{"id":87271,"date":"2025-12-06T22:10:43","date_gmt":"2025-12-06T20:10:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=87271"},"modified":"2025-12-06T22:10:43","modified_gmt":"2025-12-06T20:10:43","slug":"gauteng-on-the-board-as-kzn-and-wp-pack-a-punch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=87271","title":{"rendered":"Gauteng on the board as KZN and WP pack a punch"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Luke
Luke Shipway helped Central Gauteng B to a hard-fought win over Buffalo City in the opening game of the Schools Water Polo South Africa Inter-Provincial Tournament in Johannesburg. Photo: Hannes Nienaber.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Central Gauteng<\/strong> u19A<\/strong> boys got their Schools Water Polo South Africa (SWPSA) Inter-Provincial Tournament<\/strong><\/a> (IPT) title defence off to a shaky start, edging out Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB)<\/strong> 10-8 on Saturday in Johannesburg.<\/p>\n

The hosts were far from their best, but they got the job done in the Jubilee Pool<\/strong>, in front of a packed crowd, at St David’s Marist Inanda<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

They were pushed hard by a spirited NMB side, and it took moments of magic from three players in the final chukka to seal the win.<\/p>\n

After a frantic start to the game, the home side led 5-3 at the break, thanks to goals by Simon Mussett<\/strong> (2), Chris Chapman<\/strong>, Erik Arwidi<\/strong>, and their skipper Nicholas Searle<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The second half was a totally different ball game. NMB came out firing, eager to cause an upset.<\/p>\n

They conceded two more goals but clawed their way back into the game to end the quarter tied at 7-7 with Calum Emslie <\/strong>leading their charge.<\/p>\n

NMB’s shot-stopper, Jacques Du Toit<\/strong>, was also influential, and he pulled off some eye-catching saves to keep his team in the contest.<\/p>\n

It came down to the final quarter. Calm heads were needed, and Gauteng’s players rose to the challenge.<\/p>\n

Searle gave his team the lead again, and the momentum shifted when James Crick<\/strong> made it 9-7. Cooper Haworth<\/strong> scored a late five-metre penalty to take Central Gauteng’s total into double figures.<\/p>\n

Despite the loss, Nelson Mandela Bay sent a message to other teams that they’re not to be underestimated and came away from the contest with their reputation enhanced.<\/p>\n

\"Benjamin
Benjamin Spall starred with five goals for the Aussie Crocs, but it wasn’t enough to see them to victory over KwaZulu-Natal A. Photo: Hannes Nienaber.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Another game that was of high interest on the opening day was the clash between KwaZulu-Natal<\/strong> (KZN)<\/strong> A<\/strong> and the Aussie Crocs<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In 2024, the Aussie Crocs stunned KZN in East London<\/a><\/strong>, so coach Rob Ambler<\/strong>‘s side knew they were in for a tough examination.<\/p>\n

It was a tightly contested affair from the first to the final chukka, but KZN produced some outstanding moments during which they played incredible water polo.<\/p>\n

They were, at times, superb in front of goal, with Adrian Truter <\/strong>and Thomas Francke <\/strong>keeping the scorers busy.<\/p>\n

It was tight in the final chukka, with the Crocs clawing their way back into the game and, with three minutes to play, they trailed by only two goals.<\/p>\n

KZN, however, showed class and maturity and held on for a three-goal win, much to the satisfaction of coach Ambler.<\/p>\n

“It’s always good to beat the Crocs,” he told SuperSport Schools Plus<\/a> <\/strong>after the game. “They were with us for a week before this tournament, and it’s always been close against them.<\/p>\n

“I think we were far too rushed in our build-ups, and we let ourselves down in the final chukka.<\/p>\n

“But this is a new team. They still haven’t got used to the way I coach, but we will get there. But I’m happy with where we are at the moment.”<\/p>\n

While Gauteng and KZN recorded victories, Western Province A<\/strong> also made a tick in the win column, subjecting Northerns to a baptism of fire, with Province powering their way to a 20-7 victory.<\/p>\n

Matt Fenn<\/strong> and Benjamin Bigara<\/strong> led the way, scoring four and five goals respectively, while Andrew Reynolds<\/strong>, Jandro Rojo-Roos<\/strong>, and Cole Abrahams<\/strong> all bagged braces.<\/p>\n

In another interesting battle on the opening day, Central Gauteng B<\/strong> defeated Buffalo City<\/strong> 15-9.<\/p>\n

It was a well-contested affair. Gauteng B was pushed to their limits, but a flurry of goals in the fourth chukka secured the win.<\/p>\n

Mukhetwa Maemu<\/strong> was a man on a mission and netted four times for Gauteng, while David Latilla-Campbell<\/strong> bagged a hat-trick.<\/p>\n

Matthew Cross<\/strong> and Luke Shipway<\/strong> contributed a brace each before strikes by Samuel Gomes<\/strong>, Matthew Peacock<\/strong>, Troy Pasqualle<\/strong>, and Ryan Morley<\/strong> took the game out of reach of Buffalo City.<\/p>\n

Buffalo City received a heroic effort from veteran Thomas Caswell<\/strong>, who scored six of his side’s nine goals.<\/p>\n

“These games are really long, and I think what we showed today is that, as a team, you really need to grind them out,” Central Gauteng B head coach Thabang Madi<\/strong> told SuperSport Schools Plus<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

“You can’t think you’ve won it or lost in the first half. We saw that in the last chukka when we finally got away from them.”<\/p>\n

Madi and his troops will next turn their attention to a massive clash against Central Gauteng A on day two at 10:15.<\/p>\n

“We want to be as competitive as we possibly can,\u201d he said when asked about the match with their local rivals. We know we are a B-side, so no game is going to be easy.<\/p>\n

“We might concede a lot, but we have it in us to score a lot as well. We won’t give up, and we’ll play until the final whistle.”<\/p>\n

Day two’s action kicks off early on Sunday morning with a meeting between Eden Districts<\/strong> and Zimbabwe<\/strong> at 07:00.<\/p>\n

SCORES<\/strong><\/p>\n

Central Gauteng B 15: Mukhetwa Maemu (4), David Latilla-Campbell (3), Matthew Cross (2), Luke Shipway (2), Samuel Gomes (1), Matthew Peacock (1), Troy Pasqualle (1), Ryan Morley (1). Buffalo City 9<\/strong> (Thomas Caswell 6, Daniel Woodin (1), David Emslie (1), Daniel Stead (1).<\/p>\n

Western Province A 20:<\/strong> Matt Fenn (5), Benjamin Bigara (4), Andrew Reynolds (2), Jandro Rojo-Roos (2), Cole Abrahams (2), Blake Brown (1), Aidan Turrell (1), James Malan (1), Timothy Young (1), Luke Burger (1). Northerns 7<\/strong> (Ettiene van der Merwe (3), Ruan Engelbrecht (1), James King (1), Adriaan van Niekerk (1), Christiaan Truter (1).<\/p>\n

KwaZulu-Natal A 16:<\/strong> Adrian Truter (5), Thomas Francke (3), Oliver Guy (2), Sebastian Laudenberg (1), John Watkins (1), Oliver Ludwig (1), Drew Hollingsworth (1), Jamie Nicolau (1), Thomas Aylward (1). Aussie Crocs 13<\/strong> Benjamin Spall (5), Jack Plowman (4), Harry Colley (2), Hudson Dilkes (1), Joseph Gallagher (1).<\/p>\n

Central Gauteng A 9:<\/strong> Nicholas Searle (3), Simon Mussett (2), Erik Arwidi (2), Chris Chapman (1), James Crick (1), Cooper Haworth (1). Nelson Mandela Bay 7:<\/strong> Calum Emslie (3), Carter Rosser (2), Johan Moolman (1), Spencer Adshade (1), Christian Chandler (1).<\/p>\n

Fixtures, Sunday, 7 December<\/strong><\/p>\n

07:00 – Eden Districts vs Zimbabwe
\n08:05 – Western Province B vs KwaZulu-Natal A
\n09:10 – KwaZulu-Natal B vs Eastern Gauteng
\n10:15 – Central Gauteng A vs Central Gauteng B
\n11:20 – KwaZulu-Natal A vs Northerns
\n12:25 – Western Province A vs Aussie Crocs
\n13:30 – KwaZulu-Natal B vs Eden Districts
\n14:35 – Buffalo City vs Nelson Mandela Bay
\n15:40 – Western Province A vs Western Province B
\n16:45 – Aussie Crocs vs Northerns
\n17:50 – KwaZulu-Natal B vs Zimbabwe
\n18:55 – Central Gauteng A vs Buffalo City<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Central Gauteng u19A boys got their Schools Water Polo South Africa (SWPSA) Inter-Provincial Tournament (IPT) title defence off to a shaky start, edging out Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) 10-8 on Saturday in Johannesburg. The hosts were far from their best, but they got the job done in the Jubilee Pool, in front of a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":87298,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-87271","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\/87271","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=87271"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87271\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/87298"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=87271"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=87271"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=87271"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}