Author: asawula

The Rondebosch Boys’ High first water polo side is savouring an impressive season, which has delivered many successes this year already.

As things stand, ‘Bosch is the team to beat in the Western Cape and, possibly, around the country, although Kearsney College, on a 25-match unbeaten run, might have something to say about that.

Both will be in action at the forthcoming KES Water Polo Tournament, so keep an eye on SuperSport Schools for coverage of that event.

Rondebosch is unbeaten in the SACS Nite Series and tops the table after three wins on the trot, against Reddam House Constantia, Bishops Diocesan College, and Paul Roos Gimnasium.

Last month, the southern suburbs school claimed the prestigious St Andrew’s College (SAC) Shield in Makhanda after beating St John’s College 12-7 in the final.

Credit for their early season success goes to a young and talented group of players and their experienced coaches, Jared Wingate-Pearse and Etienne Le Roux.

While many of their victories have stemmed from great teamwork, one player has consistently shone, and that is Noah Reiback. He has been an integral cog for ‘Bosch, helping them to some famous wins while scoring some cracking goals along the way.

He is the epitome of big-match temperament (BMT) and has a unique skill set that elevates him from the rest of the pack.

He took up the sport at an early age and water polo runs through his veins. “My brothers [Ben and Jay] both played water polo, and I started the sport just after them,” Reiback told SuperSport Schools Plus. “When I was in grade three, I was nine, and I went to the pool with them and started shooting, and that’s how I got into it.

“In prep school, I was mentored by coach Kwakhona Ngwanya from Grades 3-7, and he helped me along my water polo journey.”

There was a sense of expectation riding on Reiback when he entered high school in 2023. In his grade eight year, he enjoyed a fantastic welcome to high school water polo as a member of an incredibly talented u14A team.

Reiback and his teammates were outstanding and dominant. They defeated every team in the Western Cape and won the vast majority of tournaments they contested. He was in prolific form and later that year was rewarded.

“When I played for the u14As, in grade 8, I didn’t have the intention of making the first team at the end of the year; it wasn’t a usual thing at our school,” Reiback admitted.

“We had a great season that year with the team. We practically won everything and played great polo as a unit.

“I, then, got a message from our head of polo at the time, and he said I was invited to trial for the St Stithians College Stayers Tournament. I was pumped about that, and I had a good trial, and coach Jared picked me.”

Soon after that, Reiback made his first team debut, following in the footsteps of his brothers.

“I was very happy and proud and emotional at the time. It was a privilege for me, especially after watching my brothers play for the team.

“I was overwhelmed, but Coach Jared sat with me and calmed me down. He told me what he needed from me, and the rest is history.”

Reiback’s role in the team is straightforward, and that’s to create and score goals. The countless opportunities to fire the ball into the back of the net wouldn’t be available, though, without the help of his teammates. He credits their efforts for his success.

“I always try and stay humble because Coach Jared tells us to reset after each match or tournament.

“I might score a lot of goals, but I’m definitely not the be-all-and-end-all of the team. We have some exceptional players that also deserve as much credit.

“If you look at a guy like Jack Robinson, he acts as a role model for me because we’ve played together for a long time. I always have one-on-ones with him to look at how we can get better and help the team as a whole.

“I also have two lefties on the right with me, Kieran Bennewith and Luke Burger. We have great chemistry, and I don’t think I’d be as good of a water player if they didn’t push me.”

The mental, physical, and financial support of Reiback’s parents has also steered his evolving career on an upward trajectory.

His mother, Jo, and dad, Rowan, have had to dig deep financially to get him to provincial and international tournaments.

Just last year, Reiback represented Western Province u15A at the Schools Water Polo South Africa Inter-Provincial tournament. Earlier in the year, he was part of the SA u16 side that played in the World Aquatics Men’s Championships in Malta.

“I really can’t thank my parents enough. They’ve done wonderful things for me,” Reiback said.

“They have supported me a lot, even with the SA tour where we knew it would be tough [financially], but they still sent me to give me the best opportunity.

“I know there’s still more to come, but I’m grateful for their 100 percent backing.”

Reiback, still only in grade 10, is caught between two sporting worlds. That’s because, in the winter season, he pulls on his rugby boots and plays flyhalf.

He is gunning to make the u16A rugby team at Rondebosch this year before returning to the pool to finish the 2025 water polo season.

It’s unclear which sporting route the youngster will take after matric but, for now, it’s all about enjoying his time at the school and making memories with his teammates.

There was a sense of optimism, excitement, and expectation when Andrew Beynon took over as Grey High School’s Director of Hockey at the beginning of 2024.

He joined the Gqeberha school after a stint at the nearby Collegiate Girls’ High where he was very successful, leading them to some notable victories against some of the country’s best teams.

An Old Grey, he entered the Grey gates again with a solid track record of being able to turn things around, and he hit the ground running, working with a talented group of players.

Under Beynon, Grey asserted themselves as one of the best teams in the country, and they will be one of the sides to watch out for early in the 2025 season.

In 2024, they played a possession-based game and displayed an ability to grind out victories. Their success began with a strong pre-season and, by the time they played their derby matches, they had hit their stride.

Under the leadership of Kian Cambier, they were unbeaten in the Eastern Cape all year long.

Their defeats included a loss to Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG) and a loss against Grey College. They, also, finished with the bronze medal at the Hibbert Shield after losing out to SACS in the semifinal.

Meanwhile, they swept their opposition at the Tony Godding Festival and Nomads Festival.

“As a club, I think we performed fairly consistently last year,” coach Beynon told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“When we look back, I am very happy with where the club is and what we collectively achieved.

“We had some competitive matches and so the goal is to always be better and more efficient. We believe in the model we’re building. We will stay humble and continue to work hard.”

While Grey dominated in the province, 2025 will provide the school with an opportunity to again stake their claim to be the country’s best.

They weren’t far off that status in 2024, losing only the three times mentioned earlier.

Beynon insists his players will start with a clean slate ahead of the forthcoming season. “Look, we came close last year, and the boys played some fantastic hockey,” he said. “However, this is a new year, a new group, so they can write their own destiny.

“We are a young side with ability, so let’s put our heads down, stay humble, and see what we can achieve as a group.”

At the end of last season, Grey bade farewell to eight grade 12 learners, including their skipper, Cambier, and other influential players – Xander Elkington, Robbie Stow, Caden Skinnette, Blake Muller, Marco Giaconi, Caleb Humphreys, and Ben Ristow.

The senior players left behind will be joined by three exciting players from the u16 age group.

“We have three uncapped players joining the squad, which will bring a different energy to the group, which is always exciting,” Beynon enthused.

“The Hockey Club is excited to get going in 2025.”

The season will include an opportunity for the Grey High first team to test its ability beyond South Africa’s borders. They’ll be in action at the Tony Godding Festival in East London in March before embarking on an international tour of The Netherlands and Germany.

Bishops Diocesan College star, Matt Fenn, netted five times to inspire his team to a nerve-wracking 9-8 victory over South African College High School (SACS) in round three of the SACS Nite Series in Cape Town on Wednesday.

The highly anticipated derby kicked off a thrilling round that produced 49 goals across three matches at the SACS Aquatics Centre.

Both southern suburbs giants entered the clash with a point to prove, while also intending to keep the log leaders, Rondebosch Boys’ High, in sight.

Last time out, in round two, SACS defeated Wynberg Boys’ High 5-4, while Bishops went down 5-7 to ‘Bosch.

As expected, the match got off to a fiery start as both sides battled to assert early dominance.

The first half belonged to Bishops, however. They scored five times and restricted SACS to three goals, in reply.

Matt Fenn was at the centre of it all. He converted three opportunities within the first two chukkas before Rondebosch’s unsung heroes, Noah Edmunds and Harry Ford, netted to make it five.

SACS, after taking an early lead through an Aidan Turrell strike, added further goals from their skipper, Matt Forbes, and their talisman, Jandro Rojo-Roos.

In the third chukka, the hosts came to life and played, arguably, their best water polo so far of the Nite Series. They controlled matters masterfully, were creative in attack, solid in defence, and played some brave water polo.

Their efforts were duly rewarded when they found the back of the net three times through Rojo-Roos, Turrell, and Harry Oldham. SACS also managed to keep Bishops scoreless in the third chukka and marched into the final quarter with a narrow 6-5 advantage.

The final six minutes of the contest epitomised why water polo is such a massive school sport in the Western Cape. It had everything: individual brilliance, late goals, and massive passion from the schoolboys cheering alongside the pool.

Just as they had done in the previous chukka, SACS started well, and Ben Bigara extended their lead to two goals early on.

That goal, however, sparked a response from Bishops. Timothy Young came to the party, scoring two goals before Fenn netted again to put the visitors 8-7 ahead.

With only 25 seconds left, SACS needed a miracle. Up stepped Turrell, scoring with a scorcher to complete his hat-trick. That strike tied the scores and set up a tense final 10 seconds.

It seemed the match was destined to finish with the teams all square, but six seconds was all Fenn needed to fire in a thunderbolt to clinch victory for his side just before the final buzzer.

That late dramatic goal was a big boost for coach Jabulani Sibiya‘s troops, who will tackle Reddam House Constantia in round four.

While Bishops got back to winning ways, Rondebosch continued their fine form and brushed aside Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG) 13-7.

Bosch started slowly, but they soon hit their stride, and Noah Reiback was the man at the centre of the action. The grade 10 pupil scored a cracking seven goals and was joined on the score sheet by Kieran Bennewith (2), Luke Burger (2), James Pinnock, and the dangerous Jack Robinson.

James Swart was the standout player for PRG, netting four times, while Migael Terblanche chipped in with a brace.

In the final match of the day, Wynberg Boys’ High defeated Reddam House 8-4.

Riley Clarke was at the goalscoring helm for Wynberg, bagging five goals. They’ll face a stern challenge from PRG in the next round of the Nite Series.

Scorers

Bishops Diocesan College 9: Matt Fenn (5), Timothy Young (2), Noah Edmunds, Harry Ford. SACS 8: Aidan Turrell (3), Jandro Rojo-Roos (2), Matt Forbes, Harry Oldham, Ben Bigara.

Rondebosch Boys’ High 13: Noah Reiback (7), Kieran Bennewith (2), Luke Burger (2), James Pinnock, Jack Robinson. Paul Roos 7: James Swart (4), Migael Terblanche, Andrew Reynolds.

Wynberg Boys’ High 8: Riley Clarke (5), Samuel Mocke (2), Sebastian Kastern. Reddam House Constantia 4: Jethro Montagu-Fryer (3), Blake Brown.

KwaZulu-Natal’s Our Lady of Fatima grabbed the girls’ swimming headlines on the weekend by claiming first place at the National Aquatics Festival Gala in East London.

The annual event, which pits the best swimming and water polo schools in the country against each other, was hosted by Clarendon High School for Girls at the Harrison Aquatic Centre.

While many eyes were focussed on the water polo competition, swimming enthusiasts were also treated to a feast with exciting lineups and battles taking place in the pool.

Our Lady of Fatima dominated both the junior and senior heats to end the festival with a combined 397 points.

Behind them, in an eye-catching battle for second place, Oranje Meisieskool pipped Clarendon by a single point and St Mary’s Waverley by three, scoring 337 to Clarendon’s 336, and 334 for St Mary’s.

Durban Girls’ College completed the top five, with 314 points, well clear of sixth-placed St Stithians, who finished 49 points adrift, on 265. Their results included four bronze and two silver medals.

Eunice placed eighth, with 230 points, which was, by their standards, an unusually low result.

Collegiate, in ninth, with 196 points, and St Mary’s DSG Kloof, in tenth, with 180 points, completed the standings. The KZN school’s best performance came in the u19 4x50m relay, which brought them a silver medal.

Our Lady of Fatima, for the north of Durban, racked up most of their points in the u14 and u19 4x50m backstroke relays before their teams also claimed maximum points from the 4x50m medley relay with dominant performances.

In total, they won a whopping eight gold medals, four silver medals, and five bronze.

2025 National Aquatics Festival Results

1 Our Lady of Fatima 397
2 Oranje 337
3 Clarendon 336
4 St Mary’s Waverley 334
5 Durban Girls’ College 314
6 Rhenish 265
7 St Stithians College 264
8 Eunice 230
9 Collegiate 196
10 St Mary’s DSG Kloof 180

A new identity, fresh ideas, young energetic players, and a drive to succeed will be at the forefront of the Paarl Gimnasium first girls’ hockey team’s challenge in 2025.

After an outstanding season in 2024, Gim will return to the Astro aiming to, once more, assert themselves as a dominant force in schoolgirls’ hockey in South Africa.

Last year, Gim recorded some superb wins under the leadership of head coach Ian Naudé.

During his tenure, they played an unconventional brand of hockey, which saw them scoring bucketloads of goals for fun while they remained a stubborn and resilient defensive unit.

They finished the season unbeaten in the Western Cape after edging out Rhenish 3-2 in a clash of the province’s top sides, before beating their rivals, Paarl Girls’ High, 4-0 in their annual derby.

Beyond the borders of the Western Cape, up against an elite 32-team field, Paarl Gim finished in fourth place at the prestigious St Mary’s Waverley Festival before going on to emphatically win the Cape Town International Hockey Tournament.

They ended their season with a fifth-place finish at the Fairtree Super 12 tournament, hosted by C&N Sekondêre Meisieskool Oranje, in Bloemfontein.

With Danelle van Zyl taking over the coaching reins from Ian Naudé, Gim will be making a fresh start in 2025. She brings a wealth of experience to the team, and is very familiar with Gim’s hockey programme, having been a part of it since 2015.

“It’s a nice challenge for me. I’ve always loved taking on difficult tasks, so I’m super excited to take over the team,” she told SuperSport Schools Plus.

She might have taken charge of the first team earlier, but that was not on the cards in 2024 after she gave birth to a daughter. The year before, she coached the u16A side.

A tough task awaits Van Zyl. It’s not a full rebuild, but Paarl Gim said goodbye to many players at the end of last season.

“We lost seven matrics from last year, but there are young players, coming up from the u16s, who were quite strong,” she said, somewhat understating their case.

“Our u16As were the top-ranked team in the country, so we’re excited to see what they can do and produce.

“It’s an exciting time. The players have nice potential. It’s going to be a young first team, but we’re excited.”

Gim’s u16A team from 2024 was indeed impressive and played some exciting hockey. They finished second at the u16 Top Schools Tournament and dominated their opponents in and around the Western Cape throughout the season.

Coach Van Zyl explained what hockey enthusiasts following the team can expect from the young side: “The thing about Gim is that the girls never give up. We work very hard until the final whistle.

“We want to bring intensity to every match we play in. We’ve also got some good goal-scorers that bring a bit of excitement to the team.

“We are looking forward to [producing] hard-working players who are eager to take up opportunities.”

Van Zyl and her squad have begun preparing for the season. Later this month, she’ll cut the group down to just 15 players.

They’ll play their first competitive match at the Springfield Festival in March before shifting their attention to the St Mary’s Waverley Festival a month later.

After that, Gim will take on a series of derby matches against the likes of Rhenish, La Rochelle, HMS Bloemhof, and Paarl Girls’ High.

“We don’t have any easy games,” Van Zyl said of the competition her team will face. “We play the best because we want to be the best in the country.

“I think Rhenish will be very strong this year because they had a young first team last year.

“We also play Oranje. We’ve got a derby with them, and we play Affies. And, at St Mary’s, you always face the strongest teams in the country.

“These will all be tough games, but if we want to be the best, we’ve got to beat the best.”

While vying for the number one status in the country is the dream of many teams, Van Zyl said Gim’s goal this year is not so much about accolades but about building a team culture and camaraderie that will last the players’ lifetime.

“If I’m being realistic, I just want the girls to enjoy their hockey.

“I want them to put in everything and take out more than just hockey from it. I want them to take out life lessons from this season and grow as humans on and off the field.

“Number one in the country isn’t always possible because everyone wants to be there, but that’s something we are working towards, and we could get there if we do the small things right.

“But I just want us to grow as a team and grab each opportunity. That’s the key for me,” she ended.

Loud cheers, accompanied by churning water and a buzzing atmosphere, can be expected when South African College High School (SACS) takes on Bishops Diocesan College in round three of the SACS Nite Series in Cape Town on Wednesday.

The meeting between the rivals takes place at the SACS Aquatic Centre at 17:50.

The hosts head into the clash keen to improve their fortunes after a tricky start to the season.

Under head coach Devon Card, they suffered a narrow 7-8 loss against Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG) in their opening Nite Series match.

Soon after that defeat, the Cape Town school finished in sixth place at the St Andrew’s College (SAC) Shield in Makhanda, a tournament they had won in 2024.

Card’s troops did, however, get back onto the winning trail by beating Wynberg Boys’ High in a league encounter before edging them out 5-4 in round two of the Nite Series.

“It’s always a sign of good mental strength to get over the finish line in a closely contested match,” coach Card told SuperSport Schools Plus ahead of his team’s clash with Bishops.

“However, there is always room for improvement. The teams have all grown and improved and, if we want to stay competitive, we need to hold ourselves to a higher standard and be more critical of ourselves.”

Last year, Card guided SACS to some memorable victories, but they have been forced to rebuild this year. They bade farewell to several experienced players, who have been replaced by enthusiastic youngsters eager to make their mark.

As is often the case with developing teams, they have experienced some ups and downs, and that’s what they’re working towards eliminating. “Consistency is what we are lacking right now,” the coach explained.

“Having played two tournaments as a young team, we have already proven that we can be competitive against the best teams in the country.

“Our focus and consistency across four chukkas seems to be something that is eluding us right now. That will be the main focus for the Bishops game.”

Recent history shows that meetings between SACS and Bishops entertain, with both teams bringing their A-game.

When last they met, though, Bishops cruised to a 12-3 win at the SAC Shield.

Card insisted his team understands the magnitude of the derby. “I think all our local derbies are big clashes,” he said. “The competitiveness across all the Cape Town schools is what makes Western Province so strong.

“Tradition is what drives these types of rivalries, and I think it is ingrained in you at school, regardless of what sport or team you play in.

“With Jabz [Jabulani Sibiya] at the helm of Bishops ‘polo, they have turned themselves into a powerhouse team in SA ‘polo; everyone wants to beat the best.”

SACS, at the end of the month, will make their way to Johannesburg to participate in the King Edward VII Water Polo Tournament.

After that, they will complete their league matches before heading into the off-season and returning to action later this year.

Card explained what he would regard as a successful season: “The culture at SACS, and in particular the water polo team, has been something I have always been proud to associate myself with.

“As always, our goal is to aim for excellence and for the team to ‘leave the cap in a better place’ than when they found it.

“If we achieve those things, then I will always consider the year a success,” he explained.

Fixtures

5 February

17:00 – Rondebosch Boys’ High vs Paul Roos Gimnasium
17:50 – Bishops Diocesan College vs SACS
18:40 – Reddam House Constantia vs Wynberg Boys’ High

The 2023 and 2024 South African College High School (SACS) first hockey sides will be remembered for years to come after both teams laid claim to number-one status in schoolboy hockey in South Africa.

After a promising season in 2022, SACS was massively dominant the following year under the guidance of former head coach Pierre le Roux.

Le Roux led SACS on an unforgettable campaign in which they won 34 out of 38 matches, drew three times, and lost only once.

After laying a concrete foundation, he stepped aside, and coach Sam Holmes took over the reins for the 2024 season.

Expectations weighed heavily on Holmes, who was eager to build on the momentum created the previous year.

He had an advantage, though; he was familiar with many of the players, having coached them in the u16A side the previous year.

The transition was almost seamless. Holmes didn’t change much. He backed his players and allowed them to express themselves fully.

As a result, SACS, again, racked up outstanding results. They dominated in the Western Cape and around the country.

They breezed through opponents during pre-season and carried that winning momentum into their weekly derby matches, which included beating their southern suburbs rivals, Bishops Diocesan College, Wynberg Boys’ High, and Rondebosch Boys’ High.

SACS also proved a handful in the Western Province Schools Premier League and retained the title they had won the year before.

Their only loss in 2024 was in a penalty shootout against Paul Roos Gimnasium in the Hibbert Shield final in Gqeberha, while an experimental team was narrowly beaten by Paarl Gimnasium in the final of the Cape Town International Tournament.

“It was a fantastic season; we were very happy with it, especially after we put ourselves under a lot of pressure from the 2023 dream team,” coach Holmes told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“I think the boys performed very well. To finish first in the country back-to-back is no easy achievement, and that’s what we’re going for in 2025.”

Holmes was spoilt for choices in almost every position last season after building solid squad depth.

While the forwards fired in the goals, the defence was rock-solid, and the midfield players were always up for a tussle.

The coach credited his team’s success to a collective effort. “I think the nature of the team is that we were star-studded. However, it didn’t feel at any point that the game plan or the focus was around individuals, which was great to see,” the FIH Level 3-accredited coach explained.

“It was good to see a collective performing week in and out. A guy like Reece [Theunis] would have his night and a guy like Litha [Kraai] would have his evening, but we were not overly reliant on them.

“We, also, had great performances from the likes of the criminally underrated Stephen Meyer. It was just an overall buy-in from everyone.”

Holmes and SACS director of hockey, James Peverley, are justifiably proud of the team’s achievements in 2024. However, the slate is clean as they head into the 2025 season.

“We are not focused whatsoever on the past and what happened in 2024,” Holmes insisted. “We started with our lengthy pre-season in late October, and we have our eyes firmly focused on the future.

“When you are number one, everyone wants to come and take your spot, which means you often get a team’s best version, or a spirited version, when they play you. That presents a challenge that I and the boys relish.

SACS will embark on a tour to The Netherlands next month before kicking off their South African season in April, against Parel Vallei.

Coach Holmes insists their goals are simple.

“We are not too results-orientated. We know what’s expected of us, and we know the quality and the effort we demand at training, and that takes care of the results.

“Our main goal is to play an exciting, fast-paced brand of hockey that makes people buzz and gets them out on a Friday night or gets them to travel and watch us, whether we’re in Paarl, Stellenbosch, or Belville,” he ended.

The Rhenish Girls’ High School’s first hockey side enjoyed one of their most successful seasons in 2024 and laid claim to the number-one status in schoolgirls’ hockey in South Africa, but a new season and new challenges await.

The Western Cape side played a smart and exciting brand of hockey, which saw them record outstanding results throughout 2024.

Under the guidance of head coach Chris Gerber, Rhenish was close to unstoppable. They were fearless in attack and rock-solid defensively.

In the 50 matches they played, the Stellenbosch school scored a whopping 37 victories, just two losses, and 11 draws.

Captained by Leah du Plessis, at the end of the season the team won the prestigious Fairtree Super 12 title after finishing second at the All Girls Festival in Potchefstroom.

It was, however, in their weekly derby matches where Rhenish hit their stride and racked up bucketloads of goals.

They dominated the Western Cape, picking up wins over, among others, Paarl Girls’ High, Parel Vallei, HMS Bloemhof, and Herschel Girls School. Their only loss was against Paarl Gimnasium.

While it was an outstanding and memorable year for his team, coach Gerber knows success in 2024 does not guarantee success in 2025. “It’s extremely important for us to hit the reset button and start afresh in 2025,” he told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“The girls have taken on the challenge as they know it will be an even more difficult season in 2025. However, we are excited and ready for the challenges we’re going to face this season.”

One of the positives for Rhenish heading into the new season is that they bade farewell to only one player at the end of last season, Kaitlyn van Binsbergen.

That means Gerber will have the luxury of working with an experienced squad that understands what it takes to be the best. They can’t wait to get the ball rolling, he said.

“It’s fantastic to have the bulk of the team ready for this year,” he enthused.

“It’s massive to build on the platforms of last year. However, it’s not going to be easy. Everyone has improved and is looking to take that challenge to us.

“The girls are very eager to get going and build on the success of 2024.”

The number-one status in the country comes with its challenges, and every team is now gunning for Rhenish.

Building on the systems already in place will be crucial, but the coach believes working on team culture and getting everyone aligned will stand them in good stead.

“I think the main thing for us is to build on our culture and take the fight to every challenge that may come.

“We need to adapt and be comfortable when things aren’t going our way. Every school will have its own focus points and ideas.

“We are only focused on what we are doing and how we can improve. We need to be able to execute our plans and ideas as best as we can but ultimately play as a team and work towards our goals.”

Another key area coach Gerber wants his team to focus on for the forthcoming season is defence. Last season, Rehnish conceded only 17 goals while scoring 160, which was made up of 92 field goals, 60 penalty corners, and six penalty strokes.

“Defensively, we need to be up for everything,” he said. “I think teams are getting much better with their defensive systems.

“We need to see how we can break those down to create more opportunities and make sure we put them away, either by getting a PC or taking the field goal opportunity.

“We are not focused on just getting PCs. Taking opportunities when they present themselves is our main focus,” he concluded.

Rhenish’s fixtures for the 2025 season are yet to be confirmed.

A strong defensive effort, followed by goals in crucial moments, helped St Stithians Girls’ College overcome Durban Girls’ College (DGC) 6-3 in the final of the National Aquatics Festival in East London on Saturday.

The title game brought to a conclusion to the two-day event, hosted by Clarendon High School for Girls.

Saints, under the leadership of head coach Megan Sileno, entered the festival among the favourites to go all the way. They were drawn in Pool B with Maris Stella, Collegiate Girls’ High School, Clarendon 2nds, and their provincial rivals, St Mary’s Waverley.

Sileno’s charges dominated their pool games and won all four of their matches, scoring 37 goals in the process.

The top spot in the group secured a semifinal birth against the hosts, who pushed Saints to the limit in a nail-biting contest. In the end, the Johannesburg school prevailed 8-7 after a hard-fought battle to move on to the final.

They were up against the defending champions DGC in the title decider and were out to avenge last year’s semifinal exit at the hands of the Durban school.

The Johannesburg outfit made their intentions clear early in the final and took control of matters early on.

Saints had the majority of ball possession and were solid at the back, with Danielle Sassenberg, Courtney Calenborne, Isabella Imbriolo, and Cadha Mosehla pulling the strings. They led throughout the first stanza after Mosehla scored two cracking goals in quick succession before Sassenberg and June Stander joined the scoring party.

At the halfway point, Saints was ahead 4-3 after DGC responded through Kayla Andrews and Inge Southey (2).

In the third chukka, St Sthithians’ captain Tori Tanner-Ellis netted her side’s fifth goal to open up a two-goal buffer.

They maintained their lead thanks to the superb goalkeeping of Ngcali Metu, who made numerous saves to keep her team in front.

DGC created opportunities in the final chukka but misfired, and a second goal from June Stander secured the win for Saints.

Reacting to the final, coach Sileno told SuperSport Schools Plus: “This is nice. We’ve only been together for two full weeks of school.

“We’re still trying to figure each other out and find our groove, but I think we’re getting there quite nicely.

“I was very happy with the performance at Brian Baker. We fixed a few things that helped us in this tournament.”

After breezing through the pool stage, Sileno and her charges were met by a stern challenge in the last four from Clarendon.

The teams exchanged the lead numerous times, but Saints claimed victory after a last-gasp five-metre penalty scored by Mosehla.

“Our semi-final was a bit chaotic, and the girls were losing their heads and getting involved in too many things that weren’t about the game,” Sileno said.

“The key in the final was controlling the defence, and we knew the attack would come, and I think they did very well.

“Our matrics are very good leaders, and they remained calm and composed in the pool, and that helped us get through today.”

The title is coach Sileno’s first with Saints since joining the school in January.

She made the switch from KwaZulu-Natal’s St Anne’s Diocesan College. Her husband, Jason Sileno, the new Aquatics Director at Saints, formerly plied his trade at Hilton College.

“We haven’t really experienced Joburg yet because we’ve been trying to get our feet under the desk and find our way,” she remarked when asked about the transition.

“But it’s been great. Saints has been welcoming. The community in Johannesburg is awesome, and we have a great family.

“It’s a nice routine to slot into, and we’re getting there.”

The St Stithians Girls’ College team will return to tournament action at the Old Petrian’s Water Polo Tournament at St Peter’s College this month.

The bronze medal match was between Clarendon and Rhenish.

The hosts, under the guidance of coach Hannah Muller, comfortably clinched third place, beating their opponents 9-4.

That final placing matched Clarendon’s performance at the National Aquatics Festival in Durban in 2024.

Scorers in the final

St Stithians Girls’ College 6: Cadha Mosehla (2), June Stander (2), Danielle Sassenberg, Tori Tanner-Ellis. Durban Girls’ College 3: Inge Southey (2), Kayla Andrews.

Results

DGC 18-1 Our Lady of Fatima
St Mary’s Waverly 9-0 Clarendon 2nds
St Stithians 9-3 Maris Stella
St Mary’s Waverley 6-4 Collegiate
Maris Stella 8-5 Clarendon 2nds
Clarendon 14-4 St Mary’s Kloof
DGC 10-7 Rhenish
St Mary’s Kloof 11-6 Our Lady of Fatima
Rhenish 3-2 St Mary’s Waverley
Clarendon 9-5 Collegiate
Clarendon 2nds 5-4 Our Lady of Fatima
St Mary’s Kloof 5-1 Maris Stella
St Mary’s Waverley 3-2 Collegiate

Semi-finals

DGC 10-3 Rhenish
St Stithians 8-7 Clarendon

Final

St Stithians 6-3 DGC

Final standings

St Stithians Girls’ College
Durban Girls’ College
Clarendon High School for Girls
Rhenish Girls’ High School
St Mary’s Waverley
Collegiate Girls’ High School
St Mary’s DSG Kloof
Maris Stella
Clarendon 2nds
Our Lady of Fatima

Clarendon High School for Girls is gearing up to host the 2025 edition of the National Aquatics Festival in East London.

The much-anticipated annual event kicks off on Friday, 31 January, and ends with the final of the water polo competition on Saturday, 1 February, at 13:40.

The action takes place at two venues: The Clarendon Harrison Aquatic Centre and Selborne College.

In attendance will be 10 strong water polo-playing schools, including last year’s champions, Durban Girls’ College (DGC), who defeated St Mary’s Waverley in a penalty shootout to win the title.

The KwaZulu-Natal outfit has been drawn in Pool A and will face the Clarendon, St Mary’s DSG Kloof, Our Lady of Fatima, also from Durban, and Rhenish Girls’ High, from Stellenbosch.

DGC heads into the tournament as one of the favourites to lift the title they claimed in Durban in 2024. They’ll be confident after a strong showing at last week’s Brian Baker Tournament, which was hosted by Kingswood College in Makhanda. There, DGC, despite not yet playing their best polo, finished eighth out of 20 teams.

Clarendon, led by coach Hannah Muller, was also in action at the Brian Baker Tournament and ended in 10th spot.

They defeated Rhenish 6-3 in their playoff match and, as the hosts of the National Aquatics Festival, will be eager to improve the showing of last year’s bronze medal-winning team.

St Mary’s DSG Kloof, Our Lady of Fatima, and Rhenish will also have designs on the silverware and could sprint a surprise or two.

Pool B features some heavyweights, including last year’s runner-up, St Mary’s Waverley. They’ll be up against Maris Stella, Gqeberha’s Collegiate Girls’ High, Clarendon’s second team, and St Stithians College, now led by coach Megan Sileno, who was in charge of St Anne’s last year.

Both of the Gauteng schools, St Mary’s and Saints contested the Brian Baker Tournament a week ago.

There, St Mary’s defeated Kingswood College 6-5 to finish in 11th, while Saints suffered a 4-5 loss against Reddam House Constantia in the bronze medal showdown.

Matches will run concurrently in both swimming pools, with the first games starting at 14:30 on Friday.

Apart from the water polo tournament, the festival also includes a swimming gala, with medals for juniors and seniors on the line.

SWIMMING

Gala Participants

Clarendon High School
C&N Sekondêre Meisieskool Oranje
Durban Girls’ College
Eunice High School
Our Lady of Fatima Dominican Convent School
Collegiate Girls’ High
St Mary’s DSG Kloof
St Mary’s Waverley
St Stithians College
Rhenish
Maris Stella

WATER POLO

Pool A: Clarendon High School for Girls, Durban Girls’ College, St Mary’s Kloof, Our Lady of Fatima Dominican Convent School, Rhenish Girls’ High School.

Pool B: St Mary’s Waverley, St Stithians College, Maris Stella, Collegiate Girls’ High School, Clarendon 2nds.

Fixtures

Friday, 31 January

Harrison Aquatic Centre

14:30 – Clarendon vs Our Lady of Fatima; 15:10 – Rhenish vs St Mary’s DSG Kloof; 15:50 – Durban Girls’ College vs Clarendon; 16:30 – Rhenish vs Our Lady of Fatima; 17:10 – Durban Girls’ College vs St Mary’s DSG Kloof; 17:50 – Clarendon vs Rhenish.

Selborne College

14:30 – St Stithians College vs Collegiate; 15:10 – Maris Stella vs St Mary’s Waverley; 15:50 – Collegiate vs Clarendon 2nds; 16:30 – St Mary’s Waverley vs St Stithians College; 17:10 – Maris Stella vs Collegiate; 17:50 – St Stithians College vs Clarendon 2nds.

Saturday 1 February

Harrison Aquatic Centre

07:00 – Our Lady Fatima vs Durban Girls’ College; 07:40 – Clarendon vs St Mary’s Kloof; 08:20 – Rhenish vs Durban Girls’ College; 09:00 – St Mary’s DSG  Kloof vs Our Lady of Fatima; 09:40 – Quarterfinal 1; 10:20 – Quarterfinal 2; 11:00 – 5th Pool A vs 5th Pool B.

Selborne College

07:00 – Clarendon 2nds vs St Mary’s Waverley; 07:40 – St Stithians College vs Maris Stella; 08:20 – Collegiate vs St Mary’s Waverley; 09:00 – Clarendon 2nds vs Maris Stella; 09:40 – Break; 11:00 – 4th Pool A vs 4th Pool B; 11:40 – Loser quarterfinal 1 vs Loser quarterfinal 2.

Play-offs

Harrison Aquatic Centre

11:40 – Semifinal (1st Pool A vs Winner of Quarterfinal 1); 12:20 – Semifinal 2 (1st Pool B vs Winner of Quarterfinal 2); 13:00 – 3rd/4th play-off; 13:40 – Final.