Bishops outmaneuvers Rondebosch to win SAC Shield in style
Bishops Diocesan College attacked clinically, were rock-solid at the back, and produced a top performance with the title on the line to score an emphatic 11-6 win over Rondebosch Boys’ High in the final of the St Andrew’s College (SAC) Shield in Makhanda on Sunday.
The finalists both lost just once each on their way to the title decider and produced some impressively dominant water polo throughout their group stage assignments and in the playoffs.
‘Bosch was the defending champion after beating St John’s College in the final in 2025, while Bishops was hunting the prestigious silverware after falling narrowly short on two previous occasions.
In the semifinals, Bishops hit their straps, brushing aside St Stithians College 12-5, while Rondebosch came from behind to beat their Cape Town rivals, South African College High School (SACS), 8-5.
The stage was set for an enthralling title contest. It was a replay of a Pool A match, played on the opening day, which Bishops won 10-8.
‘Bosch, though, came firing out of the blocks and struck twice in the opening two minutes through Blake Galpin and Ben Gray.
After that slow start, Bishops responded strongly. Jack Grout pulled one back after some smart play before strikes by Matt Fenn, Noah Viuff, and Dominic Zulch made it 4-2.
The second chukka was all about Bishops. Coach Jabulani Sibiya‘s men controlled the tempo of the game, moved the ball around brilliantly, and punished ‘Bosch for some lacklustre defence.
Fenn was almost unstoppable, and he scored four more goals before skipper James Malan made it nine. They also kept Rondebosch scoreless and went into halftime with a healthy 9-2 lead.
The third quarter, the “moving chukka”, finally brought some joy for ‘Bosch.
Coach Jared-Wingate Pearse had delivered a strong message to his players at halftime, and they responded to it by outscoring Bishops 3-1 in the chukka, with goals from Dante Moore, Zack Labuschagne, and Noah Reiback, to make it 10-5 with a quarter to play.
Dante Moore netted a fifth goal for Rondebosch, but Tim Young soon restored Bishops’ five-goal lead when he replied.
After the Bishops’ blitz in the second quarter, Rondebosch simply couldn’t claw their way back in the game. The Bisch/Bosch derby belonged to Bishops, and thanks to their splendid performance, they lifted the SAC Shield.
On Wednesday, the teams will square off for a third time in quick succession in round two of the SACS Nite Series.
St Stithians College ended their campaign with a resounding 11-4 win over SACS to clinch the bronze medal, while Clifton College defeated Hilton College by a single goal in a KZN derby to place fifth. Paul Roos Gimnasium picked up their first win of the tournament against Westville Boys’ High.
Day 4 Results
Westville 8-9 Paul Roos (11th/12th)
St Andrew’s College 6-7 Grey High (9th/10th)
Selborne 2-10 St John’s (7th/8th)
Clifton 8-7 Hilton (5th/6th)
St Stithians 11-4 SACS (3rd/4th)
Bishops 11-6 Rondebosch (Final)
CLICK HERE for Day 1 results
CLICK HERE for Day 2 results
CLICK HERE for Day 3 results
