{"id":84085,"date":"2025-10-02T13:59:45","date_gmt":"2025-10-02T11:59:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=84085"},"modified":"2025-10-02T13:59:45","modified_gmt":"2025-10-02T11:59:45","slug":"creme-de-la-creme-ready-to-lock-horns-at-sacs-water-polo-tournament","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=84085","title":{"rendered":"Cr\u00e8me de la cr\u00e8me ready to lock horns at SACS Water Polo Tournament"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Rondebosch
Rondebosch Boys’ High defeated St John’s College 12-7 in the SAC Shield final earlier this year. The sides will meet again in the pool stage of the SACS Water Polo Tournament. Photo: Toni Butterworth<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Twenty of the best boys’ water polo-playing schools in South Africa will assemble in Cape Town this weekend for the prestigious SACS Water Polo Tournament<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The much-anticipated competition takes place from 4 to 6 October, with all matches being played at the picturesque SACS Aquatic Centre<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The tournament, similar to the Clifton Water Polo Tournament<\/a><\/strong>, which took place a week ago, includes top sides, but it is contested over shorter games, which is counteracted by sides playing many matches over the three days.<\/p>\n

The SACS Water Polo Tournament is also the country\u2019s longest-running schools\u2019 water polo event, having started all the way back in 1984.<\/p>\n

The teams are split into two pools of 10, and the group matches stretch right through until the final day, with the top four teams in each pool progressing to the quarterfinals.<\/p>\n

The defending champions, Bishops Diocesan College<\/strong>, made history in 2024 by becoming the first-ever Bishops side to win the tournament<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Under the tutelage of Jabulani Sibiya<\/strong>, they defeated St John’s College<\/strong> 5-2 in the final to break their SACS Water Polo Tournament hoodoo.<\/p>\n

They have been drawn in Pool B,<\/strong>\u00a0where they will face Clifton College<\/strong>, Grey College<\/strong>, Parktown Boys’ High<\/strong>, Paul Roos Gimnasium<\/strong>, Pretoria Boys High<\/strong>, Selborne College<\/strong>, St Alban’s College<\/strong>, St David’s Marist Inanda<\/strong>, and SACS<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Pool A, meanwhile, will be contested by Grey High School<\/strong>, Hilton College<\/strong>, Jeppe High School for Boys<\/strong>, Northwood School<\/strong>, Rondebosch Boys’ High<\/strong>, St Andrew’s College<\/strong>, St Benedict’s College<\/strong>, St John’s College<\/strong>, St Stithians College<\/strong>, and Wynberg Boys’ High School<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Two
The Eastern Cape’s St Andrew’s College and Grey High will reignite their rivalry at the SACS Water Polo Tournament. Photo: Toni Butterworth<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Breakdown<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pool A<\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s a fools’ game trying to predict how Pool A will pan out, but one can make some educated guesses.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a tough group filled with competitive teams, and the format of the tournament (20 minutes a game) could help to level the playing field for some of the underdog sides.<\/p>\n

Hilton College<\/strong> will be brimming with confidence after winning the Clifton Water Polo Tournament for the first time last week. The Paul Martin<\/strong>-coached side edged out St John\u2019s College 10-8 in the final.<\/p>\n

Hilton has never won the SACS Water Polo Tournament, but they’re a veteran unit, loaded with some of the heaviest offensive firepower in the country, and they\u2019ll be looking to rewrite history.<\/p>\n

Rondebosch Boys\u2019 High<\/strong> will also be a serious contender for the title.\u00a0Under coach Jared Wingate-Pearse<\/strong>, the ‘Bosch<\/strong> <\/em>boys have produced a strong showing in 2025. In term one, they pushed Bishops all the way in the SACS Nite Series<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Gauteng is one of the game’s traditional powerhouses and they’ll be represented by Jeppe, St John’s College, St Benedict’s College, and St Stithians College.<\/p>\n

St John’s will be favoured to go far. They made it all the way to the title game at the Clifton Water Polo Tournament, but St Stithians bears watching, too. They convincingly beat St John’s in the final of the St Alban’s Beach Water Polo Festival<\/strong> <\/a>early in September.<\/p>\n

Gqeberha’s Grey High School<\/strong> and St Andrew\u2019s College<\/strong> of Makhanda are the two Eastern Cape sides in the pool. They last won the tournament in 2012 and 2014, respectively.<\/p>\n

\"Clifton
Clifton College’s Caleb Malumbete will be key in their pursuit of a second SACS Water Polo Tournament title. Photo: Toni Butterworth.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pool B<\/strong><\/p>\n

There is no doubt that Bishops will be pushed hard in their pursuit of back-to-back SACS Water Polo Tournament titles.<\/p>\n

They’re up against some stiff competition and will have to deliver their A-game from the outset.<\/p>\n

Along the way, they take on their Cape rivals, SACS<\/strong> and Paul Roos Gimnasium<\/strong> (PRG), who were both eliminated in the quarterfinals last year.<\/p>\n

SACS last won the tournament in 2023, while PRG is still in search of their maiden title.<\/p>\n

Clifton College<\/strong> will also be in the mix and aiming to add to their title win in 2021.<\/p>\n

Selborne College<\/strong> has claimed the title on four occasions: in 1992, 1993, 1994 and 2015. Led by coach Storm Siebert<\/strong>, the East London school will also be a threat.<\/p>\n

The group is completed by Grey College<\/strong> and the Gauteng quartet of St Alban’s, Parktown, St David’s Marist Inanda, and Pretoria Boys High.<\/p>\n

At face value, it’s a well-balanced pool, and the so-called underdogs will be confident of their chances to sneak into the top four.<\/p>\n

\"St
St Stithians College last lifted the SACS Water Polo Tournament title in 1997. Photo: Toni Butterworth<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

TEAMS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pool A<\/strong><\/p>\n

Grey High School, Hilton College, Jeppe High School for Boys, Northwood School, Rondebosch Boys’ High, St Andrew’s College, St Benedict’s College, St John’s College, St Stithians College, Wynberg Boys’ High School.<\/p>\n

Pool B<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bishops, Clifton College, Grey College, SACS, Parktown Boys’ High, Paul Roos Gimnasium, Pretoria Boys High, Selborne College, St Alban’s College, St David’s Marist Inanda.<\/p>\n

FIXTURES<\/strong><\/p>\n

Day 1 \u2013 Saturday, 4 October<\/strong><\/p>\n

07:10 \u2013 St Stithians vs Jeppe
\n07:30 \u2013 Rondebosch vs St John’s College
\n07:50 \u2013 Bishops vs Grey College
\n08:10 – Clifton vs Selborne College
\n08:30 \u2013 Hilton vs Grey High
\n08:50 – St Andrew’s College vs St Benedict’s
\n09:10 – SACS vs Parktown
\n09:30 – St David’s Marist vs St Alban’s
\n09:50 – Wynberg vs Northwood
\n10:10 \u2013 St John’s College vs Jeppe
\n10:30 \u2013 Pretoria Boys High vs Paul Roos
\n10:50 – Bishops vs Selborne College
\n11:10 \u2013 Rondebosch vs Grey High
\n11:30 – Wynberg vs St Benedict’s
\n11:50 \u2013 St David’s vs Grey College
\n12:10 \u2013 SACS vs St Alban’s
\n12:30 \u2013 St Andrew’s College vs Northwood
\n12:50 \u2013 Hilton vs St Stithians
\n13:10 – Parktown vs Paul Roos
\n13:30 – Clifton vs Pretoria Boys High
\n13:50 \u2013 St John’s College vs Grey High
\n14:10 – St Andrew’s College vs Rondebosch
\n14:30 – Grey College vs St Alban’s
\n14:50 \u2013 Bishops vs Paul Roos
\n15:10 \u2013 St Stithians vs Northwood
\n15:30 \u2013 Hilton vs Wynberg
\n15:50 \u2013 SACS vs Pretoria Boys
\n16:10 – St David’s Marist vs Clifton
\n16:30 – Jeppe vs St Benedict’s
\n16:50 \u2013 St Andrew’s College vs St John’s
\n17:10 – Selborne vs Parktown
\n17:30 – St Stithians vs Wynberg
\n17:50 \u2013 Clifton vs Paul Roos
\n18:10 \u2013 Hilton vs Jeppe
\n18:30 – SACS vs Grey College
\n18:50 – St David’s Marist vs Selborne
\n19:10 – St Alban’s vs Parktown
\n19:30 – St Benedict’s vs Grey High
\n19:50 \u2013 Rondebosch vs Northwood
\n20:10 \u2013 Bishops vs Pretoria Boys High<\/p>\n

Day 2 \u2013 Sunday, 5 October<\/strong><\/p>\n

07:10 – St Alban’s vs Paul Roos
\n07:30 – SACS vs Selborne College
\n07:50 \u2013 St David’s Marist vs Pretoria Boys High
\n08:10 \u2013 Hilton vs St John’s College
\n08:30 – St Stithians vs Rondebosch
\n08:50 \u2013 St Benedict’s vs Northwood
\n09:10 – St Andrew’s College vs Wynberg
\n09:30 \u2013 Grey College vs Parktown
\n09:50 \u2013 Jeppe vs Grey High
\n10:10 \u2013 Hilton vs Rondebosch
\n10:30 \u2013 Bishops vs Clifton
\n10:50 \u2013 Selborne College vs St Alban’s
\n11:10 \u2013 St Andrew’s College vs St Stithians
\n11:30 – Jeppe vs Northwood
\n11:50 – Grey College vs Paul Roos
\n12:10 \u2013 SACS vs Clifton
\n12:30 \u2013 St John’s vs St Benedict’s
\n12:50 \u2013 Wynberg vs Grey High
\n13:10 \u2013 St Davids vs Bishops
\n13:30 – Pretoria Boys vs Parktown
\n13:50 \u2013 Hilton vs St Andrew’s College
\n14:10 \u2013 St John’s College vs Northwood
\n14:30 – Selborne College vs Paul Roos
\n14:50 \u2013 Rondebosch vs St Benedict’s
\n15:10 \u2013 Wynberg vs Jeppe
\n15:30 – SACS vs St David’s Marist
\n15:50 – Clifton vs St Alban’s
\n16:10 – Pretoria Boys vs Grey College
\n16:30 – St Andrew’s College vs Grey High
\n16:50 \u2013 Hilton vs Northwood
\n17:10 – Bishops vs Parktown
\n17:30 \u2013 St Stithians vs St Benedict’s
\n17:50 \u2013 SACS vs Paul Roos
\n18:10 \u2013 Rondebosch vs Jeppe
\n18:30 – Clifton vs Grey College
\n18:50 \u2013 Pretoria Boys vs Selborne College
\n19:10 – Bishops vs St Alban’s
\n19:30 – Wynberg vs St John’s College
\n19:50 \u2013 St Stithians vs Grey High
\n20:10 – St David’s vs Parktown<\/p>\n

Day 3 \u2013 Monday, 6 October\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

06:50 – Hilton vs St Benedict’s
\n07:10 – Grey High vs Northwood
\n07:30 – Selborne College vs Grey College
\n07:50 – Pretoria Boys vs St Alban’s
\n08:10 – St Andrew’s College vs Jeppe
\n08:30 – St Stithians vs St John’s College
\n08:50 \u2013 St David’s Marist vs Paul Roos
\n09:10 – Clifton vs Parktown
\n09:30 – Rondebosch vs Wynberg
\n09:50 – SACS vs Bishops
\n10:40 – 3rd Pool A vs 2nd Pool B (Quarterfinal 1)
\n11:00 – 2nd Pool A vs 3rd Pool B (Quarterfinal 2)
\n11:20 – 1st Pool A vs 4th Pool B (Quarterfinal 3)
\n11:40 – 4th Pool A vs 1st Pool B (Quarterfinal 4)
\n12:30 – Semifinal 1
\n13:00 – Semifinal 2
\n14:00 – Bronze medal playoff
\n14:00 – Final<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Twenty of the best boys’ water polo-playing schools in South Africa will assemble in Cape Town this weekend for the prestigious SACS Water Polo Tournament. The much-anticipated competition takes place from 4 to 6 October, with all matches being played at the picturesque SACS Aquatic Centre. The tournament, similar to the Clifton Water Polo Tournament, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":84169,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-84085","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84085","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=84085"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84085\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/84169"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=84085"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=84085"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=84085"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}