New champions were crowned at the St Stithians College Invitational Water Polo Tournament in Johannesburg on Sunday.
Clarendon High School for Girls dethroned the defending champion, St Stithians, and Rondebosch Boys’ High completed an unbeaten run in the boys’ section with a win over Hilton College.
Clarendon defeated Saints 11-6 in a pulsating final, while Bosch was forced to work extremely hard for a 14-11 win over Hilton.
It was Clarendon’s first Saints Invitational title since the tournament began in 1994. Meanwhile, Bosch won it for a third time, having previously lifted the silverware in 2016 and 2017.
Boys’ Recap
The boys’ final was expected to deliver fireworks, and the contest lived up to expectations.
There was little to separate the teams early on, but a flood of goals after the third minute raised the adrenaline level. By the end of the first chukka, the teams were level at 4-4.
In the second chukka, the match opened up, and Bosch found their rhythm, with their talisman, Noah Reiback, posing a big threat on attack.
Hilton’s goalkeeper, Lwango Ntantala, was up for the challenge and pulled off some crucial saves, but Rondebosch edged ahead, leading 7-6 at halftime.
After the break, the Capetonians didn’t squander the lead they had worked so hard to gain, and they outscored Hilton 3-2 in the third chukka to carry a 10-8 advantage into the final chukka.
Rondebosch maintained their pressure on Hilton, and the teams traded goals, making it 13-11 to Bosch. Hilton College, however, had a golden opportunity to cut the deficit when coach Paul Martin called a timeout in a bid to fashion another scoring move, but it didn’t pan out.
On the other end, Rondebosch scored once more to win 14-11 and secure the silverware.
Girls’ Recap
Clarendon was a surprise package early on at the Saints Invitational, but soon their opposition understood the KuGompo City girls formed a formidable unit. They went from strength to strength, putting together an incredible run to the final.
After edging out another impressive side, St Anne’s DSG, 7-6 in the semifinals, they took on the defending champion, St Stithians, in the title game.
Despite Saints enjoying hometown support, Clarendon dominated the contest from the start.
They scored an imposing six goals in the opening chukka, thanks to strikes by Hannah Hattingh (2), Kate van Biljon (2), Emily Hattingh, and Kate Booyens, and took an eye-opening 6-2 lead into the second chukka.
They continued to build up steam, outscoring St Stithians 3-1 in the next chukka, to cruise into halftime with a comfortable 9-3 advantage.
To their credit, St Stithians showed plenty of fight in the second half and, although coach Megan Sileno‘s troops executed well, Clarendon was out of reach.
Saints outscored the Eastern Cape side 3-2 in the second half, but a goal by Mackenzie Abrams sealed the victory, and Clarendon won by five goals.
It was Clarendon’s second tournament win in two weeks, following their title-winning success at the Woodridge Stayers Water Polo Tournament.
RESULTS
BOYS
Jeppe 12-6 Woodridge (19th/20th)
Pretoria Boys High 12-11 St David’s (17th/18th)
St Benedict’s 12-9 St Peter’s (15th/16th)
KES 7-4 Durban High School (13th/14th)
Reddam Constantia 13-9 Michaelhouse (11th/12th)
SACS 8-2 Grey High (9th/10th)
St John’s 9-3 Affies (7th/8th)
Bishops 9-7 Kearsney (5th/6th)
St Stithians (4) 7-7 (2) St Andrew’s College (3rd/4th)
Rondebosch 14-11 Hilton College (Final)
GIRLS
Beaulieu College 11-7 Crawford Lonehill (19th/20th)
Woodridge 6-5 St Dominic’s (17th/18th)
Roedean 6-2 Danville Park (15th/16th)
St Peter’s 9-7 Kingsmead (13th/14th)
St Mary’s Waverley 14-5 Kingswood (11th/12th)
Pearson 7-6 Herschel (9th/10th)
Reddam Bedfordview 7-4 Collegiate (7th/8th)
DSG Makhanda 8-4 Reddam Constantia (5th/6th)
St Anne’s 9-4 Durban Girls’ College (3rd/4th)
Clarendon 11-6 St Stithians (Final)
