{"id":87411,"date":"2025-12-08T21:04:56","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T19:04:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=87411"},"modified":"2025-12-08T21:04:56","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T19:04:56","slug":"top-guns-storm-into-quarterfinals-despite-weather-chaos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=87411","title":{"rendered":"Top guns storm into quarterfinals despite weather chaos"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Central Gauteng A finished the group stage with a commanding 20-10 win over the Aussie Crocs. Photo: Hannes Nienaber<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There were no surprises on Monday, day three of the South African Schools Water Polo Inter-Provincial Tournament<\/strong> <\/a>(IPT), as four of the top u19 boys’ teams booked their places in the quarterfinals.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

It was a long day at the Jubilee Pool<\/strong> at St David\u2019s Marist Inanda<\/strong>, with a number of matches being delayed due to lightning. <\/span>Some teams, however, escaped the bad weather, with Central Gauteng A<\/strong>, Western Province A<\/strong> (WP)<\/strong> and Nelson Mandela Bay<\/strong> (NMB)<\/strong> making a splash in the morning session. <\/span><\/p>\n

Central Gauteng A, the defending champions, defeated the Aussie Crocs<\/a> <\/strong>20-10, while Western Province A downed KwaZulu-Natal A<\/strong> 12-8 in a key clash, and NMB edged out Central Gauteng B<\/strong> 10-8.<\/span><\/p>\n

After a nervy start on Saturday<\/a><\/strong>, Central Gauteng A found its mojo on Sunday. On Monday, the home side functioned like a well-oiled machine.<\/span><\/p>\n

They produced a clinical performance to double up the unpredictable Crocs, with James Crick<\/strong> and Aiden Khoury<\/strong> scoring hat-tricks, and Harry Wilkins<\/strong>, Erik Arwidi<\/strong>, Nicholas Searle<\/strong>, Connor McJannet<\/strong>, and Cooper Haworth <\/strong>all netting twice.<\/span><\/p>\n

That impressive result put to bed any doubts about whether or not Central Gauteng A is a serious contender for the title and the performance left head coach <\/span>Jon-Marc De Carvalho<\/span><\/strong> pleased with his side.<\/p>\n

“<\/span><\/strong>We started a bit slowly, but I think the team has progressed nicely,” he told SuperSport Schools Plus<\/a><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

“On Saturday, NMB came out firing, and their crowd was behind them, and that caught our guys off-guard, but that was a good wake-up call.<\/span><\/p>\n

“The boys stepped up against Buffalo City. We are progressing. I told them that we don’t need to be playing our best ‘polo on the first day. We need to be playing it on the last day.”<\/span><\/p>\n