Rivals Central Gauteng and Western Province set to battle for IPT glory
The script couldn’t have been written any better for the South Africa Schools Water Polo Inter-Provincial Tournament u19 girls’ final.
On Wednesday, in East London, Central Gauteng A and Western Province A booked their places in the final, which will be played in the Joan Harrison East Swimming Pool. The highly anticipated clash between the rivals will be a repeat of last year’s final, which Gauteng won 12-10 in Gqeberha.
On their way to the title decider, the Province A side defeated their counterparts Western Province B 15-3 in the semifinals. Meanwhile, Gauteng edged out Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) 5-4.
It was the second meeting between Gauteng and NMB after the team had done battle in a Pool A match on day three. In that clash, Gauteng ran out 10-5 winners, but they were made to work even harder for their victory in the semifinal as NMB targeted an upset.
It was an extraordinary game of water polo filled with drama, individual brilliance, and defining moments. A tightly contested first half concluded with the teams heading into the break level at 3-3.
Gauteng’s goals were scored by Amy Smith, Mia Loizides, and Julia Joseph, while Teagan Harty struck twice for NMB before an out-of-this-world acrobatic backhand shot by Matipa Karimazondo evened the scores at the halfway point.
Harty completed her hat-trick in the third chukka before NMB went into a defensive mode, leading 4-3 ahead of the final chukka.
Big Match Temperament describes Gauteng’s fightback in the fourth chukka. Coach Kelsey Thomson’s charges attacked hard while remaining resolute at the back, with goalkeeper Lucy Davis coming to their rescue several times.
Their attacking efforts were rewarded when Julia Joseph netted her second to pull Central Gauteng even at 4-4.
In the final minute, both sets of supporters were out of their seats as a dramatic finish unfolded.
NMB head coach Grant McKenzie called a timeout to dish out some instructions to his players in what appeared to be the final play of the match. His players, though, were unable to capitalise on their opportunity and Gauteng quickly turned over the ball.
In possession, Ruby Carlson pinned her ears back and sprinted up the length of the pool to force a one-on-one with goalkeeper Kimberly Kabiri. Only 10 seconds remained when she slid the ball into the net to seal an electrifying win for Gauteng.
Reacting after the match, head coach Kelsey Thomson told SuperSport Schools Plus: “I think Nelson Mandela Bay did really well to change their game plan from yesterday.
Turning to her players, she said: “Our girls were just so good. They showed endurance and just kept chipping away.”
Wednesday’s finalists will meet for a second time at the tournament. In a Pool A clash, earlier in the event, Western Province scored a 7-4 win over Central Gauteng.
Thomson believes her charges will have to bring their A-game if they are to retain the title.
“We knew all the games, from the quarters to the final, would be very tough,” she said. “I think we’ve got good BMT, and the team will need to bring it. Four of the girls are playing in their last ever IPT, so I want them to just play for each other and have fun.”
The second semifinal was dominated by coach Etienne Le Roux‘s Western Province A side, who had the measure of the Province B team, charging to a 15-3 victory.
Hannah Banks continued her fine form, scoring four goals, while Roxanne Uys bagged a hat-trick.
The emphatic win means Province A heads into the final unbeaten in the tournament.
“I’m very proud of the girls. I think we’ve worked really hard,” Le Roux said after his side cruised to a place in the final.
“The best advice to give them is that when they play in a final of this magnitude, they must enjoy it because not many get that opportunity.”
Wednesday’s final will be Le Roux’s first in Western Province colours after he joined them earlier this year. He insists his players will stick to the methods that have carried them throughout the tournament.
“We’ve prepared for the final,” he said. “We have had conversations about the tactical work we’re going to be doing. The important thing is not to change anything now, but for us to focus on what we worked on and implement as much as possible.
“We will focus on ourselves and not the opposition,” he ended.
SCORES
Western Province B 8: Kirsten Bottger (3), Tatum Malherbe (1), Bailey Donnachie (1), Jemma Stearns (1), Sarah Palframan (1), Anna Lieberman (1). KwaZulu-Natal 5: Lara Mervis (2), Inge Southey (2), Kayla Andrews.
Nelson Mandela Bay 11: Amie Jenner (3), Teagan Harty (2), Mia Jenner (2), Anna Olivier (1), Matipa Karimazondo (1), Jasmine Witthuhn (1), Lucy Rutherfoord (1). Buffalo City 8: Tori Voke (4), Meka Loots (3), Jessica Schaefer (1).
Central Gauteng A 13: Mia Loizides (4), Emma Pelicot (2), Anastasia Hambakis (2), Emily Carle (1), Amy Smith (1), Julia Joseph (1), Tori Tanner-Ellis (1), Francesca De Villiers (1). Eastern Gauteng 2: Maddison Griffin (2).
Western Province A 20: Hannah Banks (4), Bella Murray (4), Alexa De Villiers (4), Emma Catto (2), Nicole Bantom (1), Emily van Heerden (1), Roxanne Uys (1), Amy van Breda (1), Julia Luckoff (1), Isabella Tooley (1). Central Gauteng B 7: Aimee Hattingh (3), Kiara Cronje (2), Mia Duffy (1), Amy Stubbs (1).
Buffalo City B 10: Caroline Kretzmann (3), Shenlyn Grotjohn (2), Emma Booyens (2), Bella Graham (1), Slayde Herman (1), Courtney Linke (1). Northerns 3: Jorja Ross (3).
Buffalo City A 11: Meka Loots (3), Tori Voke (2), Roxy-Lee van Eek (2), Jessica Schaefer (2), Jasmine Koch (1), Erin Batting (1). Eastern Gauteng 6: Caitlin Scrimgeour (4), Megan Venter (2).
KwaZulu-Natal 13: Inge Southey (4), Gemma Malherbe (3), Caitlin McMurray (2), Lara Mervis (2), Kayla Andrews (2). Central Gauteng B 6: Aimee Hattingh (2), Taylor Billett (1), Simphiwe Zulu (1), Mia Duffy (1), Rachel Rostron (1).
Zimbabwe 24: Tayleigh Taylor (6), Emily Taylor (3), Ryley Jardine (3), Danike Swan (3), Shannon Torr (2), Lucy Wood (2), Chloe Ralphs (2), Lily Bean (1), Tyla Love (1), Olivia Accorsi (1). Northerns 4: Jorja Ross (2), Sinoah Pretorius (1), Hannah Burrow (1).
Central Gauteng A 5: Julia Joseph (2), Amy Smith (1), Mia Loizides (1), Ruby Carlson (1). Nelson Mandela Bay 4: Teagan Harty (3), Matipa Karimazondo (1).
Western Province A 15: Hannah Banks (4), Roxanne Uys (3), Alexa De Villiers (2), Sofia Walker (2), Emily van Heerden (1), Sophie Vickers (1), Isabella Tooley (1), Julia Luckoff (1). Western Province B 3: Carla Lampe (1), Sarah Palframan (1), Gabriela Stuart-Reckling (1).
Day 5 Fixtures
07:55 – Zimbabwe vs Buffalo City B (9th/10th playoff @Selborne Primary)
09:55 –Nelson Mandela Bay vs Western Province B (3rd/4th playoff @Selborne Primary)
10:40 – Western Province A vs Central Gauteng A – Final (Joan Harrison East Swimming Pool)
11:55 – Buffalo City A vs KwaZulu-Natal (5th/6th playoff @Selborne Primary)
12:55 – Eastern Gauteng vs Central Gauteng B (7th/8th playoff @Joan Harrison West Swimming Pool)
