Bishops captures back-to-back Nite Series titles
Bishops Diocesan College first team water polo coach, Jabulani Sibiya, surely breathed a sigh of relief after his team retained the SACS Nite Series title by defeating Rondebosch Boys’ High 14-9 in the final on Tuesday in Cape Town.
Bishops was not wholly convincing during the series but they dug deep when the title was on the line to cause a frenzy at the SACS Aquatic Centre.
Their journey to the title decider was characterised by big moments, nail-biting encounters, and an ability to stage comebacks.
During the regular pool matches, coach Sibiya’s troops suffered just one defeat, a 5-7 loss against ‘Bosch in round two.
Apart from that loss, Bishops picked up wins over Reddam House Constantia (14-4), South African College High School (SACS) (9-8), Wynberg Boys’ High (15-6), and Paul Roos Gimnasium (8-7).
That left them in second place in the standings and set up a semifinal showdown with Wynberg for a place in the final.
They had beaten Wynberg comfortably in their round-robin meeting, and they won comfortably again, this time by a 10-4 margin. Rondebosch, meanwhile, won 9-7 against PRG in their semifinal clash.
The final marked the third time the sides met in recent weeks, and both teams were eager to secure the bragging rights after the spoils were shared in the earlier games. ‘Bosch won the first meeting, but Bishops gained revenge in a league match, winning 12-10.
On Tuesday evening, Bishops began the final playing at a high tempo, and after the first chukka, they had rushed into a 4-2 lead.
Harry Ford and Luke Cartwright took it to Rondebosch, scoring two goals each, while Luke Burger and Dante Moore converted for ‘Bosch.
Bishops kept up their onslaught in the second chukka and again outscored coach Jared Wingate-Pearse’s side, this time by a narrow margin of four goals to three.
The Bishops’ dangerman, Matt Fenn, asserted himself and netted a brace. He was followed onto the score sheet by Timothy Young and Harry Ford.
Bosch replied through Moore, who grabbed a second before Rupert Robinson and Noah Reiback cut the deficit to 5-8 heading into the break.
It was tight in the third chukka, although ‘Bosch created more goalscoring opportunities. They were kept at bat, however, by the heroics of Bishops’ goalkeeper Michael Mafunda.
Each side added two goals, with James Malan finding the back of the net for Bishops before Young completed his brace. Reiback pulled one back for Bosch, and Joshua Ripsold got in on the action later in the chukka.
Leading 10-7 with six minutes remaining, Bishops raised their intensity in the fourth and final chukka.
They were clinical, solid defensively, and killed off the game in the opening three minutes.
Skipper Milo Letschert scored, and Heath Blackwell then netted his first of the day.
The match was taken out of the reach of Rondebosch, courtesy of strikes by Fenn and Young, which countered Burger’s brace and saw Bishops to a deserved 14-9 victory and a successful defence of the title they won in 2024 by defeating SACS 14-11.
The title-winning success will be a big boost for Bishops ahead of the King Edward VII (KES) Water Polo Tournament this coming weekend.
They have been drawn in Pool A and will face Northwood School, St Andrew’s College, and St Stithians College.
The other Western Cape representatives at KES include Rondebosch, SACS, and Paul Roos.
NITE SERIES FINAL DAY RESULTS
Scorers in the final
Bishops 14: Harry Ford (3), Matt Fenn (3), Timothy Young (3), Luke Cartwright (2), James Malan, Heath Blackwell, Milo Letschert. Rondebosch 9: Luke Burger (3), Noah Reiback (2), Dante Moore (2), Joshua Ripsold, Rupert Robinson.
Semifinals
Bishops 10-4 Wynberg Boys’ High
Rondebosch Boys High 9-7 Paul Roos Gimnasium
5th/6th playoff
SACS 14-10 Reddam House Constantia
Final
Bishops Diocesan College 14-9 Rondebosch Boys’ High
