{"id":63217,"date":"2025-01-25T22:02:28","date_gmt":"2025-01-25T20:02:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=63217"},"modified":"2025-01-25T22:02:28","modified_gmt":"2025-01-25T20:02:28","slug":"herschel-to-meet-reddam-bedfordview-in-the-brian-baker-final","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=63217","title":{"rendered":"Herschel to meet Reddam Bedfordview in the Brian Baker final"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Herschel Girls School<\/strong> has opened up the possibility of winning back-to-back titles at the Brian Baker Water Polo Tournament<\/strong> in Makhanda, after two eventful victories on Saturday.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Cape Town school had to dig deep to survive a tough test from Durban Girls’ College<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

There was nothing to separate the teams at the end of regulation time in their quarterfinal showdown after they had netted nine goals each. Herschel, though, triumphed after a penalty shootout, taking victory 3-1 from the spot.<\/p>\n

In the semi-finals, coach Alex Hawkins’<\/strong> side faced one of their toughest rivals, Reddam House Constantia<\/strong>, coached by Connor Whiting<\/strong>. Reddam had scraped an 8-7 win over St Anne’s Diocesan College<\/strong> in the quarterfinals.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a cagey affair, the first half, incredibly, didn’t produce a single goal.<\/p>\n

After the break, Reddam Constantia<\/strong> piled pressure on Herschel and they were rewarded when Jessica Bester<\/strong> ended the stalemate. Herschel responded well to that setback and, a few minutes later, they equalised through Sophie Vickers<\/strong>, who struck from long range.<\/span><\/p>\n

As the minutes ticked by, pressure mounted on both sides. Vickers was, then, presented with an opportunity to put Herschel ahead when Reddam Constantia conceded a penalty. She made no mistake with her shot and the defending champions edged ahead.<\/span><\/p>\n

Emma Stevens<\/strong> sealed the deal with a third goal, with the win securing a place in the final against Reddam House Bedfordview<\/strong>, who were pushed to the limit in their two playoff games, both of which they won in penalty shootouts.<\/span><\/p>\n

They handed Roedean School<\/strong>, the tournament’s highest scorers, a first loss of the event, in the quarterfinals. Roedean had captured the spotlight on the opening day by roaring to a 17-5 win over Kingswood College<\/strong>, which they followed with a 24-0 blanking of Alexander Road<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Matters were far tighter in the quarterfinals, with the meeting of the Johannesburg schools ending in a 3-3 draw. Then, Reddam Bedfordview edged out coach Siyabonga Guzana’s<\/strong> Roedean 3-2 in the shootout.<\/span><\/p>\n