 side, the KZN U15 team won the IPT title in 2025.
Over the past weekend, Hilton College’s U14A side won the KZN Top 10 Water Polo Tournament, beating Kearsney 7-3 in the final, and their success is reflected in the KZN U14 squad, with five of their boys cracking the nod. Kearsney has three players in the line-up, Michaelhouse two, while Clifton, Maritzburg College, and Northwood each provide one player.
The head coach is Darren Stone of Glenwood, and his assistant is James Bentley of Hilton College.
SQUADS AND VENUES
U19A – Rondebosch Boys’ High and Newlands Main Pool
Bradley van Loggerenberg (Hilton), Daniel Nothard (Clifton), Drew Hollingsworth (Westville), Elliot Springate (Michaelhouse), Henry Harker (Westville), Izah Roux (Clifton), Jake Jones (Northwood), James Whatmore (Kearsney), Jed Reilly (Michaelhouse), John Watkins (Northwood), Liam Casey (Hilton), Max Mills (Kearsney), Nabil Bejia (Clifton), Tane Greene (Michaelhouse).
Head coach: Scott Mantle (Northwood). Assistant coach: Jarred Appelgryn (Northwood).
U16A – Bishops Main Pool
Benji Keeton (Hilton), Blake de Bruin (Northwood), Carter Seiler (Clifton), Casey Marks (Hilton), Cristiano Sandri (Kearsney), Cruz Chapman (Clifton), Dru Mills (Kearsney), Everraud Raynard (Westville), Finn Mallett (Northwood), Josh Watson (Clifton), Lincoln Burger (Hilton), Max Fowlds (Clifton), Michael Spooner (DHS), Oliver Hunter (Hilton).
Head coach: Rob Ambler (Glenwood). Assistant coach: Connor Grant (Northwood).
U15A – Westerford High School
Andrew van Onselen (Michaelhouse), Blake Gaines (Kearsney), Cai Terblanche (Kearsney), Cooper Morrison (Michaelhouse), Cruz Marks (Hilton), Eddy Harker (Westville), Isaac Mavulana (Michaelhouse), Jack Hill (Hilton), Jayden Dellar (Kearsney), Jonty Mun-Gavin (Clifton), Malachi Mogale (Hilton), Matthew Warner (Hilton), Nicholas Caley (Kearsney), Rupert Keeton (Hilton).
Head coach: Darren Sherriff (Maritzburg College). Assistant coach: Cameron Diedricks (DHS).
U14A – Western Province Preparatory School
Alwaba Ntantala (Hilton), Ben Raubenheimer (Hilton), Brad Bowen (Michaelhouse), Elvis Peltz (Hilton), Evan Halstead (Hilton), James Gaddi (Maritzburg College), Joel Keary (Kearsney), Mason Mamotte (Kearsney), Matthew Pomakov (Clifton), Milan Garach (Hilton), Mpilo Khomo (Michaelhouse), Noah Deeb (Northwood), Troy Botha (Kearsney), Tyler Nixon (Maritzburg College).
Head coach: Darren Stone (Glenwood). Assistant coach: James Bentley (Hilton).
