Clarendon and Hudson Park will reignite their rivalry on day two of the Ooskus Gimnasium Sports Festival. Photo: Helena Dalbock
The 2025 schoolgirls’ hockey season will kick into full gear in East London this weekend at the Hoërskool Ooskus Gimnasium Sports Festival.
The annual event, formerly known as the Grens Festival, will host the town’s best girls’ ho ckey teams from 7-8 March at the Buco AstroTurf in Bunkers Hill.
The pre-season tournament presents coaches with a chance to see their players in action for the first time before the Border Schools Day and Greg Beling Festival later this month.
In attendance will be East London’s three powerhouses: Hudson Park High School, Clarendon High School for Girls, and Stirling High School.
That trio was, by far, the best of the girls’ teams in the Border region in 2024, producing entertaining showdowns when they clashed.
They will be joined by the hosts, along with Lilyfontein School, Merrifield College, Kingsridge High School, Greenpoint, and Hangklip High School, from Komani. Making an early season impression will be on the agenda for those teams.
Hudson, under the tutelage of coach Jerry Snyman, will enter the new season with the bulk of their team from 2024 after they said goodbye to just two players, Tarelle Jones and Nandile Ndava. Four u16 players have moved up to join a squad that should be pretty solid and consistent.
They will, in the early going, however, have to make do without two key players, Busiwe Mayekiso and Melnique Langley, who are both recovering from knee injuries.
In 2024, Hudson played 36 matches, won 27, and lost only seven times. They are expected to impress again.
Stirling, on the other hand, bade farewell to many key and influential players at the end of 2024. Coach Michael Dettmer will be banking on his youngsters to step up this year, alongside newly elected captain Bella Graham.
The experienced Kishka Baartman is another player to keep an eye on, while newbies, Cayleigh Wanckel and Julia Kockett, will be keen to impress for the green and white hoops this season.
Clarendon is another interesting team that could make its mark in the Eastern Cape in 2025.
They’ve undergone significant changes and have a mix of youth and experience in their locker room.
Coach Luaan Sedras bade farewell to eight players last season and has promoted seven youngsters from the u16s. The team has also been bolstered by the return of Caroline Kretzmann from a long-term injury.
Clarendon will aim to draw inspiration from their Spar Challenge triumph last season, in which they defeated Hudson Park in the final in a penalty shootout to win the East London section of the tournament.
Cara Knott is one of their most experienced campaigners and will don the captain’s armband.
Action at the Ooskus Gimnasium Festival begins with a meeting between the hosts and Lilyfontein on Friday at 12:00. Hudson faces Stirling at 13:20 in what should be the match of the day.
FIXTURES
Friday, 7 March
12:00 – Lilyfontein vs Ooskus Gimnasium; 12:40 – Clarendon vs Merrifield; 13:20 – Hudson vs Stirling High; 14:00 – Ooskus Gimnasium vs Hudson 2nds; 14:40 – Kingsridge High School vs Greenpoint; 15:20 – Hangklip vs Hudson 2nds; 16:00 – Merrifield vs Ooskus Gimnasium.
Saturday, 8 March
08:00 – Ooskus Gimnasium vs Hangklif; 08:40 – Stirling High vs Merrifield; 09:20 – Kingsridge High School vs Hudson 2nds; 10:00 – Lilyfontein vs Greenpoint; 10:40 – Clarendon vs Stirling High; 11:20 – Ooskus Gimnasium vs Kingsridge High School; 12:00 – Lilyfontein vs Hudson 2nds; 12:40 – Hangklip vs Hudson; 13:20 – Kingsridge High School vs Clarendon; 14:00 – Greenpoint vs Hangklip; 14:40 – Stirling High vs Lilyfontein; 15:20 – Clarendon vs Hudson.
Rhenish Girls’ High School celebrates winning the 4M Swimming Gala. Photo: Supplied
Rhenish Girls’ High School showed class and composure on their way to a 19th consecutive win in the 4M Swimming Gala, which was hosted by Hoër Meisieskool Bloemhof in late February.
The schools in attendance were Bloemhof, Rhenish, Paarl Girls’ High, and La Rochelle.
The event delivered thrills in the u13, u15, and u18 age groups, with Rhenish dominating the u15 and u18 team races, winning those age groups by 200 and 208 points, respectively.
They finished second in the u13 section with 155.50 points. Girls’ High recorded a convincing win with an impressive 219.50 points.
Overall, Rhenish won with 603.52 points, while Paarl Girls’ High placed second, with 591.53.
Many of Rhenish’s points came from outstanding individual performances, with Grace Morris, one of their top performers, scoring more points for her team than any other swimmer in the gala. She dominated the u18 100m individual medley, which she won by four seconds over second-placed Jana Lombard, of Bloemhof.
Morris also won the 50m freestyle and improved her personal best of 26.63, which she had set five days before the event.
Another leading performer for Rhenish was Ava-Loren van Galen, who sprinted to victory in the u15 50m backstroke in 32.08 seconds, two seconds clear of Girls’ High’s Lily Hebler.
With a lineup of Morris, Danielle Cronjé, Maya Laubscher, and Tayler Morton, Rhenish also won the u18 100m freestyle relay in a time of 53.36. Girls’ High placed second, with Bloemhof in third, and La Rochelle in fourth.
Rhenish captain Tayler Morton capped off a superb day for her school by winning the 400m freestyle in 4:47.36.
Individual Rankings
u13 Individual Scores
1 Livvy Fenner – Paarl Girls’ High – 45 points
2 Liane Coetzee – La Rochelle – 42 points
3 Nicola Hawley – Paarl Girls’ High – 39 points
4 Storm Bircher – Rhenish – 36 points
5 Isabella Oliver – Paarl Girls’ High – 34 points
6 Katie van Wyk – Rhenish – 31 points
6 Ellen Faul – Paarl Girls’ High – 31 points
8 Ella Steenkamp – Rhenish – 27 points
9 Isabella Mare – Rhenish – 20 points
10 Jani Barkhuysen – Bloemhof – 19 points
A pulsating showdown went down to the wire with the sides playing to an 8-8 tie in regulation time.
In the shootout, Bishops kept their composure and converted four of their five chances while Hilton misfired twice.
Both teams were superb throughout the tournament and went into the final unbeaten after breezing through the pool stage and knockout rounds.
Their dominance was reflected in the Team of the Tournament, which was announced after the presentation of the winner’s trophy.
Both finalists had three players each in the 14-player squad, with the Player of the Tournament, Tristan Uys, of Hilton College, headlining the lineup. He was joined by his teammates, Mitchel Garreau, and goalkeeper, Lwango Ntantala.
Garreau and Uys were the standout players for Hilton in the final and scored a combined seven goals, while Thomas Taylor netted the eighth goal. All three goal scorers represented the KZN u19A team at the School Water Polo South Africa Inter-Provincial Tournament in East London in December 2024.
The champions, Bishops, were represented by the dangerous Matt Fenn, Timothy Young, and shot-stopper Michael Mafunda.
Fenn ended the tournament as the top goal scorer, with a whopping 24 goals, while Young received the Defender of the Tournament accolade.
Mafunda, who was named by SuperSport Schools Plus as one of five players to watch, was rock solid in the last line of defence.
The 2024 winners, Rondebosch Boys’ High, who finished in fourth place this time around, had Noah Reiback and Jack Robinson included. Meanwhile, the bronze medal winners, St Stithians College provided James Crick and Declan Wood to the Team of the Tournament.
SACS’ dangerman Jandro Rojo-Roos finished the tournament with 22 goals, which earned him selection, while Selborne College’s Liam Hansen cracked the nod, too.
Kearsney College, who were back at the KES tournament for the first time in a while, lost only once and finished fifth. They had their captain James Pohl and Thomas Aylward included in the Team of the Tournament.
Special Awards
Player of the Tournament: Tristan Uys Goalkeeper of the Tournament: Lwango Ntantala Defender of the Tournament: Timothy Young
Team of the Tournament
Michael Mafunda, Matt Fenn, Timothy Young (Bishops), Noah Reiback, Jack Robinson (Rondebosch Boys’ High), Jandro Rojo-Roos (SACS), James Crick, Declan Wood (St Stithians College), Thomas Aylward, James Pohl (Kearsney College), Liam Hansen (Selborne College), Mitchell Garreau, Tristan Uys, Lwango Ntantala (Hilton College).
Bishops, the 2025 KES Water Polo Tournament champions. Photo: TeamPhotoSA
The Bishops first team water polo side made history when they won the annual King Edward VII (KES) Water Polo Tournament by edging out Hilton College in a penalty shootout in the final on Sunday in Johannesburg. It was the first time that the school had claimed the prestigious title.
Bishops were pushed to their limits by a strong Hilton outfit at the Mark Stevens Aquatic Centre but, after the teams had finished regulation time level at 8-8, they clinched the title 4-2 from the spot.
The KES tournament has been running since 1981, and last year Bishops picked up the bronze medal after suffering a narrow 11-12 loss to Rondebosch Boys’ High, the eventual champions, in the semi-finals. Now, coach Jabulani Sibiya and his troops have added their names to the list of winners.
They entered the event rejuvenated, high in confidence, and seeking to go two steps further than last year after a run of good form.
Under the guidance of coaches Sibiya and Lwazi Madi, they were ruthless in front of goal but, most importantly, they played some smart polo in the knockout stages.
They dismantled the hosts, KES, 16-8 in the quarterfinals to set up another date with Rondebosch in the semis. This time around, Bishops dictated the play and came away with a 6-4 victory. That win set up a showdown with Hilton for the title.
Coach Paul Martin‘s Hilton side impressed throughout the tournament and beat St Stithians College 11-9 in their semifinal. They had improved on their sixth-place finish in 2024, but they intended to go all the way.
From the first whistle, it was all-out action. Both teams applied early pressure and were rewarded with a flurry of goals, with the opening seven minutes resulting in eight being shared.
Timothy Young, Matt Fenn, and Owen Cross (2) found the back of the net for the Cape Town school, while Thomas Taylor, Tristan Uys (2), and Mitchel Garreau scored for Hilton.
The second chukka continued the entertainment, but the deluge of scoring stopped. Only two goals were scored, with Fenn striking for Bishops and Garreau for Hilton, as both players increased their contributions to two goals each.
The third chukka, deemed the “championship quarter” lived up to expectations and delivered some cracking goals.
The Bishops team and coach Jabulani Sibiya jump into the pool in celebration of their win in the final. Photo: TeamPhoto SA
Fenn fired in a thunderbolt to complete his hattrick before Luke Cartwright scored a brilliant one-on-one goal against the run of play to extend Bishops’ advantage to two goals. Garreau, once again, came to Hilton’s rescue, scoring in the dying seconds, which left the boys from the KZN Midlands trailing 6-7 heading into the final chukka.
With the title on the line, the fourth chukka produced three goals, plenty of drama, and big-match temperament energy.
Fenn was the first to strike, burying Bishops’ eighth goal of the game. It appeared as if the Capetonians were on their way to victory, but Hilton had other ideas, and the duo that had delivered for them all tournament long, Garreau and Uys, struck back, netting in quick succession to send the contest to penalties.
Luck, split-second decisions, confidence, and, of course, goalkeeping, play a major role in penalty shootouts and, in this instance, Hilton started strongly, but, after incurring a first miss, they fell off. Bishops, meanwhile, converted four of their five shots, with Fenn, Owen Cross, James Malan, and Ford finding the back of the net to secure the win.
The victory means Bishops have, in the space of five days, claimed two trophies. Earlier in the week, they clinched the SACS Nite Series title.
Scorers in the final
Bishops 8: Matt Fenn (4), Harry Ford (2), Timothy Young, Luke Cartwright. Hilton College 8: Mitchel Garreau (4), Tristan Uys (3), Thomas Taylor.
DAY 3 RESULTS
St Andrew’s College 4-1 Clifton
Paul Roos 4-3 St John’s
Semifinals Bishops 6-4 Rondebosch
Hilton 11-9 St Stithians
Playoffs Westville Boys High 2-1 Northwood (Plate 5th/6th playoff match)
St John’s College 6-3 Clifton College (Plate 3rd/4th playoff match)
Paul Roos 5-2 St Andrew’s College (Plate final)
Selborne College 8-4 KES (7th/8th playoff)
Kearsney 7-3 SACS (5th/6th playoff)
Medal places
St Stithians (7) 5-5 (6) Rondebosch (3rd/4th)
Bishops (4) 8-8 (2) Hilton College (Final)
FINAL STANDINGS
Diocesan College
Hilton College
St Stithians College
Rondebosch Boys’ High
Kearsney College
SACS
Selborne College
KES
Paul Roos
St Andrew’s College
St John’s College
Clifton College
Westville Boys’ High
Northwood School
Jeppe High School for Boys
Pretoria Boys High
Bishops outplayed KES to secure a semi-final place in the KES Water Polo Tournament. Photo: TeamPhoto SA
The defending champions of the King Edward VII (KES) Water Polo Tournament, Rondebosch Boys’ High will face their southern suburbs’ rivals, Bishops Diocesan College, for a place in Sunday’s final.
In the other semi-final, Hilton College carries KwaZulu-Natal’s hopes, while St Stithians College flies the flag for Gauteng.
The action takes place at the Mark Stevens Aquatic Centre and will be broadcast LIVE on SuperSport Schools.
To book their places in the semifinals, Rondebosch, Bishops, Hilton, and Saints had to play some of their best polo in the quarterfinals.
Bosch was far from convincing on the opening daywhen they scored nervy wins over Selborne College and Jeppe High School for Boys. On Saturday, they suffered a shock 7-8 loss to Clifton College.
That defeat mattered little, however, and Bosch finished atop Pool C to book a date with South African College High School (SACS) in the last eight.
With a semi-final place on the line, coach Jared Wingate-Pearse’s outfit played their socks off, scoring 11 times while conceding eight goals. Noah Reiback and Kieran Bennewith both found the back of the net three times while Luke Burger netted a brace. The scoring was completed by further goals from Zack Labuschagne and Matthew Galpin.
Their opponents, Bishops also had a bumpy ride to the last four, although they dominated their quarterfinal clash against the hosts, KES.
What’s clear, though, is that coach Jabulani Sibiya’s Bishops’ boys have not reached their full potential and they could be peaking at the right time. Their 16-8 demolition of KES in the quarterfinal was a clear indication that they’re hitting their stride.
Harry Ford was the enforcer for the Capetonians, netting a whopping six goals, while Matt Fenn scored four times, and Danie Van der Heever snagged a brace. Jack Grout, Owen Cross, Milo Letschert, and Timothy Young also got in on the action to seal the victory for their team.
The Bish/Bosch semifinal meeting will be the fourth match between the Cape Town sides in under a month.
Bishops have the upper hand after winning two of the previous three meetings, with the most recent win coming during the final of the SACS Nite Series.
Hilton College defeated Selborne College to book their spot in the semifinals of the KES Water Polo Tournament. Photo: TeamPhotoSA
The second semifinal, which also promises to thrill, sees Hilton facing Saints, who will be banking on some home support.
St Stithians has impressed and shut down any doubters with their performances this weekend.
Under the guidance of coach Michael Stewart, they beat St Andrew’s College and Northwood in the pool stages. But they saved their best performance for the quarterfinals, where they faced Kearsney College.
It was a thrilling game of water polo that delivered end-to-end action and some superb goals.
Travis Donnelly was the standout player for Saints, striking four times while Nathan Mansfield scored a hat-trick. Blake Morton and James Crick both bagged braces, while James Pohl fired in a hat-trick for Kearsney.
With that win, St Stithians knocked out one of the favourites for the tournament, but they won’t have an easy ride against Hilton. The KwaZulu-Natal school has gone about its business in a very quiet and admirable way.
They breezed past the pool stages with two wins and one draw before brushing aside Selborne College 11-7 in the last eight.
Tristan Uys was, as usual, in the thick of the scoring, contributing four goals, while Hilton captain, Thomas Taylor, scored three. Mitchelle Garreau joined the action with another two, while Garrick Phillips and Liam Casey also made it onto the score sheet.
The losers in the quarterfinals faced off before the day’s play came to an end in the Cup playoffs section, with SACS defeating KES 4-2, and Kearsney beating Selborne 4-3.
That means it will be SACS versus Kearsney for fifth place on Sunday.
The final day’s action kicks off at 07:00, with the first semifinal scheduled for 08:00 between Bishops and Rondebosch.
DAY 2 RESULTS
Bishops (2) 9-9 (1) St Andrew’s College
Kearsney 6-5 Paul Roos
Clifton 8-7 Rondebosch
St John’s College 15-3 Pretoria Boys High
St Stithians 14-3 Northwood
KES 9-7 Westville
Selborne College 10-2 Jeppe
Hilton College (2) 10-10 (0) SACS
Plate quarterfinals
St Andrew’s College 4-3 Westville
Paul Roos 5-4 Northwood
Clifton 5-2 Pretoria Boys High
St John’s 5-4 Jeppe
Cup quarterfinals
Bishops 16-8 KES
St Stithians 11-8 Kearnsey
Rondebosch 11-8 SACS
Hilton College 11-7 Selborne College
Plate playoffs
Westville 4-3 Pretoria Boys High
Northwood 5-3 Jeppe
Cup playoffs
KES 2-4 SACS
Kearsney 4-3 Selborne
DAY 3 FIXTURES
07:00 – St Andrew’s College vs Clifton; 07:30 – Paul Roos vs St John’s; 08:00 – Bishops vs Rondebosch; 08:50 – Hilton vs St Stithians; 09:40 – Westville vs Northwood; 10:10 – Plate 5th/6th playoff match; 10:40 – Plate 3rd/4th playoff match; 11:10 – Plate final; 11:40 – Selborne College vs KES; 12:10 – Kearsney vs SACS; 12:40 – 3rd/4th Playoff match; 13:30 –Final.
Now into its 42nd edition, the prestigious event has welcomed many of South Africa’s best water polo-playing schools to the Mark Stevens Aquatic Centre.
The action continues into Sunday, 2 March, and the action is LIVE on SuperSport Schools.
On an interesting day that delivered close results, thrilling encounters, and top-class water polo, only five teams – Rondebosch Boys’ High, Bishops, South African College High School (SACS), Kearsney College, and Hilton College – were unbeaten just two matches into the tournament.
The Western Cape trio, who are drawn in different groups, were impressive, with SACS causing early shockwaves. Coach Devon Card‘s side has been in shaky form in 2025 and underperformed in the recently concluded SACS Nite Series. They had to put their early season woes aside heading into the KES Tournament, and they did that in emphatic style.
In their opening match, they thumped Pretoria Boys High 13-4 before stunning St John’s College 14-9.
Aidan Turrell, who has been in fine form in front of goal, scored four times against St John’s, while Jandro Rojo-Ross netted seven goals and Ben Bigara scored a brace. Luca Orgill completed the scoring to seal the win for his side.
Rondebosch and Bishops were also in good form on the opening day but were made to work hard for their wins.
Defending champions, ‘Bosch scored a whopping 21 goals in their two matches. They edged out Selborne College 8-6 before sneaking past Jeppe High School for Boys 13-12.
Bishops, meanwhile, dominated their opener, beating Northwood School 14-5, but they were taken to penalties in their second match by St Stithians College.
It had ended 8-8 after regular time, but Bishops survived by the skin of their teeth, winning 3-2 in the penalty shootout.
Photo: TeamPhoto SA
Kearsney and Hilton College also introduced themselves in style at the Mark Stevens Aquatic Centre.
They were the top KwaZulu-Natal performers after Northwood, Westville, and Clifton found the going tough on the opening day.
Kearsney breezed past Westville, cruising to a 15-8 win in their opener. Thomas Francke scored four goals and was joined on the scoreboard by Thomas Aylward and skipper James Pohl, who both scored hattricks. Levi Thom and Luca Sandri also struck twice each as Kearsney won comfortably.
In their second match, coach Nicholas Rodda’s troops weren’t at their best. Still, they managed to grind out a hard-fought 12-11 victory over KES.
Their provincial counterparts, Hilton, were in rampant form. Coach Paul Martin‘s boys are playing like a team with a point to prove, and they scored 26 goals while conceding only three.
Hilton began their tournament impressively by blanking St John’s College 8-0. Then, in their second match, they overpowered Pretoria Boys High 18-3.
They’re tied for the top spot in Pool D with SACS, with both teams on six points. They’re set to do battle early on Saturday afternoon for first place in the group ahead of the knockout stages.
Another big result on Friday was a 3-2 win on penalties for Jeppe against Clifton College after the sides had shared an 8-8 draw.
The second day’s action will kick off bright and early with a clash between St Andrew’s College and Bishops at 07:00.
DAY 1 RESULTS
St Stithians College 7-6 St Andrew’s College
Kearsney College 15-8 Westville
Selborne College 8-6 Rondebosch
Hilton College 8-0 St John’s College
Bishops 14-5 Northwood
KES 10-9 Paul Roos
Clifton College (2) 8-8 (3) Jeppe
SACS 14-2 Pretoria Boys High
Bishops (3) 8-8 (2) St Stithians
Paul Roos 7-5 Westville
Selborne College 9-6 Clifton College
SACS 14-9 St John’s College
St Andrew’s 7-3 Northwood
Kearsney 12-11 KES
Rondebosch 13-12 Jeppe
Hilton College 18-3 Pretoria Boys High
Day 2 fixtures
07:00 – St Andrew’s vs Bishops; 07:50 – Kearsney vs Paul Roos; 08:40 – Clifton vs Rondebosch; 09:30 – St John’s College vs Pretoria Boys High; 10:20 – St Stithians vs Northwood; 11:10 – KES vs Westville; 12:00 – Jeppe vs Selborne College; 12:50 – SACS vs Hilton College; 13:40 – 3rd Pool A vs 4th Pool B (Plate Quarterfinal 1); 14:10 – 3rd Pool B vs 4th Pool A (Plate Quarterfinal 1); 14:40 – 3rd Pool C vs 4th Pool D (Plate Quarterfinal 1); 15:10 – 3rd Pool D vs 4th Pool C (Plate Quarterfinal 1); 15:40 – 1st Pool A vs 2nd Pool B (Cup Quarterfinal 1); 16:30 – 1st Pool B vs 2nd Pool A (Cup Quarterfinal 2); 17:20 – 1st Pool C vs 2nd Pool D (Cup Quarterfinal 3); 18:10 – 1st Pool D vs 2nd Pool C (Cup Quarterfinal 4); 19:00 – Plate Playoff; 19:30 – Plate Playoff; 20:00 – Cup Playoff; 20:30 – Cup Playoff.
It brings together a high-quality field, with many of the best teams in South Africa set to chase glory in the oldest schools’ water polo tournament of them all.
Those teams are littered with players boasting national and provincial colours. It promises to be a thrilling spectacle.
SuperSport Schools Plus takes a look at five players who could inspire their teams to glory.
Michael Mafunda (Diocesan College)
Too often, goalkeepers are overlooked in schoolboy water polo, but their impact on a match can be significant.
Michael Mafunda, who has taken over the goalkeeping reins for Bishops in 2025, has been outstanding, especially since he had to replace the outstanding Jordan De Sousa, who represented SA Schools and SA u18.
Not only has he not shrunk in the face of the challenge, Mafunda, affectionately known as “Money Mike”, has embraced it and has made it look as if he has been in the first team cage for years.
Mafunda also displays a calm and relaxed demeanour when confronted by penalties and penalty shootouts, which are vital attributes in tournaments. Bishops will lean on him to keep their opposition at bay.
Kearsney College will be banking on captain, James Pohl during the KES Water Polo Tournament. Photo: Kearsney College
James Pohl (Kearsney College)
Kearsney College will enter the KES Water Polo Tournament viewed by some as a side that could go all the way.
If they are to do that, it will be a team effort that wins them the tournament, but a name that stands out is James Pohl, a player who has shone for his team in recent seasons.
Pohl is not only the captain of the side but the enforcer and talisman, and he plays an unconventional game of water polo.
The KwaZulu-Natal and South African Schools star is described by his coach, Nicholas Rodda, as a “dynamic player with strong leadership qualities.”
One of Pohl’s strengths is his versatility, which allows him to play in any position. He links up well with his teammates and has the ability to isolate good players in opposing teams.
Look to “Chippa” Pohl to score goals and lead from the front.
St John’s College captain Nicholas Searle will look to lead his side to glory at the KES Water Polo Tournament. Photo: Toni Butterworth
Nicholas Searle (St John’s College)
St John’s College has fallen short at the final hurdle in several major tournaments in the past season or two.
This year, they were stopped by Rondebosch Boys’ High in the final of the St Andrew’s College Shield, going down 7-12. They suffered a similar result at KES last year, going down 7-11 to ‘Bosch, also.
They head into the KES Water Polo Tournament eager to take that final step. If they’re to succeed in that quest, their captain Nicholas Searle will be a key to realising their goal.
He has been one of St John’s standout players in 2025. His ability to read the game, assess situations, and make crucial decisions in split seconds sets him apart.
The Central Gauteng u19A player is also a top leader, who sets a fine example.
Calum Emslie is aiming to bring his A-game to help SAC cause some upsets at the KES Water Polo Tournament. Photo: Toni Butterworth
Calum Emslie (St Andrew’s College)
St Andrew’s College supporters will head to KES feeling optimistic after some strong results from their team recently.
They have good reason to feel that way because St Andrew’s has been on an upward trajectory after making a slow start at the SAC Shield in January.
One of their top performers has been the experienced and ever-present Calum Emslie. He’s one of the older heads in coach Grant Mackenzie‘s team after earning his 100th cap against Wynberg Boys’ High at Vides.
He’s also their dangerman in attack and can shape matches and make things happen for his side.
While many might have already ruled out St Andrew’s College as a title contender, Emslie and his troops will head into the tournament with a point to prove, determined to make waves.
Noah Reiback scored four goals in the SAC Shield final to help Rondebosch Boys’ High beat St John’s College 12-7. Photo: Toni Butterworth.
Noah Reiback (Rondebosch Boys’ High)
One of the first names that would be on a list of players to watch, guaranteed, would be Noah Reiback.
Only in grade 10, he is one of the most talked about water polo players in the Western Cape, alongside the likes of his team-mate, Jack Robinson, and the Bishops’ duo of Matt Fenn and Timothy Young.
Reiback is an outrageously talented player and is the full package in the pool.
He has been in clinical form in 2025, scoring goals for fun and making life miserable for defenders.
Last year, when in grade 9, he was one of ‘Bosch’s standout players at the KES Water Polo Tournament and scored a hat-trick in the final as they claimed the title.
He will be hoping for a similar showing in 2025, especially after Bishops topped Rondebosch in the final of the SACS Nite Series on Wednesday.
Groups
Pool A: Bishops, Northwood, St Andrew’s College, St Stithians. Pool B: Kearsney College, King Edward VII, Paul Roos, Westville Boys’ High. Pool C: Clifton College, Jeppe High School for Boys, Rondebosch Boys’ High, Selborne College. Pool D: Hilton College, Pretoria Boys High, SACS, St John’s College.
Fixtures
Friday, 28 February
07:00 – St Andrew’s vs St Stithians; 07:50 – Kearsney College vs Westville; 08:40 – Selborne College vs Rondebosch; 09:30 – St John’s College vs Hilton College; 10:20 – Bishops vs Northwood; 11:10 – KES vs Paul Roos; 12:00 – Clifton College vs Jeppe; 12:50 – SACS vs Pretoria Boys High; 13:40 – St Stithians vs Bishops; 14:30 – Westville vs Paul Roos; 15:20 – Selborne College vs Clifton College; 16:10 – St John’s College vs SACS; 17:00 – St Andrew’s vs Northwood; 17:50 – KES vs Kearsney; 18:40 – Rondebosch vs Jeppe; 19:30 – Pretoria Boys High vs Hilton College.
Saturday, 1 March
07:00 – St Andrew’s vs Bishops; 07:50 – Kearsney vs Paul Roos; 08:40 – Clifton vs Rondebosch; 09:30 – St John’s College vs Pretoria Boys High; 10:20 – St Stithians vs Northwood; 11:10 – KES vs Westville; 12:00 – Jeppe vs Selborne College; 12:50 – SACS vs Hilton College; 13:40 – 3rd Pool A vs 4th Pool B (Plate Quarterfinal 1); 14:10 – 3rd Pool B vs 4th Pool A (Plate Quarterfinal 1); 14:40 – 3rd Pool C vs 4th Pool D (Plate Quarterfinal 1); 15:10 – 3rd Pool D vs 4th Pool C (Plate Quarterfinal 1); 15:40 – 1st Pool A vs 2nd Pool B (Cup Quarterfinal 1); 16:30 – 1st Pool B vs 2nd Pool A (Cup Quarterfinal 2); 17:20 – 1st Pool C vs 2nd Pool D (Cup Quarterfinal 3); 18:10 – 1st Pool D vs 2nd Pool C (Cup Quarterfinal 4); 19:00 – Plate Playoff; 19:30 – Plate Playoff; 20:00 – Cup Playoff; 20:30 – Cup Playoff.
Bishops Diocesan College playmaker Matt Fenn scored a hattrick in the final of the 2025 SACS Nite Series. Photo: Bishops Diocesan College
Bishops Diocesan College first team water polo coach, Jabulani Sibiya, surely breathed a sigh of relief after his team retained the SACS Nite Series title by defeating Rondebosch Boys’ High 14-9 in the final on Tuesday in Cape Town.
Bishops was not wholly convincing during the series but they dug deep when the title was on the line to cause a frenzy at the SACS Aquatic Centre.
Their journey to the title decider was characterised by big moments, nail-biting encounters, and an ability to stage comebacks.
Apart from that loss, Bishops picked up wins over Reddam House Constantia (14-4), South African College High School (SACS) (9-8), Wynberg Boys’ High (15-6), and Paul Roos Gimnasium (8-7).
That left them in second place in the standings and set up a semifinal showdown with Wynberg for a place in the final.
They had beaten Wynberg comfortably in their round-robin meeting, and they won comfortably again, this time by a 10-4 margin. Rondebosch, meanwhile, won 9-7 against PRG in their semifinal clash.
The final marked the third time the sides met in recent weeks, and both teams were eager to secure the bragging rights after the spoils were shared in the earlier games. ‘Bosch won the first meeting, but Bishops gained revenge in a league match, winning 12-10.
Bishops celebrate their Nite Series triumph over Rondebosch. Photo: Bishops Diocesan College.
On Tuesday evening, Bishops began the final playing at a high tempo, and after the first chukka, they had rushed into a 4-2 lead.
Harry Ford and Luke Cartwright took it to Rondebosch, scoring two goals each, while Luke Burger and Dante Moore converted for ‘Bosch.
Bishops kept up their onslaught in the second chukka and again outscored coach Jared Wingate-Pearse’s side, this time by a narrow margin of four goals to three.
The Bishops’ dangerman, Matt Fenn, asserted himself and netted a brace. He was followed onto the score sheet by Timothy Young and Harry Ford.
Bosch replied through Moore, who grabbed a second before Rupert Robinson and Noah Reiback cut the deficit to 5-8 heading into the break.
It was tight in the third chukka, although ‘Bosch created more goalscoring opportunities. They were kept at bat, however, by the heroics of Bishops’ goalkeeper Michael Mafunda.
Each side added two goals, with James Malan finding the back of the net for Bishops before Young completed his brace. Reiback pulled one back for Bosch, and Joshua Ripsold got in on the action later in the chukka.
Photo: L Fenn
Leading 10-7 with six minutes remaining, Bishops raised their intensity in the fourth and final chukka.
They were clinical, solid defensively, and killed off the game in the opening three minutes.
Skipper Milo Letschert scored, and Heath Blackwell then netted his first of the day.
The match was taken out of the reach of Rondebosch, courtesy of strikes by Fenn and Young, which countered Burger’s brace and saw Bishops to a deserved 14-9 victory and a successful defence of the title they won in 2024 by defeating SACS 14-11.
They have been drawn in Pool A and will face Northwood School, St Andrew’s College, and St Stithians College.
The other Western Cape representatives at KES include Rondebosch, SACS, and Paul Roos.
NITE SERIES FINAL DAY RESULTS
Scorers in the final
Bishops 14: Harry Ford (3), Matt Fenn (3), Timothy Young (3), Luke Cartwright (2), James Malan, Heath Blackwell, Milo Letschert. Rondebosch 9: Luke Burger (3), Noah Reiback (2), Dante Moore (2), Joshua Ripsold, Rupert Robinson.
Semifinals
Bishops 10-4 Wynberg Boys’ High
Rondebosch Boys High 9-7 Paul Roos Gimnasium
5th/6th playoff
SACS 14-10 Reddam House Constantia
Final
Bishops Diocesan College 14-9 Rondebosch Boys’ High
Both St John’s College and Selborne College will be among the contenders at the KES Water Polo Tournament. Photo: Toni Butterworth
The leading schoolboys’ water polo teams in South Africa will assemble in Johannesburg this weekend to battle it out for the prestigious title in the annual King Edward VII (KES) Water Polo Tournament.
The action takes place at the Mark Stevens Aquatic Centre at KES and runs from Friday, 28 February to Sunday, 2 March.
It’s the 42nd edition of the tournament and it will be broadcast live on SuperSport Schools.
Coach Jared Wingate-Pearse’s troops dominated in their group games and went on to finish unbeaten after edging out Hilton College 12-10 in the quarterfinals and Bishops 12-11 in the final four.
They will return as one of the favourites for the title. They’ve put together a stellar season that’s seen them win the SAC Shield, in Makhanda, and dominate in the Western Cape.
Joining them on the trip up to the City of Gold will be their provincial rivals, Bishops, South African College High School (SACS), and Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG).
Coach Jabulani Sibiya’s Bishops’ side took bronze in 2024, but they’ll have their sights aimed higher this time around.
In 2024, SACS finished fourth while PRG placed seventh. Both have been in inconsistent form of late, but tournament polo could be just what they need to spark their play.
The host province, Gauteng, has a handful of teams participating in the tournament.
Kearsney College will be eager to make a big splash at the KES Water Polo Tournament. Photo: Kearsney College
KES will be joined by St Stithians College, Jeppe High School for Boys, Pretoria Boys High, and St John’s. They’re not to be underestimated and will be out to make their mark.
St John’s, led by coach Vlado Trninic, is perhaps the standout team among the Gauteng contingent.
They’ve played some great polo under captain Nicholas Searle and will be eager to go all the way after coming up just short in some major tournaments in recent times, which has included a runner-up finish in the SACS Water Polo Tournament at the end of the last year, and another silver medal in the SAC Shield earlier this year.
The Gauteng sides will lean on the keen competition within the region to prepare themselves for a tilt at the title.
Another province with strong representation at the event is KwaZulu-Natal.
They also have five teams making the trip up to Johannesburg: Northwood School, Westville Boys’ High, Clifton College, Hilton College, and Kearsney College.
Many will single out Kearsney as a top contender for the title, and rightfully so, considering their recent form under head coach Nicholas Rodda.
The Botha’s Hill boys, who lifted the St Stithians Invitational title against other stayers’ teams in late 2024, replace Grey High in the tournament line-up. They have been in sublime form and are currently unbeaten in 14 matches this year.
Both Hilton and Clifton enter the tournament under the radar, and that could also work in their favour. Hilton, especially, bears watching. They recently played to a thrilling 11-11 draw with Kearsney and they’re loaded with provincial players.
Northwood and Westville, meanwhile, will embrace the underdog tag and want to prove they’re not there just to make up the numbers. The Knights showed at the ITEC Grey College Water Polo Tournamentthat they’re ascending.
St Andrew’s College will be led by Coel Trollip at the KES Tournament. Photo: Toni Butterworth
The field is completed by the two best Eastern Cape sides, St Andrew’s College (SAC) and Selborne College.
They were last in action at the Vides Water Polo tournament, where St Andrew’s took home silver while Selborne claimed bronze.
In last year’s KES tournament, Selborne played 10th and St Andrew’s 11th. They appear to be more settled this year and could launch a stronger challenge on this occasion.
The action kicks off on Friday morning at 07:00, with t Andrew’s taking on St Stithians.
Pretoria Boys High and Hilton College will close off the day’s play, with the final match starting at 19:00.
Groups
Pool A: Bishops, Northwood, St Andrew’s College, St Stithians. Pool B: Kearsney College, King Edward VII, Paul Roos, Westville Boys’ High. Pool C: Clifton College, Jeppe High School for Boys, Rondebosch Boys’ High, Selborne College. Pool D: Hilton College, Pretoria Boys High, SACS, St John’s College.
Fixtures
Friday, 28 February
07:00 – St Andrew’s vs St Stithians; 07:50 – Kearsney College vs Westville; 08:40 – Selborne College vs Rondebosch; 09:30 – St John’s College vs Hilton College; 10:20 – Bishops vs Northwood; 11:10 – KES vs Paul Roos; 12:00 – Clifton College vs Jeppe; 12:50 – SACS vs Pretoria Boys High; 13:40 – St Stithians vs Bishops; 14:30 – Westville vs Paul Roos; 15:20 – Selborne College vs Clifton College; 16:10 – St John’s College vs SACS; 17:00 – St Andrew’s vs Northwood; 17:50 – KES vs Kearsney; 18:40 – Rondebosch vs Jeppe; 19:30 – Pretoria Boys High vs Hilton College.
Saturday, 1 March
07:00 – St Andrew’s vs Bishops; 07:50 – Kearsney vs Paul Roos; 08:40 – Clifton vs Rondebosch; 09:30 – St John’s College vs Pretoria Boys High; 10:20 – St Stithians vs Northwood; 11:10 – KES vs Westville; 12:00 – Jeppe vs Selborne College; 12:50 – SACS vs Hilton College; 13:40 – 3rd Pool A vs 4th Pool B (Plate Quarterfinal 1); 14:10 – 3rd Pool B vs 4th Pool A (Plate Quarterfinal 1); 14:40 – 3rd Pool C vs 4th Pool D (Plate Quarterfinal 1); 15:10 – 3rd Pool D vs 4th Pool C (Plate Quarterfinal 1); 15:40 – 1st Pool A vs 2nd Pool B (Cup Quarterfinal 1); 16:30 – 1st Pool B vs 2nd Pool A (Cup Quarterfinal 2); 17:20 – 1st Pool C vs 2nd Pool D (Cup Quarterfinal 3); 18:10 – 1st Pool D vs 2nd Pool C (Cup Quarterfinal 4); 19:00 – Plate Playoff; 19:30 – Plate Playoff; 20:00 – Cup Playoff; 20:30 – Cup Playoff.
Selborne College is aiming to reach top heights in 2025. Photo: Shot by Shani Photography.
The Selborne College first hockey side enjoyed a stellar season in 2024 under the guidance and leadership of head coach Kenneth John (KJ) Friend.
The boys from East London were dominant in the Border region, played some exceptional, free-flowing hockey, and seemingly scored goals for fun at times.
Mostly, the men in black and white breezed past their opponents, leaving much to be desired about the quality of the teams surrounding them in the Border region.
In those regional games, they scored a whopping 17 goals against Dale College in two outings and beat Queen’s College 6-1 in their return fixture, having drawn 1-1 earlier in the season. They also recorded wins against Hudson Park and Stirling High School.
They were a complete team – solid defensively, penetrative when attacking, and adept at capitalising on circle entries and penalty corners.
Now, in 2025, they’re working to improve on their superb 2024 season.
“We’ve started preparing for the season, and I’m happy to say that it’s been a fantastic start,” Friend told SuperSport Schools Plus.
“The team is looking energised, and we’ve been focusing on getting everyone into top form. The progress so far has been really positive.
“I’m excited to see how things continue to shape up as we get closer to the season. Everyone’s working hard, and the atmosphere is full of motivation.”
Selborne bade farewell to several key players at the end of the season. They included Gilbert and other important contributors, among them Waeden Plaatjes, Daniel Sirgel, and Jaques van der Merwe.
Selborne will bank on goalkeeper Nathan Amos-Brown to make some crucial saves in 2025. Photo: Shot by Shani Photography.
The new year, however, will provide Friend and his coaching staff with a chance to introduce young talent from the ranks into the first team squad.
“I’m really excited about the new players coming in,” Friend said. “Saying goodbye to some of our matric players is always bittersweet, but it also opens up opportunities for the younger talent to step up.
“We’ve got a strong pipeline in place in the younger age groups, and the transition to the first team is designed to be as smooth and positive as possible.
“With the solid foundation we’ve built, I have full confidence that these new caps will hit the ground running and bring fresh energy and perspectives to the squad.
“It’s going to be an exciting season, with some great new talent stepping up.”
In 2025, Selborne is aiming for the top, not just in the Eastern Cape, but nationally.
At the Hibbert Shield last year, the boys who believe in Palma Virtuti (Reward is to the Brave), finished in seventh place. They’ll return to the tournament, which will feature many of the country’s top teams, with a different mindset this time around.
“While doing well in the Eastern Cape for the past two seasons has been an incredible achievement, we’re now setting our sights on competing consistently against the best teams across the country,” Friend explained.
“We’re focused on pushing ourselves to that next level and testing ourselves in new environments.
“It’s about continuing to raise our standards, learning from every challenge, and showing that we can compete with the top teams, no matter where they’re from. This season, we’re ready to take on those challenges and make our mark.”
The East London powerhouse will play its first competitive matches at the Tony Godding Festival from 21-23 March.
Kungothando Macanda could be a key player for Selborne in 2025. Photo: Shot by Shani Photography.
Before that, they’ll be in pre-season mode when they compete at the Border School’s Day—a tournament that is designed to prepare them for the season.
Selborne will then kick off their local league season against Pearson High on 11 April at home.
Friend outlined what can be expected from his team this year.
“You can expect a team that’s hungry, focused, and determined to push boundaries. We’ve got a solid mix of experienced players and fresh talent, so you’ll see a dynamic and exciting style of play.
“As for the type of hockey, we want to play an aggressive, high-tempo game, with quick transitions based on the back of strong teamwork.
“We’re going to be looking to control the pace, take calculated risks, and make sure we’re always staying ahead of the opposition, while always being mindful of our opponents.
“I’’s about playing with intensity, creativity, and a never-give-up attitude.
“Fans can expect some exciting hockey this year,” he ended.
