A stacked SA Schools’ boys squad named after IPT
Five players from Central Gauteng A and four from Western Province A were included in the SA Schools boys’ squad that was announced at the conclusion of the Schools Water Polo South Africa Inter-Provincial Tournament (IPT) in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
In the 50th edition of the event, the Gauteng boys defeated Western Province 12-11 in the final.
They also took the title in 2024, in East London, beating KwaZulu-Natal A in the gold medal game.
Central Gauteng A and Western Province A dominated play from the opening day and finished the group stage unscathed and with maximum points.
In the semi-finals, Gauteng defeated KZN in a repeat of last year’s title game, while Province was made to work hard for their victory over Northern Gauteng.
The final, at St David’s Marist Inanda‘s Jubilee Pool, had to be stopped and continued at the Indoor Aquatic Centre at St John’s College because of lightning.
Gauteng made a strong start and kept their noses in front, holding off a strong finish from Province to lay claim to the trophy. Their reward included a handful of players being named in the South African Schools’ squad.
Goalkeeper Dylan Wiggill was the first name called out, and he was quickly joined on the stage by his teammates Declan Wood, Cooper Haworth, James Crick, and captain Nicholas Searle.
Province, meanwhile, was represented by shot-stopper Michael Mafunda, Matthew Fenn, Tim Young, and the exciting Ben Bigara.
KwaZulu-Natal finished in third place and secured three places in the team.
Jamie Nicolau, Thomas Aylward, and Matthew Lortan, who was also selected for SA Schools in 2024, were all impressive during the week, and they were duly rewarded.
Ettiene van der Merwe was the sole representative from Northerns, while Thomas Caswell, of Buffalo City, made the line-up for a second year running after another impressive campaign.
The fairytale story of the IPT, however, was that of Luca Whitehead, from Eden Districts, who played his socks off and cracked the nod despite his team finishing in ninth place.
SA Schools Squad
Dylan Wiggill (Central Gauteng A), Michael Mafunda (Western Province A), Jamie Nicolau (KwaZulu-Natal A), Declan Wood (Central Gauteng A), Cooper Haworth (Central Gauteng A), James Crick (Central Gauteng A), Thomas Aylward (KwaZulu-Natal A), Ettiene van der Merwe (Northern Gauteng), Matthew Fenn (Western Province), Tim Young (Western Province), Ben Bigara (Western Province), Thomas Caswell (Buffalo City), Luca Whitehead (Eden Districts), Matthew Lortan (KwaZulu-Natal A), Nicholas Searle (Central Gauteng A)
Awards
Best Defender – Tim Young
Best Forward – Matt Fenn
Best Utility Player – Thomas Aylward
Best Goalkeeper – Dylan Wiggill
Player of the Tournament – James Crick
u19 Boys’ Final IPT Standings
Central Gauteng A
Western Province A
KwaZulu-Natal A
Northern Gauteng
Nelson Mandela Bay
Central Gauteng B
Western Province B
Buffalo City
Eden Districts
KwaZulu-Natal B
Eastern Gauteng
Zimbabwe
