{"id":90544,"date":"2026-02-16T08:23:19","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T06:23:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=90544"},"modified":"2026-02-16T08:23:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T06:23:19","slug":"character-and-grit-key-as-st-davids-claims-back-to-back-vides-titles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=90544","title":{"rendered":"Character and grit key as St David’s claims back-to-back Vides titles"},"content":{"rendered":"
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St David’s Marist Inanda was crowned the 2026 champion at the Vides Water Polo Tournament. Photo: Shani Lombard<\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The St David’s Marist Inanda<\/strong> water polo team made history on Saturday after claiming their second-straight Vides Water Polo Tournament<\/a> <\/strong>title in East London.<\/p>\n

The boys from Johannesburg downed Paul Roos Gimnasium<\/strong> (PRG)<\/strong> 9-8 in a hotly contested final.<\/p>\n

The annual tournament, which celebrated its 50th edition<\/strong> this year, ran from Thursday at Selborne College<\/strong>‘s main pool and Clarendon<\/strong>‘s Aquatic Centre<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

St David’s defeated St Andrew’s College<\/strong> in last year’s final to clinch the title for the first time. They were favoured to go all the way once again in 2026.<\/p>\n

Drawn in Pool C, coach Dean Whyte<\/strong>‘s troops constructed a splendid campaign, dominating their group games before grinding their way past their opponents in the knockout stages of the tournament.<\/p>\n

They rattled off three comprehensive victories to finish top of their pool, defeating Paarl Boys’ High<\/strong> 9-3, Glenwood House<\/strong> 16-7, and Grey High School<\/strong> 10-5.<\/p>\n

In the quarterfinals, St David\u2019s met St Andrew’s in a repeat of the 2025 final and had to work hard for an 8-6 win over the boys from Makhanda.<\/p>\n

That victory set up a semifinal meeting with Michaelhouse<\/strong>. It was a closely contested affair, but St David’s reigned supreme, winning 10-6.<\/p>\n

While the Johannesburg school punched its ticket to the final, PRG took on Wynberg Boys’ High<\/strong> in the other semifinal.<\/p>\n

In a low-scoring contest, coach Vaughn Marlow<\/strong>‘s got the better of their Western Cape counterparts, with a 6-3 win sealing their spot in the title game.<\/p>\n