{"id":83759,"date":"2025-09-25T20:58:21","date_gmt":"2025-09-25T18:58:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=83759"},"modified":"2025-09-25T20:58:21","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T18:58:21","slug":"champions-eliminated-from-contention-at-clifton-water-polo-tournament","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=83759","title":{"rendered":"Champions face must-win eliminator at Clifton Water Polo Tournament"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Clifton
Clifton College joined Hilton College, Kearsney College, and St John’s College as group winners after the second day of the Clifton Water Polo Tournament. Photo: Clifton School on Facebook<\/strong><\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One of the most consequential results of the Clifton Water Polo Tournament<\/strong> came early on Thursday morning when Michaelhouse<\/strong> upset the two-time defending champion<\/strong><\/a>, SACS<\/strong>, 9-6 in a Pool D clash.<\/p>\n

SACS weren’t at their best, but a team plays as well as their opposition allows them to play, and Michaelhouse recorded a clear-cut victory.<\/p>\n

The importance of that result was underlined when, later in the day, Hilton College<\/strong> edged out SACS 10-9 to complete an unbeaten run through the group.<\/p>\n

When Michaelhouse held on for a 10-8 win over King Edward VII (KES)<\/strong> in their second game of the day, SACS was relegated to third place in the group.<\/p>\n

That leaves them to play a must-win clash against their Western Cape rivals, Paul Roos, on Friday morning. If they lose, they’re out of the running.<\/p>\n

Hilton progressed to the quarterfinals with a clean record, having also beaten Michaelhouse 14-8 on day one. ‘House<\/strong><\/em>, though, with two wins on Thursday, joined their arch-rivals in the last eight.<\/p>\n

If Hilton coach Paul Martin<\/strong> has any concern, it might be that his charges have surrendered an average of nine goals in each of their games, but, then again, they’ve had little trouble putting the ball in the back of the net. They possess some phenomenal attacking weapons.<\/p>\n

The hosts, Clifton College, continued their impressive form in Pool A. While they were not as free scoring as Hilton, their defence was rock-solid.<\/p>\n