Bishops slay SACS to win Nite Series in dramatic fashion
The crowd was buzzing, the war cries were in full voice, and the SACS Aquatic Centre was at full capacity as Bishops Diocesan College defeated South African College School (SACS) 14-11 to claim the 2024 SACS Nite Series title in Cape Town on Tuesday evening.
Both sides, who had already faced one another four times this season, entered the match high in confidence after winning their semi-final clashes earlier in the day.
Bishops were, however, made to sweat for their spot in the final. Their clash against Rondebosch Boys High went down to penalties after ending 10-10 at the end of regulation time.
Coach Jabulani Sibiya‘s men managed to sneak a 2-1 win from the spot, while SACS dominated their encounter against Paul Roos to secure an 11-6 victory.
The final was, however, a different kettle of fish, with both teams going hard at each other for the better part of three chukkas.
Bishops hit the front early, when Thomas Truter and Milo Letschert gave them a two-goal advantage.
The home side turned to their talisman, Nicholas Fall, who pulled one back from a five-metre penalty before, a minute later, sneaking one past SA Schools’ goalkeeper Jordan De Sousa to level matters up at 2-2.
Bishops’ skipper, Ross Stewart, and SACS’s Jandro Rojo-Ross both found the back of the net to make it 3-3 at the completion of the first chukka.
The second chukka was much like the first in that there was little to separate the sides. But Rojo-Ross and Mac Lecuona struck to see SACS into the lead for the first time in the contest. However, Bishops stayed in the game, with Matt Fenn scoring twice to make it 5-5, before Nick Fall put SACS into a 6-5 lead at the halftime interval.
In the third chukka, Bishops looked sharper, both on attack and defence. It remained tight, however, but Sibiya’s team edged ahead, 9-8, with the final chukka to go.
In the final quarter, SACS let it slip by allowing their opponents too much time on the ball, particularly in the danger zone. That allowed the young Matt Fenn, who turned out for Western Province u15A last year, to continue his prolific scoring streak, as he punished SACS to the tune of seven goals.
Michael Voogt added to his team’s tally to stretch the lead to three (13-10) with just under three minutes remaining.
Bishops held on from there and, despite an acrobatic goal by Fall, prevailed 14-11 to lift the title after going unbeaten throughout their Nite Series campaign.
Man of the match went to Matt Fenn for his heroic seven goals.
Both sides will now turn their attention to the King Edward VII Water Polo Tournament in Johannesburg, which takes place from Friday through to Sunday.
In the fifth/sixth playoff match, Wynberg Boys High outmuscled Reddam House Constantia 9-7 to close off their series on a high.
Scorers
Bishops: Thomas Truter, Milo Letschert, Ross Stewart (x3), Matt Fenn (7), Michael Voogt (x2). SACS: Nicholas Fall (x5), Jandro Rojo-Roos (x2), Mac Lecuona (x3), Conor Melling-Williams.
Results
Bishops 10 (2)-(1) 10 Rondebosch
SACS 11-6 Paul Roos
Wynberg Boys High 9-7 Reddam House Constantia
Bishops 14-11 SACS
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