Bishops successfully defends KES Water Polo Tournament title
“We are just a team that’s hungry for success.” – Those were the words of Bishops‘ captain, James Malan, after he led his side to a second consecutive KES Water Polo Tournament title in Johannesburg on Sunday.
Bishops defeated a strong St David’s Marist Inanda side 12-8 in the title-deciding clash to lay claim to the trophy again.
The boys from Cape Town dominated from the opening day and ended the group stage unbeaten in Pool A. Then, in the quarterfinals, they outplayed Hilton College 9-3 before edging out South African College High School (SACS) 13-11 in the semifinals.
St David’s, meanwhile, stunned Rondebosch Boys’ High 11-5 in the last eight. Next, they sneaked past Kearsney College. Their semi-final clash finished level at 8-8, but the Johannesburg side reached the final after winning the shootout 3-1.
That set up a rematch. St David’s and Bishops had met in a group stage game, with Bishops snatching a narrow 9-8 win.
The performances of the finalists measured up to the stature of the title game, with the spectators packed into the Mark Stevens Aquatic Centre being treated to an exciting show from the first whistle.
In the opening half, there was little to separate the sides. Bishops, though, led 7-5 at halftime, courtesy of goals by Tim Young, Ryan Dales, and Jack Grout, and braces from Harry Ford and Matt Fenn.
St David’s replied through Matthew Peacock, Connor McJannet, David Latilla-Campbell, Cooper Haworth, and Giorgio Ferreira.
In the third chukka, Bishops slightly extended their advantage by scoring three goals to two. Then, in the final quarter, the Capetonians finally put the game to bed.
They sealed the game late on when Harry Ford completed his hat-trick before Danilo Giuricich scored a consolation goal for his St David’s.
“It feels surreal,” Bishops’ captain, James Malan, told SuperSport Schools Plus after the match.
“We have worked so hard for this moment. We’ve been training since 4 January, and that’s the earliest we’ve ever had pre-season.
“Just to get the result means the world to us. All the matrics, it’s our last one, and we have a goal to win everything this year, and so far, we are on track,” he said after Bishops added the KES title to their SAC Shield and SACS Nite Series victories.
Malan said one of the key ingredients in his team’s run of success is the bonds and relationships that the players share outside of the pool. We have a really good team culture,” he explained.
“We’re just mates with each other. It doesn’t matter if a guy is in grade 10 or 12. Those friendships bind us together in and out of the pool, and I think that’s what makes this team so good.”
Malan also paid tribute to St David’s, who made their bow in the tournament one to remember.
“They are a team that never dies and never gives up, and they really gave us a run for our money in both the final and during the pool stage,” he said.
“You just have to give credit to them. They are a well-coached side. They have special players as well, so it’s always great competition against them.”
Bishops will return to action in the coming week at the Mazinter Cup.
Day 3 Results
Clifton College (1) 5-5 (2) St Andrew’s College
St John’s College 6-2 Paul Roos Gimnasium
Pretoria Boys High 2-6 Selborne College
KES 4-5 Jeppe
St Stithians College 4-1 Westville Boys’ High
Hilton College 4-7 Rondebosch Boys’ High
Clifton College 6-3 Paul Roos Gimnasium
St John’s College 4-1 St Andrew’s College
Semi-finals
St David’s Marist Inanda (3) 8-8 (1) Kearsney College
Bishops 13-11 SACS
3rd/4th
SACS (3) 7-7 (2) Kearsney College
Final
Bishops 12-8 St David’s
Final standings
Bishops
St David’s Marist Inanda
SACS
Kearsney College
Rondebosch Boys’ High
Hilton College
St Stithians College
Westville Boys’ High
St John’s College
St Andrew’s College
Clifton College
Paul Roos
Jeppe High School for Boys
King Edward VII
Selborne College
Pretoria Boys High
