St Stithians College cemented its status as the best team in the Gauteng region after lifting the Top Schools Water Polo Tournament title on the weekend.
The tournament, hosted by Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies), was played over two days and concluded on Sunday.
St Stithians produced a flawless run in the group stage and met the hosts, Affies, in the final, convincingly defeating them 9-3 in a hotly contested affair.
Saints were in Pool B, alongside St David’s Marist Inanda, Pretoria Boys High, Jeppe High School for Boys, and a Grey College Invitational side.
Coach Michael Stewart‘s team topped the group ahead of St David’s, who lost only to Saints.
Affies, meanwhile, enjoyed a similarly successful run in Pool A, beating St John’s College, St Alban’s, King Edward VII (KES), and St Benedict’s College.
That set them up for a semifinal showdown with St David’s, while St Stithians took on St John’s in a Johannesburg derby.
The hosts scored a comfortable 12-7 victory in their semifinal, and St Stithians outplayed St John’s 11-6 to book their place in the title game
The final was closely contested in the opening half, with Saints holding a slim 3-2 advantage over Affies at the break.
They pulled clear in the second half, striking six times while restricting Affies to only one goal.
It was the second time that St Stithians had medalled at a tournament in 2026. They won bronze at the SAC Shield in January.
At the SACS Water Polo Tournament, they made it to the quarterfinals, giving the eventual champions, Bishops, a tough game before going down 5-8.
RESULTS
Pool A
Affies 9-4 St Alban’s College
KES 9-8 St Benedict’s
Affies 7-6 St John’s College
St Alban’s College 4-3 KES
St John’s College 12-4 St Benedict’s
Affies 9-5 KES
St Alban’s College 9-2 St Benedict’s
St John’s College 9-5 KES
Affies 9-4 St Benedict’s
St John’s College 9-5 St Alban’s College
Pool B
Pretoria Boys High 10-4 Grey College Invitational
St David’s 6-5 Jeppe
St Stithians College 13-3 Pretoria Boys High
St David’s 5-3 Grey College Invitational
St Stithians College 13-1 Jeppe
St David’s 6-5 Pretoria Boys High
St Stithians College 12-0 Grey College Invitational
Pretoria Boys High (3) 5-5 (2) Jeppe
St Stithians College 7-1 St David’s
Jeppe 10-8 Grey College Invitational
Semifinals
Affies 12-7 St David’s Marist Inanda
St Stithians College 11-6 St John’s College
Playoffs
St Benedict’s College 11-6 Grey College Invitational (9th/10th)
Jeppe 8-6 KES (7th/8th)
Pretoria Boys High 9-8 St Alban’s College (5th/6th)
St John’s College 12-9 St David’s Marist Inanda (3rd/4th)
St Stithians College 9-3 Affies (Final)
