Rondebosch Boys’ High’s Jack Robinson delivered a match-winning performance against Bishops at the SACS Nite Series. Photo: MBL Sports Photography
Rondebosch Boys’ High dangerman Jack Robinson scored four goals to lead his side to a tension-filled 7-5 victory over Bishops Diocesan College in a SACS Nite Series clash in Cape Town on Wednesday evening.
The highly anticipated Bish/Bosch derby was the highlight of round two’s action, with the teams entertaining and keeping spectators on the edge of their seats for the full four chukkas.
Bishops, meanwhile, topped their pool in Makhanda, but lost in the semi-finals. They finished well, though, securing third place.
Wednesday’s clash got off to an electric start. It was end-to-end stuff. Eight goals were scored in the first half, and there could have been more if not for some outstanding defence.
Robinson was at the forefront of ‘Bosch’s attack and struck twice in the opening two chukkas, while Matthew Galpin and Noah Reiback also found the back of the net.
Matt Fenn scored a brace for Bishops early. Then, goals from Timothy Young and James Malan made it 4-4 at the interval.
The third chukka was thrilling. Despite no goals being scored, both sides exhibited the quality that has many regarding them as the best two teams in the Western Cape.
Both defensive units were on top of their game, while goalkeepers Joel O’Brien (Rondebosch) and Alex Laspatzis (Bishops) pulled off some incredible saves to keep their sides in the contest.
After three tight chukkas, Rondebosch, at last, defused the Bishops’ challenge and went clear.
James Pinnock was the first to find the back of the net. Then, Robinson beat Laspatzis twice in quick succession to open up a three-goal advantage for ‘Bosch.
Bishops had the last say with a goal from Luke Cartwright, but they suffered their first Nite Series defeat of 2025.
Bishops’ dangerman Matt Fenn scored twice in their defeat to Rondebosch in the SACS Nite Series. Photo: MBL Sports Photography
Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG), after a narrow 8-7 win over SACS in the first round of the Nite Series, maintained their unbeaten record with another one-goal win, edging out Reddam House Constantia 7-6.
James Swart scored a hat-trick for PRG, while Aiden Laubser and Franz Wetzl bagged two each.
SACS got back on the winning trail with a hard-fought 5-4 win over Wynberg Boys’ High
Jandro Rojo-Roos led the scoring for the hosts, with two goals, while Ben Bigara, Connor Mortlock, and captain, Matt Forbes also got their names on the scoresheet.
Scorers
Rondebosch Boys’ High 7: Jack Robinson (4), Matthew Galpin, Noah Reiback, James Pinnock. Bishops Diocesan College 5: Matt Fenn (2), Timothy Young, James Malan, Luke Cartwright.
Paul Roos Gimnasium 7: James Swart (3), Aiden Laubser (2), Franz Wetzl (2). Reddam House Constantia 6: Blake Brown (2), Adam Brown, Pierre Johnson, Jayden Bosman, Jethro Montagu-Fryer.
SACS 5: Jandro Rojo-Roos (2), Ben Bigara, Matt Forbes, Connor Mortlock. Wynberg Boys’ High 4: Alex Barret (2), Timothy Belcher, Riley Clarke.
Bishops’ goalkeeper Michael Mafunda in action for his team during the SAC Shield in Makhanda. Photo: Toni Butterworth
Southern suburbs’ bragging rights will be on the line on Wednesday when Bishops Diocesan College faces Rondebosch Boys’ High in round two of the SACS Nite Series in Cape Town.
The highly anticipated Bish/Bosch clash takes place at the SACS Aquatic Centre and could be a humdinger as it brings together two teams in red-hot form.
Coach Jabulani Sibiya’s troops thumped Wynberg 15-6 while ‘Bosch, under the guidance of coach Jared Wingate-Pearse, outscored Reddam House Constantia20-10.
Then, the sides headed off to Makhanda to contest the annual St Andrew’’ College (SAC) Shield from Thursday to Sunday.
They were drawn in different groups and both ended up topping their pools. That meant they avoided one another in the playoffs.
It was, however, ‘Bosch who reigned supreme. They beat St John’s College 12-7 in the final to claim the silverware. Bishops, meanwhile, finished in third place after defeating Selborne College 9-4 in the bronze medal match.
The Nite Series showdown couldn’t have come at a better time with the rivals playing at a high level.
They last met in the Bishops Water Polo Tournament, with Rondebosch sneaking a tight 2-1 victory.
There are plenty of interesting matchups to look forward to. At the back, goalkeepers, Michael Mafunda and Joel O’Brien, will have key roles to play. In front of them, both sides boast strong defences. Bishops will look to Timothy Young to set the tone for them, while Dante Moore and James Pinnock will need to be at their best for ‘Bosch.
Rondebosch’s Dante Moore will have an important role to play as his team chases a second win in the Nite Series. Photo: Toni Butterowrth
Up front is where the match could be won or lost.
Bishops will bank on Matt Fenn to have another scorcher after netting eight times in round one’s win over Wynberg. Owen Cross also impressed in that high-scoring victory.
As for ‘Bosch, they are spoilt for choices in attack, with Noah Reiback, who has been in prolific form of late, a dangerman for them.
Jack Robinson is another player to keep an eye on. He scored seven of his team’s 20 goals against Reddam.
While individual brilliance could prove to be the difference, team effort within both camps will be the key to victory.
Teams
Rondebosch Boys’ High: Joel O’Brien, Ryan Lawlor, Zack Labuschangne, James Pinnock, Dante Moore, Kieran Bennewith, Rupert Robinson, Matthew Galpin, Luke Burger, Noah Reiback, Jack Robinson, Joshua Ripsold, Ben Gray.
Bishops Diocesan College: Michael Mafunda, Luke Cartwright, Harry Ford, Owen Cross, Jack Grout, Timothy Young, Noah Edmunds, Milo Letschert, Heath Blackwell, Daniel van der Heever, James Malan, Matt Fenn, Alex Laspatzis.
Fixtures
17:00 – Bishops Diocesan College vs Rondebosch Boys’ High
17:50 – Paul Roos Gimnasium vs Reddam House Constantia
18:40 – SACS vs Wynberg Boys’ High
Reddam House Constantia’s Adam Brown scored four times for his team during their SACS Nite Series opener against Rondebosch Boys’ High. Photo: MBL Sports Photography
Executing the game plan and maintaining concentration for four chukkas will be the focus for Reddam House Constantia when they face Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG) in round two of the SACS Nite Series in Cape Town on Wednesday.
In that clash, coach Nick Tinkler‘s charges put up a brave showing and fought tooth and nail until the final whistle.
Offensively, they did well, with Matthew Cox, Alakay Harwood, and Oliver Finlayson striking once each, while the Brown brothers, Adam and Blake, scored four and three goals, respectively.
“We lost concentration for short periods of time, and that’s when they scored multiple goals in quick succession,” Tinkler said in his assessment of the match against a ‘Bosch team that went on to lift the SAC Shieldon Sunday.
“We were in the game for large amounts of time, which was a huge positive, but we need to be playing for four full chukkas in order to beat strong teams,” he said.
Those two campaigns assisted coach Tinkler to test combinations and variations.
At the end of 2024, only captain Matt Mincher bade farewell to the team, which means Reddam House returns an experienced team for 2025.
“Our preparation has been good,” Tinkler further told SuperSport Schools Plus. “The boys have been training consistently well. We have a larger first team squad this year, which has helped create some healthy competition in the team, and we are looking forward to a good season ahead.
“We lost Matt [Mincher], but we have some good up-and-coming talents, such as Alakay Harwood, and two talented goalkeepers in Guy Hart and Brodie Pascoe.”
Reddam will be brimming with confidence heading into their clash against PRG considering the outcome of their last meeting. During the Bishops Festival, it was Reddam who came out on top, winning 7-3.
Tinkler is optimistic they can get the better of PRG again if they work on one key aspect of their game. “I think we just need to play consistently for four chukkas,” he explained.
Reddam House Constantia’s Struan Valentine in action for his team during round 1 of the SACS Nite Series. Photo: MLB Sports Photography
“The quality of the teams in the Western Cape is so high that you cannot afford to lose concentration at all in games like this.
“If we can execute our plan for the game from beginning to end, then we should hopefully be able to have a good game against PRG.”
The mid-week showdown against the Stellenbosch outfit will prepare Reddam for the Grey College ITEC Water Polo Tournament, which takes place from Thursday, 30 January, to Sunday, 2 February, in Bloemfontein.
After that, the Cape Town school will head to East London for the annual Vides Water Polo Tournament, which is hosted by Selborne College.
The team has set realistic goals for the forthcoming tournaments, and the coach wants to see his players reach their full potential.
“We have set ourselves goals of making the top four of all tournaments that we take part in this year, including the Schools League and the Nite Series.
“However, we know that we are not limited to the top four and can go all the way in any one of the tournaments that we take part in. I am looking forward to seeing this group reach their full potential this season,” he ended.
SACS Nite Series fixtures
29 January
17:00 – Bishops Diocesan College vs Rondebosch Boys’ High
17:50 – Paul Roos Gimnasium vs Reddam House Constantia
18:40 – SACS vs Wynberg Boys’ High
The Rondebosch Boys’ High team, with their coaches, Jared Wingate-Pearse and Etienne Le Roux, after winning the 2025 SAC Shield in Makhanda. Photo: Toni Butterworth
Rondebosch Boys’ High claimed the honours at the St Andrew’s College (SAC) Shield after a hard-fought but convincing 12-7 win over St John’s College in the final in Makhanda on Sunday.
‘Bosch, who entered the tournament after impressing in the pre-season and the opening round of the SACS Nite Series, was, by far, the most impressive team throughout the four-day event.
They played entertaining water polo, scored bucketloads of goals, and defended strongly.
Coach Jared Wingate-Pearse’s charges were drawn in Pool B, along with Paul Roos Gimnasium, Hilton College, St John’s, Selborne College, and Grey High School.
They dominated their pool, scoring 52 goals and conceding just 35.
The Cape Town school kept their winning record going in the knockout stages, handing SACS a 13-9 defeat in the quarterfinals before rolling to an 11-6 win over Selborne in the semi-finals. St John’s defeated another southern suburbs power, Bishops Diocesan College, 8-6 in their semifinal.
‘Bosch was not about to let history repeat itself. They went down a goal behind early on but quickly recovered to take control of the contest.
After the first chukka, they led 3-1, thanks to goals from Luke Burger, James Pinnock, and stalwart Noah Reiback.
St John’s came out fighting in the second chukka, with coach Vlado Trninic’s charges tigerishly refusing to go down without a fight. They netted three goals through Christopher Chapman, Sebastian Bruinders, and Luke Towell but Rondebosch kept chipping away and another Reiback strike, followed by a Rupert Robinson goal, lifted them into a 5-4 lead at the halfway mark.
The third quarter, the “championship chukka,” was tightly contested and produced four goals, two for each side, as the action intensified.
Rondebosch Boys’ High head coach Jared Wingate-Pearse celebrating with his team after their SAC Shield triumph in Makhanda. Photo: Toni Butterworth
Jack Robinson, Rupert’s brother, and Joshua Ripsold extended ‘Bosch’s lead before Nicholas Searle scored twice for St John’s to make it Rondebosch 7, St John’s 6, heading into the final chukka.
With the game on the line, the Johannesburg outfit was outplayed in the final chukka and mustered only a consolation goal scored by Ethan Wilcocks. ‘Bosch, meanwhile, racked up five more goals, with Reiback striking twice more before the Robinson brothers completed their doubles.
Kieran Bennewith added another as Rondebosch completed a deserved victory to ensure the SAC Shield remains in the Western Cape. Last year, it went to SACS.
The bronze medal match was between Bishops Diocesan College and Selborne College. Both sides were eager to end their campaigns on a high after missing out on the title game.
It was Bishops, under the guidance of coach Jabulani Sibiya, who delivered the necessary performance and recorded a 9-4 win to take third place, one year after going down in the final to SACS.
Hilton College finished as the best of the KwaZulu-Natal teams, in fifth place, while Clifton College claimed seventh spot.
Grey High School had a tournament to forget, going winless after Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG) beat them in the playoff for 11th and 12th.
Scorers in the final
Rondebosch Boys’ High 12: Noah Reiback (4), Rupert Robinson (2), Jack Robinson (2), Luke Burger, James Pinnock, Joshua Ripsold, Kieran Bennewith. St John’s College 7: Nicholas Searle (2), Simon Mussett, Luke Towell, Sebastian Bruinders, Ethan Wilcocks, Christopher Chapman.
RESULTS DAY 4
11th/12th – Paul Roos Gimnasium 9-8 Grey High School
9th/10th – St Andrew’s College 9-5 Westville Boys’ High
7th/8th – Clifton College 9-7 St Stithians College
5th/6th – Hilton College 10-9 SACS
3rd/4th – Bishops Diocesan College 9-4 Selborne College
1st/2nd – Rondebosch Boys’ High 12-7 St John’s College
St John’s College goalkeeper Kamogelo Thobejane made some crucial saves for his side as they qualified for the final on day three of the SAC Shield in Makhanda. Photo: Toni Butterworth
New St Andrew’s College (SAC)Shield champions will be crowned after St John’s College and Rondebosch Boys’ High booked their places in the final on Saturday in Makhanda.
The annual tournament, hosted by St Andrew’s College, kicked off on Thursday and culminates with the highly anticipated final on Sunday at 12:10.
The event has produced fireworks and entertained from the get-go, including some shock results along the way.
To reserve their place in the title decider, St John’s recorded a gritty 8-6 win over Bishops Diocesan College, while Rondebosch outplayed Selborne College 11-6 in the other semi-final to secure a shot at the silverware.
St John’s, under the leadership of coaches Vlado Trninic and Jon-Marc De Carvalho, powered their way into the semi-finals with a convincing 14-7 defeat of Clifton College 14-7 in the last eight.
They were out of the blocks quickly and opened the scoring through their influential skipper, Nicholas Searle, within two minutes of the start of the contest.
They never trailed, although it was tight at half-time, with St John’s a goal ahead at 4-3 after Searle struck again, which was followed by goals from Luke Shipway and Christopher Chapman.
Bishops came out firing in the third chukka and drew first blood when captain Heath Blackwell found the back of the net early on to level matters.
Fan favourite Luke Shipway quickly restored the St John’s lead and upped his personal tally to two goals. As the contest headed into the final chukka, St John’s led 5-4.
They increased their advantage to two goals with a sixth goal early in the final quarter through Ethan Wilcocks, which served to increase the pressure on coach Jabulani Sibiya’s side.
Bishops was still in it, though, and they created opportunities, even without one of their key players, Timothy Young, who received three exclusions. The Capetonians struggled to finish, however. But credit must go to the St John’s defenders, who handled dangerman Matt Fenn well.
Owen Cross netted the last Bishops’ goal before Searle and Luke Towell took the game out of reach.
Rondebosch’s Matthew Galpin scored a brace for his team during their SAC Shield semifinal win against Selborne. Photo: Toni Butterworth
In the second semi-final, Rondebosch put their unbeaten record on the line against an unpredictable Selborne College outfit.
Coach Jared Wingate-Pearse’s boys, who had impressed all tournament long, faced one final hurdle in their pursuit of a place in the final, but they found themselves trailing early on when Dominic Stegman snuck one past Joel O’Brien.
That goal was, however, the wake-up call that ‘Bosch needed, and soon after they went into attack mode, scoring some outrageous goals that kept the spectators on the edge of their seats.
Noah Reiback, a regular goal-scorer, netted a hat-trick and was joined on the score sheet by Jack Robinson, Kieran Bennewith, and Matthew Galpin, who contributed two goals each. Luke Burger and Rupert Robinson completed the Rondebosch scoring.
Samuel van der Venter’s and Liam Hansen’s doubles provided a little silver lining for Selborne.
In some of the day’s other matches, Hilton College comfortably defeated their KZN rivals, Clifton, 13-5 in a 5th/8th playoff match, while SACS, the 2024 champions, bounced back from a quarterfinal loss to Rondebosch to edge past St Stithians College 10-9.
The final day’s action will begin with a clash between Grey High School and Paul Roos Gimnasium at 08:00.
Scorers in the semifinals
St John’s College 8: Nicholas Searle (3), Luke Shipway (2), Christopher Chapman, Luke Towell, Ethan Wilcocks. Bishops 6: Matt Fenn (2), Owen Cross (2), Heath Blackwell, James Malan.
Rondebosch Boys High 11: Noah Reiback (3), Jack Robinson (2), Kieran Bennewith (2), Matthew Galpin (2), Luke Burger, Rupert Robinson. Selborne College 6: Samuel van der Venter (2), Liam Hansen (2), Dominic Stegman, Connor Maree.
DAY 3 RESULTS
Pool A
Bishops Diocesan College 13-1 Westville Boys’ High
Clifton College (2) 7-7 (1) SACS
Pool B
Rondebosch Boys’ High 9-3 Grey High School
Quarterfinals
Bishops Diocesan College (3) 10-10 (1) Hilton College
Selborne College 9-5 St Stithians College
St John’s College 14-7 Clifton College
Rondebosch Boys’ High 13-9 SACS
Plate semifinals
St Andrew’s College 12-8 Grey High School
Westville Boys’ High (3) 8-8 (1) Paul Roos Gimnasium
Positions 5-8
Hilton College 13-5 Clifton College
SACS 10-9 St Stithians College
Semi-finals
St John’s College 8-6 Bishops Diocesan College
Rondebosch Boys’ High 11-6 Selborne College
Fixtures
Sunday, 26 January
08:00 – Grey High vs Paul Roos Gimnasium – 11th/12th 08:50 – St Andrew’s College vs Westville Boys’ High – 9th/10th 09:40 – Clifton College vs St Stithians College – 7th/8th 10:30 – SACS vs Hilton – 5th/6th 11:20 – Selborne College vs Bishops – 3rd/4th 12:10 – St John’s College vs Rondebosch – 1st/2nd
Bishops’ Owen Cross in action for his side against St Andrew’s College on the second day of the SAC Shield in Makhanda. Photo: Toni Butterworth.
Entertaining match-ups, nail-biting contests, and shock results highlighted the second day of the St Andrew’s College (SAC) Shield on Friday in Makhanda.
After two days, Bishops Diocesan College and Rondebosch Boys’ High lead Pool A and B respectively, and both remain unbeaten.
Bishops made it four wins from four after beating St Andrew’s College 13-7 before outscoring their southern suburbs rivals, SACS, 12-3 later in the day.
Matt Fenn scored five times against the hosts after a couple of impressive performances on day one.
Harry Ford added a hattrick, while Owen Cross, Timothy Young, Luke Cartwright, Noah Edmunds, and Heath Blackwell all found the back of the net.
Coach Jabulani Sibiya’s side plays a final pool game against Westville Boys’ High on Saturday morning before their shifting attention to the quarterfinals.
Another Pool A side, which is eager to make it to the last eight and cause an upset, is St Stithians College, led by coach Michael Stewart.
After a win and a loss on Thursday, Saintsreturned with vigour and confidence and dominated on Friday, beating KZN’s Westville 11-8 and Clifton College 14-5.
The KZN schools would have not enjoyed those defeats, but they both would have departed the pool on Friday in an optimistic mood after bagging crucial wins of their own.
Coach Matt Stringer’s Westville side boys pulled off their first win in Makhanda by stunning SACS 6-5. Henry Harker led the way with a double, while Oli van der Merwe, Brogan Jones, Drew Hollingsworth, and Andrew Boucher all netted, too.
Clifton pulled off an impressive turnaround and bounced back from their disappointing loss to Saints with a 9-7 win over St Andrew’s College.
Nathan Burger, who has been a frequent goal scorer for the Durban school, bagged a brace alongside Kyle Human and Daniel Nothard. Nabil Bejia, Jake Frederic, and Jamie Nicolau also got in on the action with a goal each.
Rondebosch Boys’ High’s Joshua Ripsold going for goal against Selborne College on day two of the SAC Shield. Photo: Toni Butterworth.
Rondebosch Boys’ High is in full control of Pool B after maintaining a 100 percent winning record, although they came close to losing it.
Coach Jared Wingate-Pearse‘s boys form a confident unit, but they were forced to grind out wins over St John’sCollege and Selborne College on day two.
Their first game, against St John’s, went to a penalty shootout, while Selborne made ‘Bosch work hard before the Cape Town boys secured a 12-8 victory.
Selborne, despite the defeat to ‘Bosch, was another team that played attractive and smart water polo on the day.
Coach Storm Siebert’s troops defeated Grey High in a provincial tussle early on before pulling off their biggest win of the year so far against Hilton College.
Selborne stunned Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG) on day one, but the win against Hilton puts coach Siebert’s side in prime position to qualify for the next round.
Earlier, Hilton comfortably beat PRG and then won by an impressive five goals against St John’s. They were flying…until Selborne sunk them in the third outing of the day for the coach Paul Martin‘s charges.
It wasn’t the best of days for St John’s. However, they also beat PRG to claw back some ground after going down to Rondebosch and Hilton.
St John’s captain Nicholas Searle led from the front in all three matches. He was joined on the score sheets by Luke Shipway, Chris Chapman, Sam Gomes, Ethan Wilcocks, Fedor Sadovnik, and Sebastian Bruinders.
PRG recorded their first win of the tournament after edging out Grey High 9-7.
The final three pool matches will kickstart the action on day three before the quarterfinals and semifinals are played later in the day.
DAY 2 RESULTS
Pool A
Westville Boys’ High 6-5 SACS
Bishops Diocesan College 13-7 St Andrew’s College
Stithians College 14-5 Clifton College
Stithians College 11-8 Westville Boys’ High
Clifton College 9-7 St Andrew’s College
Bishops Diocesan College 12-3 SACS.
Pool B
Hilton College 10-5 Paul Roos Gimnasium
Rondebosch Boys’ High (3) 8-8 (1) St John’s College
Selborne College 9-7 Grey High School
Paul Roos Gimnasium 7-5 Grey High School
Rondebosch Boys’ High 12-8 Selborne College
Hilton College 8-3 St John’s College
St John’s College 9-7 Paul Roos Gimnasium
Selborne College 12-9 Hilton College
FIXTURES
Saturday, 25 January
Pool A
07:00 – Bishops Diocesan College vs Westville Boys’ High; 07:50 – SACS vs Clifton College.
St Andrew’s College’s Coel Trollip in action for his team on the opening day of the SAC Shield. Photo: Toni Butterworth
A whopping total of 214 goals were scored across the 13 matches on the opening day of the St Andrew’s College (SAC) Shield, hosted by St Andrew’s College, in Makhanda on Thursday.
The annual tournament, which features some of South Africa’s best water polo-playing schools, runs until Sunday, 26 January, with the final scheduled for 12:10.
Much was expected from the opening day’s play, with sunny and warm weather creating ideal playing conditions.
It was fitting that the hosts kicked off matters with a Pool A clash against Westville Boys’ High.
Head coach Grant Mackenzie‘s troops were quickly out of the blocks and played some exciting polo, displaying maturity in attack and defence, to secure an 11-5 victory.
Their second outing of the day resulted in a hard-fought 6-9 defeat against South African College High School (SACS).
The big winners in the group were the Cape duo of Bishops Diocesan College and SACS, who scooped up two wins apiece.
Bishops, led by skipper Heath Blackwell, looked dangerous when in possession and they were clinical in front of goal, although they allowed 14 goals to get past their goalkeeper Michael Mafunda.
They did just enough to defeat Clifton College and St Stithians College in matches where scoring goals appeared to come easily for the Cape Town school.
Prolific goalscorer Matt Fenn netted six times across the two matches, while Owen Cross chipped in with a handful.
Goals were scored from all angles by Bishops as Tim Young, Milo Letschert, Heath Blackshaw, and Luke Cartwright all found the back of the net. James Malan topped off his day with a hat-trick.
SACS won against St Andrew’s College and St Stithians, while another team that impressed was Clifton College.
Despite losing against Bishops, coach Pierre Le Roux‘s boys bounced impressively, beating their provincial rivals, Westville 8-5.
Jamie Nicolau led the scoring with four goals, while Kyle Human netted a brace. Connor Donaldson and Nathan Burger added one each.
St John’s College captain, Nicholas Searle, led his team to two wins on day one of the SAC Shield. Photo: Toni Butterworth,
Pool B was dominated by Rondebosch Boys’ High and St John’s College, while Selborne College pulled off a shock result.
They edged out Hilton College in their opener before outmuscling Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG) in their second match of the day.
St John’s, meanwhile, led by veteran coach Vlado Trninic, never got out of first gear but still managed to get the job done against Selborne and Grey High School.
Nicholas Searle was among the St John’s scorers. Luke Shipway and Luke Towell both doubled up against Selborne, and Chris Chapman chipped in with a solitary goal.
Coach Storm Siebert‘s Selborne side caused the upset of the tournament so far by beating PRG 5-4.
It was the lowest-scoring match of the day and was won only 20 seconds from time when SA Schools’ forward Liam Hansen converted from five metres out.
Hilton recovered from their defeat against Rondebosch to beat Grey High 17-13.
Only three teams remain without a win after day one. Day two presents an opportunity for Westville, Grey High, and PRG to place a tick in the win column.
DAY 1 RESULTS
Pool A
St Andrew’s College 11-5 Westville Boys’ High
Bishops 12-6 Clifton College
Clifton College 8-5 Westville Boys’ High
Bishops 10-8 St Stithians College
SACS 9-6 St Andrew’s College
St Stithians College 9-4 St Andrew’s College
SACS 10-7 St Stithians College
Pool B
Rondebosch Boys’ High 13-11 Hilton College
St John’s College 7-5 Selborne College
Hilton College 17-14 Grey High
Selborne College 4-3 Paul Roos Gimnasium
St John’s College 10-5 Grey High
Rondebosch Boys’ High 10-5 Paul Roos Gimnasium
Fixtures
Friday, 24 January
Pool A
09:30 – SACS vs Westville Boys’ High; 10:20 – St Andrew’s College vs Bishops Diocesan College; 11:10 – Clifton College vs Stithians College; 14:30 – Westville Boys’ High vs Stithians College; 15:20 – Clifton College vs St Andrew’s College; 16:10 – Bishops Diocesan College vs SACS.
Pool B
07:00 – Hilton College vs Paul Roos Gimnasium; 07:50 – Rondebosch Boys’ High vs St John’s College; 08:40 – Grey High School vs Selborne College; 12:00 – Paul Roos Gimnasium vs Grey High School; 12:50 – Selborne College vs Rondebosch Boys’ High; 13:40 – St John’s College vs Hilton College; 17:00 – St John’s College vs Paul Roos Gimnasium; 17:50 – Hilton College vs Selborne College.
Saturday, 25 January
Pool A
07:00 – Bishops Diocesan College vs Westville Boys’ High; 07:50 – SACS vs Clifton College.
St Andrew’s captain, Coel Trollip, will be aiming to lead his team to glory in home waters at the SAC Shield.
(Please note Thursday fixtures were amended on Thursday morning, see below)
Residents in Makhanda, in the Eastern Cape, can expect a buzz of activity, churning water, and loud cheers with two major water polo tournaments grabbing the spotlight in the town this weekend.
The action will happen thick and fast at the annual St Andrew’s College (SAC) Shield, while nearby Kingswood College welcomes some of the top girls’ teams from across South Africa for the Brian Baker Tournament.
Last year’s finalists, SACS and Bishops, have been drawn in Pool A along with St Andrew’s College, St Stithians College, and the KwaZulu-Natal duo of Westville Boys’ High and Clifton College.
SACS and Bishops, led by coaches Devon Card and Jabulani Sibiya, will be among the favourites to go all the way.
Bishops have made a bright start to their season and impressed in Tuesday’s opening round of the SACS Nite Series. Sibiya’s charges, meanwhile, handily defeated Wynberg Boys’ High 15-6, but SACS suffered an early blow, slipping to a narrow 7-8 defeat to Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG).
The hosts, St Andrew’s College, are buzzing heading into the SAC Shield. Understandably so. Under the guidance of head coach Grant Mackenzie, the Makhanda boys got their season off to a cracking start last week. They thumped Kingswood College 11-1, Pearson High 9-1, and Woodridge College 8-1 in games Mackenzie said, “provided excellent preparation” for the tournament.
Westville Boys’ High and Clifton College will also be out to stake a claim in Makhanda. Clifton has begun life under new head coach Pierre le Roux, who returned from New Zealand to take over from Paul Martin, who has joined Hilton College.
Le Roux, who has been back in South Africa for only two weeks, watched his team coast to an emphatic 24-2 win over St Charles College on the weekend. Westville, meanwhile, won 15-8 at Maritzburg College.
The other Pool A side is Stithians College, one of the dark horse title contenders. Coach Michael Stewart’s boys finished ninth last year and they’ll have their sights set far higher this time around. They’re unpredictable and could spring a few surprises.
Pool A is stacked with quality fixtures and teams. So, too, is Pool B.
Rondebosch forward Jack Robinson (Cap: 11) will pose a serious threat to ‘Bosch’s opponents in Makhanda. Photo: MBL Sports Photography
St John’s College, who finished third in 2024, will be gunning for the top spot in 2025. Coached by the experienced Vlad Trninic, they defeated Jeppe High School for Boys 12-5 in their season opener last weekend.
St John’s will battle it out in Pool B with Rondebosch Boys’ High, Paul Roos, Grey High, Selborne College, and Hilton College.
Both Rondebosch and PRG had their confidence boost after wins in the SACS Nite Series over Reddam House Constantia and SACS respectively.
As previously mentioned, Hilton College has a new coach, Paul Martin. He’s a top coach and over the previous decade compiled an outstanding record at Clifton.
His first match in charge, on Saturday, resulted in a big 15-1 win over Glenwood High School, so Hilton, with some key performers from last year’s lineup returning, should fancy their chances in Makhanda.
Grey High and Selborne College complete the group, and they will want to make a statement playing in their home province. At last year’s Schools Water Polo South Africa Inter-Provincial Tournament, Buffalo City‘s u19 side, made up solely of players from Selborne, finished an admirable fourth.
The first match of the tournament features St Andrew’s College against Westville Boys’ High at 07:30.
Previous winners
2024 – SACS
2023 – Paul Roos Gimnasium
2022 – Bishops Diocesan College
2021 – St Andrew’s College
2020 – Bishops Diocesan College
2019 – SACS
Groups
Pool A: St Andrew’s College, Westville Boys’ High, SACS, St Stithians College, Bishops, Clifton College. Pool B: Rondebosch Boys’ High, Selborne College, Paul Roos Gimnasium, Grey High School, Hilton College, St John’s College.
Fixtures
Thursday, 23 January
Pool A
07:30 – St Andrew’s College vs Westville Boys’ High; 08:20 – Clifton College vs Bishops Diocesan College; 10:50 – Bishops Diocesan College vs St Stithians College; 11:40 – Westville Boys’ High vs Clifton College; 12:30 – SACS vs St Andrew’s College; 15:00 – St Andrew’s College vs St Stithians College; 17:30 St Stithians College vs SACS
Pool B
09:10 – Hilton College vs Rondebosch Boys’ High; 10:00 – Selborne College vs St John’s College; 13:20 – Grey High School vs Hilton College; 14:10 – Paul Roos vs Selborne College; 15:50 – St John’s College vs Grey High School; 16:40 – Rondebosch Boys’ High vs Paul Roos
Friday, 24 January
Pool A
09:30 – SACS vs Westville Boys’ High; 10:20 – St Andrew’s College vs Bishops Diocesan College; 11:10 – Clifton College vs Stithians College; 14:30 – Westville Boys’ High vs Stithians College; 15:20 – Clifton College vs St Andrew’s College; 16:10 – Bishops Diocesan College vs SACS.
Pool B
07:00 – Hilton College vs Paul Roos Gimnasium; 07:50 – Rondebosch Boys’ High vs St John’s College; 08:40 – Grey High School vs Selborne College; 12:00 – Paul Roos Gimnasium vs Grey High School; 12:50 – Selborne College vs Rondebosch Boys’ High; 13:40 – St John’s College vs Hilton College; 17:00 – St John’s College vs Paul Roos Gimnasium; 17:50 – Hilton College vs Selborne College.
Saturday, 25 January
Pool A
07:00 – Bishops Diocesan College vs Westville Boys’ High; 07:50 – SACS vs Clifton College.
PRG’s Andrew Reynolds scored a goal in his team’s hard-fought 8-7 win over SACS. Photo: MBL Sports Photography
There were wins for Rondebosch Boys’ High, Bishops Diocesan College, and Paul Roos Gimnasium(PRG) in the opening round of the 2025 SACS Nite Series in Cape Town on Tuesday.
The action at the SACS Aquatics Centre kicked off with ‘Bosch recording a comprehensive 20-10 win over Reddam House Constantia.
Bishops followed suit and defeated Wynberg Boys’ High 15-6 before PRG stunned the hosts, SACS, 8-7, in the final match of the day.
It was a high-scoring opening round and an opportunity for Rondebosch, Bishops, and PRG to flex their muscles ahead of the St Andrew’s College (SAC) Shield, which runs from Thursday to Sunday, in Makhanda.
‘Bosch, was, without a doubt, a doubt a cut above the rest and delivered entertaining water polo that made spectators sit up and take notice.
Coach Jared Wingate-Pearse’s outfit was ruthless in front of goal, defended well, and capitalised on the chances they created.
Forward, Jack Robinson, was in a league of his own and ended the day as his team’s standout player. The Rondebosch number 11 was a match-up nightmare and netted seven times. Close behind him on the score sheet was Noah Reiback, who struck six times. Kieran Bennewith joined the party with a hat-trick of goals.
Despite the defeat, Reddam will draw inspiration from the never-say-attitude of the Brown brothers, Adam and Blake, who stood tall in the face of the Rondebosch onslaught.
That duo was by far the best of the Reddam players and, between them, they scored seven goals. Matthew Cox, Alakay Harwood, and Oliver Finlayson netted once each.
The second Nite Serie match pitted Bishops against Wynberg Boys’ High.
Bishops, the defending champion, was favoured to win the clash and, after a slow start, they found their groove in the second half.
Matt Fenn, a prolific goal scorer, was back making life miserable for defenders and scored a whopping eight goals. Owen Cross netted a hattrick, while Sebastian Kastern delivered the only silver lining for Wynberg with his brace.
Bishops brushed aside Wynberg to claim their first SACS Nite Series win of 2025. Photo: MBL Sports Photography
The most eagerly awaited match was the showdown between SACS and PRG. It was expected to be tight and it delivered on those expectations.
Heading into the clash, both units were somewhat dissatisfied with their recent form at the Bishops Water Polo Tournament and were aiming for bounce-back performances.
Compared to the first two matches, it was a low-scoring affair. But it was keenly contested and entertaining and, after the third chukka, SACS looked set to claim victory.
The momentum shifted, however, when SACS head coach Devon Card was given his marching orders in the final chukka.
Trailing by three goals, PRG’s Karl Jeppe stepped up with two quick strikes, to pull his side back into the game. Then, a late goal from Ben van Zyl sealed the win for the Stellenbosch school.
The first round of matches suggested who the top dogs might be, but with four rounds still to be played, Tuesday’s losing sides – SACS, Reddam, and Wynberg – will not be too concerned.
Scorers
Rondebosch Boys’ High 20: Jack Robinson (7), Noah Reiback (6), Kieran Bennewith (3), Luke Burger (2), James Pinnock, Zack Labuschagne. Reddam House Constantia 10: Adam Brown (4), Blake Brown (3), Matthew Cox, Alakay Harwood, Oliver Finlayson.
Bishops Diocesan College 15: Matt Fenn (8), Owen Cross (3), Harry Ford, Timothy Young, Noah Edmunds, James Malan. Wynberg Boys’ High 6: Sebastian Kastern (2), Samuel Mocke, Riley Clarke, Jack de Beer, Logan Petersen.
Paul Roos Gimnasium 8: Migael Terblanche (2), Karl Jeppe (2), James Swart, Ruben van der Merwe, Andrew Paris Reynolds, Ben van Zyl. SACS 7: Matt Forbes (3), Jandro Rojo-Roos (3), Connor Mortlock.
Fixtures
29 January
17:00 – Bishops Diocesan College vs Rondebosch Boys’ High
17:50 – Paul Roos Gimnasium vs Reddam House Constantia
18:40 – SACS vs Wynberg Boys’ High
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
12 February
17:00 – SACS vs Rondebosch Boys’ High
17:50 – Wynberg Boys’ High vs Paul Roos Gimnasium
18:40 – Reddam House Constantia vs Bishops Diocesan College
19 February
17:00 – Rondebosch Boys’ High vs Wynberg Boys’ High
17:50 – SACS vs Reddam House Constantia
18:40 – Paul Roos Gimnasium vs Bishops Diocesan College
Bishops’ playmaker, Timothy Young, will be in action for his school during the SACS Nite Series. Photo: Cobus Saunders
Five long weeks of intense, competitive, and breathtaking water polo action will decide the 2025 SACS Nite Series champions in the Western Cape.
The much-anticipated annual series will see the best water polo-playing schools in the Western Cape assemble at the SACS Aquatics Centre from Tuesday, 21 January, until the final, which is scheduled for 25 February.
In action across the five rounds will be the hosts, along with Bishops Diocesan College, Wynberg Boys’ High, Rondebosch Boys’ High, Reddam House Constantia, and Paul Roos Gimnasium(PRG).
Led by Heath Blackwell, Bishops ran riot in home waters and emerged with a clean record after beating Paarl Boys’ High 7-1, Reddam House Constantia 8-3, WynbergBoys’ High 7-2, and SACS 7-4 in the final.
Bishops, who kick off their SACS Nite Series campaign against Wynberg, will be one of the favourites to claim the Nite Series honours. Another side to keep an eye out for is Rondebosch Boys’ High.
Coach Jared Wingate-Pearse’s outfit has been on the up for the past two seasons, and it looks like everything is starting to click.
Their monumental triumph at the KES Water Polo Tournament last season laid a sturdy foundation from which to build for ‘Bosch.
They’ve retained some of their top talent while integrating exciting youngsters into the team. Some of the young players to keep an eye out for include Zack Labuschagne, Dante Moore, and Kieran Bennewith, who all helped Rondebosch win the u15 Ian Melliar Cuplate last year.
Noah Reiback is another player who will be aiming to make waves in the pool after a stellar season in 2024.
‘Bosch’s first Nite series assignment will be against coach Nick Tinkler‘s Reddam House Constantia.
Rondebosch is gunning for top honours in the 2025 SACS Nite Series. Photo: TeamPhoto SA
SACS, meanwhile, will come into the Nite Series with a big point to prove after missing out last year.
Forbes has been entrusted with leading a youthful squad featuring exciting players, like Benjamin Bigara, Connor Mortlock, and Aidan Turrell.
SACS will also bank on the experience of Finn Lecuona and Jandro Rojo-Roos, who proved to be a handful for their opponents last season.
PRG, Wynberg, and Reddam House are also in with a chance in the series, where the result of every match will be crucial.
Head coach of PRG, Vaugh Marlow, will expect a much better showing from his side after they struggled at the Bishops tournament.
There, Marlow’s troops were far from their best and finished in fifth place behind Reddam, after going down 3-7 against the Constantia school.
The opening round of the series will also provide SACS, Bishops, Rondebosch, and PRG with much-needed preparation for the SAC Shield, which kicks off in Makhanda, at St Andrew’s College, on Thursday, 23 January.
SACS Nite Series fixtures
21 January
17:00 – Rondebosch Boys’ High vs Reddam House Constantia
17:50 – Wynberg Boys’ High vs Bishops Diocesan College
18:40 – SACS vs Paul Roos Gimnasium
29 January
17:00 – Bishops Diocesan College vs Rondebosch Boys’ High
17:50 – Paul Roos Gimnasium vs Reddam House Constantia
18:40 – SACS vs Wynberg Boys’ High
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
12 February
17:00 – SACS vs Rondebosch Boys’ High
17:50 – Wynberg Boys’ High vs Paul Roos Gimnasium
18:40 – Reddam House Constantia vs Bishops Diocesan College
19 February
17:00 – Rondebosch Boys’ High vs Wynberg Boys’’High
17:50 – SACS vs Reddam House Constantia
18:40 – Paul Roos Gimnasium vs Bishops Diocesan College
