DAY 3 | VIDES | St David’s outshines St Andrew’s to win title
The St David’s Marist Inanda 1st water polo side produced a well-rounded and clinical performance to defeat St Andrew’s College 9-5 in the final of the Vides Water Polo Tournament in East London on Saturday.
The tournament, hosted by Selborne College, began on Thursday, and after three days of jam-packed action, St David’s and St Andrew’s were, by far, the most deserving to contest the final. They impressed all weekend long.
In their journey to the title game, coach Dean Whyte‘s Inanda boys were dominant, scoring bucketloads of goals while playing with assurance at the opposite end of the pool.
They opened their campaign with a 19-3 whipping of Pearson High before outplaying Grey College 13-2. A narrow 8-7 win over Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG) put them into the quarterfinals.
The Johannesburg outfit shrugged off Michaelhouse 6-4 in the last eight and then thumped Clifton College 11-4 in the semi-finals.
St Andrew’s, led by coach Grant Mackenzie, had a similar run, also going unbeaten in the group stages.
They beat PRG in their quarterfinal before shocking the hosts, Selborne, 7-3 to book a spot in the title game.
Both unbeaten records were on the line, but it was St David’s who dominated the early exchanges of the final. The boys from Sandton made a quick start and led 5-3 at the halfway mark, courtesy of goals by David Campbell, Dylan Gander, Matthew Peacock, and a double by Cooper Haworth.
Luke Parker, Daniel Meihuizen, and Liam Nurse replied for St Andrew’s.
The third chukka was very competitive, but it produced very little in the way of goalscoring. Haworth completed his hat-trick before Josh Hinks struck for College, which left St David’s 6-4 to the good heading into the final chukka.
With the game on the line, coach Whyte’s charges controlled and managed the game well. St Andrew’s was able to muster only one goal, scored by Calum Emslie from the penalty spot.
St David’s was superb on defence, and goalkeeper, Dylan Wiggill, came through with some unorthodox but effective saves to keep his side in front.
They, also, added three more goals to close out the match. Haworth netted his fourth before Connor McJannet and Giorgio Ferreira struck, too.
Try as they might, St Andrew’s couldn’t claw their way back into the clash, and St David’s lifted the trophy.
“I’m very happy with how the boys conducted themselves. It’s amazing to see their work pay off,” coach Dean Whyte told SuperSport Schools Plus poolside after the match.
“We’ve got a wonderful team, and a lot of boys have finals experience, particularly from a provincial level. It was nice to have them play into that game with eased pressure because it was a familiar environment for them.”
Whyte, who is known for his calm and composed demeanour, led St David’s to a fifth-place finish in last year’s event.
He said consistency inspired their title-winning effort in 2025. “The way the boys prepared, taking the pressure off their backs. You don’t win big games and tournaments at the event; it all starts at practice.
“We were consistent at practice, and the boys have been playing really well. Kudos to them.”
At the end of last season, St David’s suffered an exodus of key players. Whyte, though, has taken charge of a young and energetic group, mostly grade 11s, with only three matrics in the line-up.
That depth will stand them in good stead next year, but their immediate focus turns to the Reef Cup, where they will feel that have a shot at a second title in 2025.
Selborne College finished the event on a high, beating Clifton 8-3 to take the bronze medal.
Grey High edged out Michaelhouse 6-5 to finish in fifth place, while PRG occupied seventh and Woodridge completed the top 10.
Scorers in the final
St David’s Marist Inanda 9: Cooper Haworth (4), David Campbell, Dylan Gander, Connor McJannet, Giorgio Ferreira, Matthew Peacock. St Andrew’s College 5: Luke Parker, Daniel Meihuizen, Liam Nurse, Josh Hinks, Calum Emslie.
RESULTS
DAY 3
Selborne Collegians 11-5 Grey College
Grey High School 6-5 Paul Roos
Pearson High vs Paarl Boys High
Michaelhouse 6-5 St Alban’s College
Wynberg Boys’ High 6-5 Reddam House Constantia
Woodridge College 11-5 Stirling High
Paarl Boys’ High 8-5 Grey College
Pearson High 4-3 Selborne Collegians
Reddam House Constantia 12-3 Stirling High
Wynberg Boys’ High 13-4 Woodridge College
Paul Roos Gimnasium 7-5 St Alban’s College
Grey High 6-5 Michaelhouse
Selborne College 8-3 Clifton College
Semi-finals
St Andrew’s College 7-3 Selborne College
St David’s Marist Inanda 11-4 Clifton College
Final
St David’s Marist Inanda 9-5 St Andrew’s College
FINAL STANDINGS
St David’s Marist Inanda
St Andrew’s College
Selborne College
Clifton College
Grey High
Michaelhouse
Paul Roos
St Alban’s College
Wynberg Boys’ High
Woodridge College
Reddam House Constantia
Stirling High School
Pearson High School
Selborne Collegians
Paarl Boys’ High
Grey College
