Hosts off to hot start at Clifton Water Polo Tournament

Clifton College was on fire in the opening game of the Clifton Water Polo Tournament on Wednesday, roaring their way to a one-sided 21-4 victory over Maritzburg College at the Clifton Aquatic Centre.

In the lead-up to the event, Clifton’s coach Pierre le Roux had expressed confidence and belief in his young team, and their performance amplified his message.

While they might lack the experience of some of the other teams, the hosts demonstrated their determination to make a title run in home waters.

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In Wednesday’s other Pool A clash, Selborne College and Reddam House Constantia delivered a fascinating contest. The Cape Town school dominated the early going, opening up a healthy 5-1 lead, but Selborne slowly started to claw their way back into the game.

The gap was down to three goals, when Reddam led 9-6, but Selborne, then, seized control of the match to come away with a gritty 10-9 victory.

Kearsney and Northwood opened the action in Pool B, producing a fascinating rollercoaster ride of fluctuating fortunes. The first quarter was relatively quiet, with the Knights shading it 2-1, but, from there, the tempo ramped up.

Kearsney levelled at 4-4 but, right on the stroke of halftime, John Watkins struck to give Northwood a one-goal lead.

Coach Nick Rodda‘s Kearsney side, however, drew even and then opened up a 9-7 lead. Northwood was far from done and soon made it 9-9.

Kearsney inched in front again, but Northwood worked their way up the pool and created a clear-cut chance, but goalkeeper Rourke Stacey pulled off a superb save to deny them. Still, the Knights kept battling and Callum Kidd fired a left-arm rocket into the far corner to make it 10-10.

With a minute to play, Kearsney edged in front after sharp, quick ball movement opened up a gap for Thomas Francke in front of the Northwood net, and he made no mistake. Northwood drew level, though, after a long-range shot deflected up and over the goalkeeper to make it 11-11.

With less than a minute to go, Thomas Aylward unzipped a missile into the far corner, and Kearsney escaped with a heart-pounding 12-11 victory.

In Pool B’s other game, Paul Roos Gimnasium found the going easier against Grey College, swamping the Bloemfontein boys 17-5.

Pool C’s opener pitted Durban High School (DHS) against Westville Boys’ High. It was 4-4 at one point, but Westville then pulled 9-5 ahead. It looked as if they had the game in the bag, but DHS, with typical character, made a game of it in the fourth quarter.

Chipping away, they brought it back to 8-9, but they had left themselves a little too much to do, and Westville claimed a one-goal win.

The 2022 champions and last year’s runners-up, St John’s College, also won by one goal, edging out a game Affies‘ side 6-5.

It was Hilton against Michaelhouse in Pool D’s first match, and Hilton – on paper one of the title contenders – duly delivered, outplaying their arch-rivals 14-8.

‘House goalkeeper Elliot Springate, selected for the KZN Schools u19 side, was kept busy, but not even his excellent shot-stopping could prevent Hilton from taking a comfortable victory.

The last game of the day, and Pool D’s second match, featured the two-time defending champions, SACS, against King Edward VII (KES).

The Capetonians made a statement that they’re in Durban with their eyes firmly focused on claiming on a hat-trick of Clifton Water Polo Tournament titles by doubling up KES, scoring an emphatic 12-6 win.

Thursday’s schedule features 16 games, which will conclude with the places in each of the four groups decided. There’s an early start at 07:00, with Hilton eyeing a win, which would ensure them a quarterfinal place, when they take on KES.

A long day will wrap up with a 19:30 contest between Reddam House Constantia and Maritzburg College.

RESULTS

Pool A

Clifton College 21-4 Maritzburg College
Selborne College 10-9 Reddam House Constantia

Pool B

Kearsney College 12-11 Northwood School
Paul Roos Gimnasium 17-5 Grey College

Pool C

Durban High School 8-9 Westville Boys’ High
St John’s College 6-5 Affies

Pool D

Hilton College 14-8 Michaelhouse
SACS 12-6 KES

FIXTURES

Thursday, 26 September

Game 9 – 07:00 – Pool D – Hilton vs KES
Game 10 – 07:50 – Pool C – St John’s vs DHS
Game 11 – 08:40 – Pool B – Kearsney vs Grey College
Game 12 – 09:30 – Pool A – Clifton vs Reddam Constantia
Game 13 – 10:20 – Pool D – Michaelhouse vs SACS
Game 14 – 11:10 – Pool C – Westville vs Affies
Game 15 – 12:00 – Pool B – Paul Roos vs Northwood
Game 16 – 12:50 – Pool A – Selborne vs Maritzburg College
Game 17 – 13:40 – Pool D – Hilton vs SACS
Game 18 – 14:30 – Pool C – St John’s vs Westville
Game 19 – 15:20 – Pool B – Kearsney vs Paul Roos
Game 20 – 16:10 – Pool A – Clifton vs Selborne
Game 21 – 17:00 – Pool D – KES vs Michaelhouse
Game 22 – 17:50 – Pool C – Affies vs DHS
Game 23 – 18:40 – Pool B – Grey College vs Northwood
Game 24 – 19:30 – Pool A – Reddam Constantia vs Maritzburg College

Friday, 26 September

Game 25 – 08:00 – 2nd Pool A vs 3rd Pool C
Game 26 – 09:00 – 2nd Pool B vs 3rd Pool D
Game 27 – 10:00 – 3rd Pool A vs 2nd Pool C
Game 28 – 11:00 – 3rd Pool B vs 2nd Pool D
Game 29 – 13:00 – Loser 25 vs Pool D
Game 30 – 14:00 – Loser 26 – 4th Pool A
Game 31 – 15:00 – Loser 27 – 4th Pool B
Game 32 – 16:00 – Loser 28 – 4th Pool C

18:00 – Parents Social Evening

Saturday, 27 September

Game 33 – 07:00 – QF1 – 1st Pool D vs Winner 27
Game 34 – 08:00 – QF2 – 1st Pool C vs Winner 28
Game 35 – 09:00 – QF3 – 1st Pool B vs Winner 25
Game 36 – 10:00 – QF4 – 1st Pool A vs Winner 26
Game 37 – 11:00 – Winner 29 vs Winner 30
Game 38 – 12:00 – Winner 31 vs Winner 32
Game 39 – 13:00 – Loser 29 vs Loser 30
Game 40 – 14:00 – Loser 31 vs Loser 32
Game 41 – 15:00 – Plate SF 1 – Loser 33 vs Loser 35
Game 42 – 16:00 – Plate SF 2 – Loser 34 vs Loser 36

South Africa vs Argentina – Viewing on five big screen TVs

Game 43 – 19:30 – SF 1 – Winner 33 vs Winner 35
Game 44 – 20:30 – SF 2 – Winner 34 vs Winner 36

Sunday, 28 September

Game 45 – 07:00 – 15/16 – Loser 40 vs Loser 39
Game 46 – 07:50 – 13/14 – Winner 40 vs Winner 39
Game 47 – 08:40 – 11/12 – Loser 37 vs Loser 38
Game 48 – 09:30 – 9/10 – Winner 37 vs Winner 38
Game 49 – 10:20 – 7/8 – Loser 41 vs Loser 42
Game 50 – 11:10 – 5/6 – Winner 41 vs Winner 42
Game 51 – 12:00 – 3/4 – Loser 44 vs Loser 43
Game 52 – 13:00 – 1/2 – Winner 44 vs Winner 43

14:00 – Prize Giving