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  • DAY 2|VIDES| Semifinal spots sealed as the action intensifies

    DAY 2|VIDES| Semifinal spots sealed as the action intensifies

    Michaelhouse Vides Water Polo Tournament 2026
    Michaelhouse is one of the four semifinalists at the Vides Water Polo Tournament. Photo: Shani Lombard

    The defending champion of the Vides Water Polo Tournament, St David’s Marist Inanda, kept their hopes of a title defence alive on Friday by booking a place in the semifinals.

    The side from Johannesburg impressed during a drama-filled day at Selborne College‘s main pool and at the Clarendon Aquatic Centre.

    After opening their campaign with a comfortable 9-3 win over Paarl Boys’ High on Thursday, coach Dean Whyte‘s team went on to beat Glenwood House and Grey High to finish atop Pool C.

    In the last eight, they met a tough opponent, facing St Andrew’s College (SAC), in a repeat of last year’s final.

    St David’s was forced to dig deep for their win. Eventually, though, they held out for an 8-6 victory, moving on to the final four.

    While the 2025 champs progressed, Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG) and Michaelhouse continued their dominance.

    PRG had finished in first place in Pool B after beating Selborne 11-8 in their key group stage clash, so they were confident heading into the playoffs.

    That confidence showed, and coach Vaughn Marlow’s charges were brave, playing without fear, in their quarterfinal clash against Reddam House Constantia.

    It was an entertaining match, end-to-end stuff, and it ended in a thrilling 9-9 draw before PRG snatched the win 5-4 on penalties.

    Michaelhouse didn’t need any shootouts to progress, and they got the job done against the hosts with relative ease.

    After dominating Pool A, the Balgowan boys upped the ante in the playoffs, eliminating Selborne 6-4 in their quarterfinals showdown.

    That victory sets up a semifinal berth against St David’s, while PRG will lock horns with Wynberg Boys’ High, who defeated Grey High School 6-5 in their quarterfinal match.

    The final day’s action kicks off with a clash between Stirling High and St Alban’s College in the Plate playoffs.

    The first semifinal takes place at 09:40, with the second following at 10:30. The final is scheduled for 17:10.

     Results | Day 2

    @Selborne College

    Reddam House 8-5 St Alban’s
    Selborne 9-2 Grey College
    Paarl Boys’ 5-16 Grey High
    St Andrew’s 4-8 Wynberg
    Collegians (2) 5-5 (4) St Alban’s
    Selborne 8-11 Paul Roos
    St David’s 10-5 Grey High
    St Andrew’s 12-2 Stirling

    @Clarendon 

    Michaelhouse 18-6 Collegians
    Pearson 0-15 Paul Roos
    St David’s 16-7 Glenwood House
    Stirling 6-9 Woodridge
    Michaelhouse 16-8 Reddam House
    Pearson (4) 5-5 (3) Grey College
    Paarl Boys’ 6-10 Glenwood House
    Wynberg 10-8 Woodridge.

    Playoffs:

    Grey College 10-6 St Alban’s College (Plate QF 1)
    Pearson 8-6 Selborne Collegians (Plate QF 2)
    Glenwood House 18-8 Stirling High (Plate QF 3)
    Woodridge College 8-7 Paarl Boys’ High (Plate QF 4)
    Michaelhouse 6-4 Selborne College (Cup QF 1)
    Paul Roos 9 (5) – 9 (4) Reddam House (Cup QF 2)
    St David’s Marist Inanda 8-6 St Andrew’s College (Cup QF 3)
    Grey High School 5-6 Wynberg (Cup QF 4)

    Day 3 Fixtures

    @Selborne College

    08:00 – Selborne vs St Andrew’s College
    08:50 – Reddam House vs Grey High
    09:40 – Michaelhouse vs St David’s
    10:30 – Paul Roos vs Wynberg

    @Clarendon

    08:00 – St Alban’s College vs Stirling
    08:50 – Selborne Collegians vs Paarl Boys’ High
    09:40 – Grey College vs Glenwood House
    10:30 – Pearson vs Woodridge

  • DAY 1| VIDES| A compelling start as top guns score big wins

    DAY 1| VIDES| A compelling start as top guns score big wins

    Cooper Haworth - St David's Marist Inanda 2026
    St David’s Marist Inanda made a positive start to their title defence at the Vides Water Polo Tournament. Photo: Shani Lombard

    The 50th edition of the Vides Water Polo Tournament, hosted by Selborne College in East London, got off to a storming start on Thursday.

    The teams in action brought flair and their A-game, thrilling spectators at Selborne’s main pool and at the Clarendon High School for Girls’ Aquatic Centre.

    Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools.

    The action kicked off with the defending champions, St David’s Marist Inanda, taking on the Western Cape’s Paarl Boys’ High.

    Drawn in Pool C, St David’s is among the favourites to win the tournament, and they proved why, securing a 9-3 victory to begin their title defence.

    Coach Dean Whyte‘s boys weren’t at their best, but they got the job done in the second half, courtesy of some sharp shooting in front of goal.

    Michaelhouse and Reddam House Constantia also added ticks to the win column.

    House outplayed St Alban’s College on their way to a comprehensive 16-4 victory, while Reddam looked comfortable against a Collegians side, running out 11-4 victors.

    Pool B is led by the hosts, Selborne and Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG). Both outfits had struggled on opening days in recent tournaments and had set their sights on putting the “day one hoodoo” behind them.

    They were successful in that quest, as Selborne beat Pearson High 12-4, while PRG dominated against an out-of-sync Grey College outfit.

    Last year’s silver medallists, St Andrew’s College (SAC), also impressed, along with Wynberg Boys’ High, under the guidance of coach Kwakhona Ngwanya.

    The Pool D duo made light work of their opponents. SAC was unstoppable against Woodridge College, and won 12-4, while Wynberg beat Stirling High by the same score.

    St Andrew’s and Wynberg meet early on Friday. The result of that fixture could determine which side finishes atop the pool.

    The in-form Grey High also bagged a confidence-boosting win, holding off Glenwood House in a cagey affair.

    Coach Ridge Snelling‘s boys are dark horses and will fancy their chances in Pool C. A first-place finish is well within their reach. St David’s, however, looms as their toughest challenge.

    Day two will commence bright and early with a meeting between Reddam and St Alban’s at Selborne, while Michaelhouse battles Collegians at Clarendon. Both matches start at 08:00.

    Results | Day 1

    @Selborne College 

    St Andrew’s 12-4 Woodridge
    Michaelhouse 16-4 St Alban’s
    Selborne 14-2 Pearson
    Grey High 10-6 Glenwood House

    @Clarendon 

    Paarl Boys’ 3-9 St David’s
    Reddam House 11-4 Collegians
    Wynberg 12-4 Stirling
    Paul Roos 10-1 Grey College

    Friday, 13 February

    @Selborne College 

    08:00 – Reddam House vs St Alban’s; 08:50 – Selborne vs Grey College; 09:40 – Paarl Boys’ vs Grey High; 10:30 – St Andrew’s vs Wynberg; 11:20 – Collegians vs St Alban’s; 12:10 – Selborne vs Paul Roos; 13:00 – St David’s vs Grey High; 13:50 – Stirling vs St Andrew’s.

    @Clarendon 

    08:00 – Michaelhouse vs Collegians; 08:50 – Pearson vs Paul Roos; 09:40 – St David’s vs Glenwood House; 10:30 – Stirling vs Woodridge; 11:20 – Michaelhouse vs Reddam House; 12:10 – Pearson vs Grey College; 13:00 – Paarl Boys’ vs Glenwood House; 13:50 – Wynberg vs Woodridge.

  • Reggie Keates: A new face and a fresh identity for St Anne’s hockey

    Reggie Keates: A new face and a fresh identity for St Anne’s hockey

    Reggie Keates-St Anne's director- 2026
    Former Millfield Director of Hockey, Reggie Keates, takes over as Director of Hockey at  St Anne’s DSG in 2026. Photo: Millfield School

    He’s a calm character, well-spoken, passionate about hockey, and has arguably one of the most interesting philosophies in the school game.

    His name is Reggie Keates.

    Keates has been tasked with taking St Anne’s Diocesan College hockey to the next level as the Director of the school’s programme and first-team coach.

    He’s taken over the reins from Morné Odendaal, who has returned to C&N Sekondêre Meisieskool Oranje in Bloemfontein.

    Acquiring the services of Keates is a major coup for St Anne’s. He brings an impressive CV and a wealth of experience to his position.

    The South Africa-born coach spent the last 20 years leading and coaching at Millfield School in the United Kingdom (UK), a renowned sporting powerhouse.

    During his tenure there, he coached the school’s boys’ and girls’ first teams before taking over as the Director of Hockey. He was also involved in club structures and England’s pathway systems.

    Now that he has returned to South Africa, he intends to pass on the experience he gained abroad to the benefit of St Anne’s.

    “As a coach, like a player, your coaching evolves through time and experiences,” he told SuperSport Schools Plus.

    “I was fortunate enough to be mentored by good coaches before I found my feet and my own way.

    “The principle at the heart of my coaching is player development from a holistic perspective. I always want my players to be playing different sports because of the transferable skills that can be gained from them.

    “I have also spent some time in Holland and America, learning and picking up on ideas that have contributed to me as a coach. I look to add that to my new role.”

    Photo: Millfield School

    Keates was born and raised in KwaZulu-Natal before leaving for the UK at the age of 18. Last year, when he returned to South Africa, he had a stint coaching at Hilton College, where he took charge of the u16A and second teams for about five weeks.

    He and his family enjoyed their stay, and when the call came from St Anne’s, it felt too good an opportunity to turn down.

    “I had an exchange programme in June last year, and I coached at Hilton College,” he shared. “My three young children were also at a nearby pre-primary. We spent the month here, and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

    “My children and wife had an amazing experience, and that initiated us exploring the possibility of a move. So, when Mrs Martin, the headmistress, got in touch, it was a no-brainer, and I suppose the rest is history.”

    The former Millfield man will approach his role as director in an unorthodox manner. Before they chase results, he wants his players to understand his style of play and philosophy.

    “I would say my philosophy is to maximise an individual’s potential,” he explained.

    “If a player leaves St Anne’s and gets to university and plays for the love of the game, that’s fantastic. That’s as fantastic to me as our players who represent the province or South Africa.

    Photo: Millfield School

    “Our playing identity is fast and dynamic, and the way we play the game is more important than the actual result. I believe that if we stick to the fundamentals and concern ourselves with performance, the outcome will take care of itself.”

    When it comes to building the St Anne’s hockey programme, Keates is adamant that his focus won’t just be on the 1st team. He’ll pour the same energy into the younger age groups.

    “We’ve just gone through our pre-season assessment phase, and I have been really impressed.

    “We have strength and depth going from grade eight right through to grade 12. There’s certainly talent here, and I’m looking forward to getting my teeth into it and developing the whole programme, not just the 1st team.

    “The 1st team will be okay this season. They didn’t lose many players from last year.

    “For me, it’s about sustainability and developing the whole programme so that you have sustainable success rather than short-term success.”

    St Anne’s will kick off their season at the Our Lady of Fatima Coastal Hockey Festival on 6 March.

  • Paarl Gim aims for consistency in 2026

    Paarl Gim aims for consistency in 2026

    Paarl Gim head coach- Danelle Van Zyl-2025 season
    Paarl Gim head coach Danelle Van Zyl is eager to see what her charges can produce in 2026. Photo: JB – LookonImages

    The phrase “trust the process is often broadly applied in sports and can be misunderstood at times.

    The actual meaning of the term is “to have faith that a well-thought-out plan will produce a positive outcome, even when results are not immediately visible.”

    It’s a phrase that the Paarl Gimnasium girls’ first hockey side will need to embrace and trust in 2026 if they are to build on the successes of recent seasons.

    After achieving incredible feats in 2024, Gim upped the ante even further in 2025 and excelled under head coach Danelle van Zyl.

    They were, beyond a shadow of a doubt, one of South Africa’s top teams, and played a captivating brand of hockey that led them to some outstanding results in the Western Cape and around the country.

    In the forthcoming season, it’s all about building on that momentum, according to coach Van Zyl told SuperSport Schools Plus

    “I am so excited for the season to start,” she said. “We have been working hard in the off-season, and I am excited to see how the hard work pays off, not just technically but physically as well.

    “We want to build on last year’s successes with a new team and to pull them together as quickly as possible to maintain a good team culture.”

    Alanda Rademeyer -Paarl Gim forward- 2025
    Paarl Gim stalwart Alanda Rademeyer will look to have another incredible season for her side. Photo: JB – LookonImages

    Throughout the 2025 season, Gim lost just one game, falling 0-1 against Rhenish Girls’ High, in a league clash in Stellenbosch.

    Barring that defeat, they were phenomenal and lifted the Belgotex Sport Girls Hockey Challenge title before going on to win the renowned Fairtree Super 12 title later in the season.

    Retaining both crowns with a younger squad won’t be easy, but it’s a challenge that her charges could achieve, Van Zyl said.

    “We lost five matrics at the end of last year, so there will be some new faces in the team.

    “We are definitely excited to test ourselves against the best in the country. Our main emphasis is teamwork and enhancing each other’s strengths.

    “We want to play with purpose and understand where we are going as a team. We are looking for a fast-paced, forward-thinking game, and everyone must trust the process.”

    Coach Van Zyl’s troops will be in action for the first time at the Springfield Convent School Pre-Season Festival, which takes place from 13 to 15 March.

  • Silverware on the line at 50th Vides Water Polo Tournament

    Silverware on the line at 50th Vides Water Polo Tournament

    St David's Marist vs St Andrew's 2025-Vides-Final
    St David’s Marist Inanda is the defending champion at the Vides Water Polo Tournament in East London. Photo: Shani Lombard

    The prestigious Vides Water Polo Tournament, hosted by Selborne College in East London, will return for its 50th anniversary event this coming weekend.

    The tournament, which attracts some of the country’s top water polo-playing schools, runs from 12 to 14 February at Selborne’s main pool and the Clarendon High School for Girls’ Aquatic Centre.

    It promises to be yet another thrill-packed event, with schools from the Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Gauteng, and KwaZulu-Natal in action.

    St David’s Marist Inanda is the defending champion after defeating St Andrew’s College 9-5 in last year’s final.

    Coach Dean Whyte’s charges are in Pool C and will take on Grey High, Glenwood House, and Paarl Boys’ High.

    St David’s will be expected to get the job done against Boishaai and Glenwood House, but they’ll be pushed hard by a Grey High outfit that’s brimming with confidence.

    The boys from Gqeberha, under the guidance of coach Ridge Snelling, have played some impressive water polo this season.

    Grey High Water Polo Team - at Grey High Tournament -2026
    Grey High will be one of the teams to beat at the Vides Water Polo Tournament. Photo: TeamPhotoSA

    They impressed at the SAC Shield in Makhanda last month before finishing second at the Grey High Water Polo Tournament earlier this month.

    Meanwhile, last year’s runners-up, St Andrew’s, will lock horns with Wynberg Boys’ High, Woodridge College, and Stirling High in Pool D.

    The boys from Makhanda recently won the Grey High tournament, and they’ll back themselves to finish top of their group.

    Wynberg will have other ideas, and they’ll head to East London eager to improve on last year’s ninth-place finish. Woodridge and Stirling finished in 10th and 12th, respectively, in 2025.

    The hosts, Selborne, are in Pool B with Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG), Pearson High, and Bloemfontein’s Grey College.

    Selborne fell short in the semifinals last year and had to settle for a bronze medal after beating Clifton College on the final day.

    Pool A will be contested by Reddam House Constantia, Michaelhouse, St Alban’s College, and a Collegians invitational team.

    The action at Selborne kicks off on Friday with a meeting between St Andrew’s and Woodridge at 15:10, while Paarl Boys’ High takes on St David’s at Clarendon.

    Groups

    Pool A: Reddam House Constantia, Michaelhouse, St Alban’s College, Collegians.
    Pool B: Selborne College, Paul Roos, Pearson High, Grey College.
    Pool C: St David’s Marist Inanda, Grey High, Glenwood House, Paarl Boys’ High.
    Pool D: Wynberg Boys’ High, St Andrew’s College, Woodridge College, Stirling High.

    Fixtures: (Please note*: The fixtures below are group stage matches. Playoff matches will be updated as the tournament progresses)

    Thursday, 12 February

    @Selborne College 

    15:10 – St Andrew’s vs Woodridge; 16:00 – Michaelhouse vs St Alban’s; 16:50 – Selborne vs Pearson; 17:40 – Grey High vs Glenwood House.

    @Clarendon 

    15:10 – Paarl Boys’ vs St David’s; 16:00 – Reddam House vs Collegians; 16:50 – Wynberg vs Stirling; 17:40 – Paul Roos vs Grey College.

    Friday, 13 February

    @Selborne College 

    08:00 – Reddam House vs St Alban’s; 08:50 – Selborne vs Grey College; 09:40 – Paarl Boys’ vs Grey High; 10:30 – St Andrew’s vs Wynberg; 11:20 – Collegians vs St Alban’s; 12:10 – Selborne vs Paul Roos; 13:00 – St David’s vs Grey High; 13:50 – Stirling vs St Andrew’s.

    @Clarendon 

    08:00 – Michaelhouse vs Collegians; 08:50 – Pearson vs Paul Roos; 09:40 – St David’s vs Glenwood House; 10:30 – Stirling vs Woodridge; 11:20 – Michaelhouse vs Reddam House; 12:10 – Pearson vs Grey College; 13:00 – Paarl Boys’ vs Glenwood House; 13:50 – Wynberg vs Woodridge.

  • From Komani to Jozi: Lusiba takes over at St Benedict’s College

    From Komani to Jozi: Lusiba takes over at St Benedict’s College

    Siya-Lusiba-SAu16 assistant coach-2025
    Photo: Supplied

    After serving for six years as the Director of Hockey at Queen’s College in Komani, Siya “Ozzie” Lusiba has left the school to pursue “a new challenge” in 2026.

    The former Border u18A coach has left his hometown of Komani to take over the reins at Bedfordview’s St Benedict’s College, where he will lead the school’s hockey programme while coaching the first team.

    It’s a move that was not in the works, Lusiba said, but over time it became irresistible.

    “To be honest, it wasn’t really something I was looking for, but it’s an opportunity I had to take, he told SuperSport Schools Plus.

    “There were some uncontrollable situations from my end at Queen’s, and I just felt the need for growth.

    “I also have umpiring ambitions, so the move made sense in that regard. I felt like I couldn’t take the next step in my career because I was [isolated] in the Eastern Cape, so something had to give.”

    Lusiba, who took over at his alma mater after a very successful run at St Andrew’s School in Bloemfontein, enjoyed some memorable moments with Queen’s.

    He, along with the current first-team coach, Michael Baiden, led the school to some notable results while consistently producing provincial players.

    He reflected on his time at the school: “Yeah, it was a good five or six years, and I think we took the school’s hockey programme to the next level,: he said.

    “Obviously, there were some challenges when it came to the players we got from primary schools because they would leave the province or choose to play rugby.

    “Looking back, I think being part of the SA coaching setup was a big achievement, not only for me but for the school, as well. We also had some players making the Border sides, and our coaches got to coach provincial teams.

    “Parents also got involved, and we received sponsorships from our old boys, which was something that didn’t happen before. So, it was a good ride.”

    Lusiba is already hard at work with his Bennies‘ side gearing up for the forthcoming season.

    “I’m looking forward to this challenge and working in a school that is so different from where I’ve been before,” he said. “I’m also excited to be working with different hockey people, coaches, and new kids.

    “This opportunity will allow me to see where I stand among the top schools and coaches in the country.”

    The coach will take charge of the dugout with Bennies for the first time on 9 March when they tackle Marais Viljoen in a league fixture.

    Two days later, they’ll face a huge test when they visit Kensington to take on Jeppe High School for Boys, who went unbeaten in 2025.

  • A synopsis of the Kearsney Night Series at the halfway point

    A synopsis of the Kearsney Night Series at the halfway point

    Kearsney College-Night Series-2026-Round 3
    Kearsney College maintained their unbeaten run at the Kearsney Night Series on Tuesday. Photo: Kearsney Photography Club

    The inaugural Kearsney Night Series, hosted by Kearsney College in Botha’s Hill, reached the halfway mark on Tuesday, with all six participating schools in action.

    The hosts took on Maritzburg College, while Westville Boys’ High battled Durban High School (DHS), and Northwood locked horns with Hilton College.

    It was business as usual for Kearsney, who entered round three on the back of commanding victories over Westville and DHS in the opening two rounds.

    Coach Nic Rodda’s side weren’t at their best, according to him, but they outplayed their opponents 15-7 to retain top spot on the log.

    It was a classic Kearsney performance – intense, physical, and visually entertaining.

    “I don’t think we have yet found our stride, with disruptions of training, injuries, and team dynamics still to be worked on,” Rodda told SuperSport Schools Plus.

    “With that said, the team is still performing. Playing bad ‘polo and winning is still bad ‘polo; we want to play good, cohesive ‘polo. The results will follow. This should all come together before the KES Water Polo Tournament.”

    Kearsney takes on Northwood and Hilton College in their two remaining fixtures, and coach Rodda has identified an area of concern: “Fitness seems to be a key category we need to focus on,” he said.

    “We can play one game at a time, but consider a tournament, and we would be under the cosh to maintain [our form]. But again, this will come.”

    Kearsney Night Series – Round 3- 2026
    Photo: Kearsney Photography Club

    While the hosts kept their unbeaten record, Westville recorded their first victory of the series.

    The Griffins, led by coach Matt Stringer, defeated DHS 13-5 to climb up the table into fourth place. Behind them are Maritzburg College and DHS.

    Hilton and Northwood remained in second and third place, respectively, after playing to a thrilling 10-10 draw.

    There was controversy after the game, with Hilton arguing that it had ended 11-10 in their favour, but after a review, the draw stood, and the spoils were shared.

    Jon Watkins, of Northwood, leads the goal scoring charts with 18 goals – eight of which came in the clash against Hilton.

    He’s followed by Hilton’s Bradley van Loggerenberg and Sebastian Laudenberg, with 10 each, while Kearsney’s Thomas Francke has seven goals to his name.

    The action resumes on Tuesday, 10 February, when round four takes place.

    Fixtures

    16:30 – Westville vs Hilton
    17:20 – Northwood vs Kearsney
    18:10 – Maritzburg College vs DHS

  • A fresh start in 2026: Rhenish will not rest on past successes

    A fresh start in 2026: Rhenish will not rest on past successes

    Pippa Viljoen - Rhenish captain 2026.
    Pippa Viljoen will wear the captain’s armband for Rhenish in 2026. Photo: Rhenish Girls’ High.

    When Sir Alex Ferguson led Manchester United to their first English Premier League title during the 1992/93 season, backing it up the following year was always going to be a major hurdle, but it was also the primary goal.

    In an interview after the historic triumph, Ferguson said: “We’ve done what we’ve done, but I just hope we can keep the hunger.”

    They certainly maintained their hunger and dominated the English Premier League over the next two decades, with the Red Devils winning 13 titles under Ferguson.

    Now you might be wondering why the football comparison. It’s about cultivating a championship mindset.

    Rhenish Girls’ High produced back-to-back stellar seasons in 2024 and 2025, during which they dominated schoolgirls’ hockey in South Africa. They intend to maintain that “hunger” in 2026 to continue to build upon those successes.

    “Every year is different and has different types of challenges,” head coach Chris Gerber told SuperSport Schools Plus.

    “This group has been together for a couple of years now, and we need to build on this to make sure we work hard. These girls are extremely motivated to do well, and they don’t take anything for granted.”

    Gerber has been at the wheel for several seasons now, during which Rhenish’s hockey programme has undergone a remarkable resurgence.

    He bade farewell to some of his senior players last year but has retained the bulk of the team, with a couple of youngsters set to make the step up to first-team level. These are exciting times, he said.

    Katherine Sickle of Rhenish Girls High vs Paarl Gim 2024
    Katherine Sickle will enter her third season with the Rhenish Girls’ High first team in 2026. Photo: JB-LookonImages

    It’s important to keep moving the team forward from what we’ve been doing over the last couple of years. It’s exciting to build on these trends and bring a couple of fresh players into the system.

    “The new players in the squad have really been excited to be part of this special group. I’m also excited to work with them because they have the drive to get better and perform against the best.”

    Speaking of the best, Rhenish will be tested once again this season, not only in the Western Cape but by teams from all corners of the country.

    They’ll open their campaign at the Greg Beling Festival in East London, from 13 to 15 March, before heading to Johannesburg for the annual St Mary’s Waverley Festival.

    The Stellenbosch side will also host the All Girls Festival in May. Between the tournaments, they’ll lock horns with their local rivals.

    “I think a lot of teams will be really good this year, so we will have to be at our best each game if we want to be successful,” Gerber said

    “We will keep working on our systems to improve and make sure we are as well prepared as possible for every challenge.”

    “From a Rhenish perspective, you can expect a passionate team hungry for success that will play with lots of fire and energy,” he ended.

  • Muller ecstatic as Clarendon bags National Aquatics title in style

    Muller ecstatic as Clarendon bags National Aquatics title in style

    Happy winners! Clarendon lifted the 2026 National Aquatics Festival water polo title. Photo: Corrie Barnard 

    Clarendon High School for Girls first-team water polo coach, Hannah Muller, was over the moon after her side clinched gold at the National Aquatics Festival in Johannesburg on the weekend.

    The annual tournament, which features some of the country’s top girls’ sides, was hosted at St Stithians College.

    In a tense final, Clarendon defeated Durban Girls’ College (DGC) 8-7 to get their hands on the trophy after previously falling agonisingly short several times.

    “I am incredibly proud of the girls and what they have achieved this weekend,” Muller told SuperSport Schools Plus.

    “The effort, commitment, and resilience they showed throughout the tournament were outstanding. They worked together, stayed focused under pressure, and never stopped believing in their capabilities.

    “Their determination and teamwork truly shone through, and I couldn’t be happier with their performance. It was a true testament to their hard work and dedication.”

    Clarendon was drawn in Pool C and took on Kingsmead College and St Mary’s DSG (Kloof) in the round-robin stages.

    The girls from East London were solid in both outings, beating St Mary’s 16-1 before outplaying Kingsmead 8-1.

    In the cross-pool playoffs, Muller’s side hammered Maris Stella 15-6 to set up a semifinal showdown with the hosts.

    Saints had played some outstanding water polo on their way to a final four berth, and they were favoured to topple the visitors. Clarendon had other ideas, though, and pulled off a fantastic 8-5 win, silencing the home crowd in the process.

    They produced one last top-notch performance in the final and sealed a one-goal victory to make up for the disappointment of a semi-final exit in 2025.

    “Last year’s disappointment definitely stayed with us, especially since it was at home, but that wasn’t our driving force this year,” Muller shared. “We were focused on taking each game as it came and giving our best, regardless of the outcome.

    “Our main goal was to play as a team, to trust in each other and the plan, which resulted in the girls leaving everything in the pool, and I think that mindset really paid off for us in the end.”

    Photo: Debbie Adcock

    Clarendon’s win against DGC was their second over the KZN side in as many weeks; they also beat the Durban school 10-6 at the Brian Baker Water Polo Tournament.

    Coach Muller said teamwork and strong leadership were two of the vital keys to her side’s title win: “This achievement was a true team effort, with every player contributing in their own way to our success. To achieve this amazing result, every single player stepped up when it mattered most, and I couldn’t be prouder of their dedication and hard work.

    Quinn Carr (captain), Jenna Botha (vice-captain), Holly Jacoby, and Megan Philips, our four matric players, really stepped up and set an excellent example throughout the competition, both in and out of the pool.

    “They played a key role in keeping the team focused in big moments and setting the standard for everyone around them.”

    It wasn’t only Clarendon’s water polo side that made history. Their swimming team also won the overall prize. They claimed three gold medals, six silvers, and eight bronzes on their way to the historic triumph.

    Muller admitted that her side drew inspiration from the swimming team: “I think winning the swimming section for the first time fuelled the girls to make history once again by winning both the swimming and water polo sections.

    “I can honestly say the girls left every single last thing they had inside of them in the pool this weekend, and that is all a coach can ask of her. They played with heart and executed a lot of the skills and strategies we have been working on in practice.

    “We have been focusing on some key components that we needed to sharpen up from last year, and I believe we saw a lot of improvement in those areas during the tournament this weekend.”

    Clarendon side will return to action this month at the Old Petrian’s Water Polo Tournament taking place at St Peter’s College.

  • St Andrew’s College crowned Grey High Water Polo Tournament champs

    St Andrew’s College crowned Grey High Water Polo Tournament champs

    St Andrew's College - win - Grey High Water Polo Tournament-2026
    St Andrew’s College celebrates winning gold at the Grey High Water Polo Tournament. Photo: TeamPhotoSA

    St Andrew’s College made history on Sunday when they became the first team to win the inaugural Grey High Water Polo Tournament in Gqeberha.

    The boys from Makhanda defeated the hosts, Grey High, 8-7 in a hotly contested final to grab their first piece of silverware in almost two seasons.

    The last time St Andrew’s won a tournament was in October 2024, when they defeated Selborne College in the final of the Woodridge Stayers, in Thornhill.

    They performed superbly at Grey High from the get-go, dominating their pool before heading into the playoffs.

    In the quarterfinals, they defeated Paarl Boys’ High 9-2 before edging out Reddam House Constantia 13-10 in the last four.

    Grey, meanwhile, was also on an unbeaten run and posted wins over Hudson Park and Woodridge College, respectively, in the quarterfinals and semi-finals.

    The final was expected to entertain, and it lived up to those expectations. After an absorbing first half, St Andrew’s carried a slim 3-2 lead into the break after making a fast start.

    The third quarter was all about the visitors. They bossed proceedings and converted 80 percent of their chances to score four times. Grey mustered only a single goal in response, leaving the Makhanda boys 7-3 to the good as the contest headed into the final chukka.

    Andrew Ellis extended the lead to 8-3. The outcome appeared to be done and dusted, but Grey, while down, was not out. They launched a furious fightback.

    Jed Paterson scored a quick brace to cut the deficit to three goals before strikes by Caleb Levey and Christian Horne made it a one-goal game with minutes remaining.

    In a nervy finish, Grey had one more opportunity to attack, but St Andrew’s College held on for the win.

    “I was happy with the overall performance; the team stuck to our defensive structures, kept things simple and worked together as a unit,” St Andrew’s coach Grant Mackenzie said afterwards.

    “Each game, we had built on what we would do going into the knockout stages. We know Grey has a strong attacking team and enjoys creating mismatches with their picks and screens. We made sure we did not concede too many easy goals and exploited their mistakes on defence.”

    While the coach was pleased with his side’s effort, he reiterated the importance of working on closing off games.

    St Andrew’s will return to tournament action in two weeks at the Vides Water Polo Tournament, which takes place at East London’s Selborne College.

    “Our main aim before Vides is to stay injury-free, keep the momentum and work on converting our extra-man opportunities.

    “We also need to tighten our defence and ensure teams work hard to score goals,” Mackenzie said.

    St Andrew’s finished in second place at last year’s Vides Tournament, losing to St David’s Marist Inanda in the final.

    Results

    Grey Invitational 4-6 Stirling High (9th/10th)
    Hudson Park 1-8 Paarl Boys’ High (7th/8th)
    Pearson High 6-8 Glenwood House (5th/6th)
    Woodridge College 7-9 Reddam House (3rd/4th)
    St Andrew’s College 8-7 Grey High (Final)