Confident Durban Girls’ College hunt more silverware
A determined and hungry Durban Girls’ College (DGC) side will be on the hunt for their second piece of silverware this season when they contest the Old Petrian’s Water Polo Tournament at St Peter’s College over the weekend.
The annual event, recognised as one of the best girls’ water polo spectacles in the country, will see 28 schools compete for top honours, from Thursday to Sunday.
Last year’s winners, St Stithians College are seeded in an interesting Pool A with Alexander Road, Crawford, Herschel, Hudson Park, Kingswood College, and Rand Park High.
Meanwhile, DGC will contest Pool C along with the hosts, Collegiate, Pretoria Girls, Reddam House Constantia, Rustenburg, and St Dominic’s.
The Durban side heads into the tournament high in confidence after winning the National Aquatics Festival, which took place in KwaZulu-Natal earlier this month.
At that event, hosted by Maris Stella, Peter Lavett‘s side showed grit in the playoffs after finishing the pool stages unbeaten.
They held off Clarendon High 8-7 in the semi-finals before edging out St Mary’s Waverley in a thrilling title-decider.
“We were over the moon winning that tournament with such a young team, and with no Grade 12s!” Lavett revealed to SuperSport Schools.
“We trained quite nicely through January and had a good run at the Brian Baker Tournament in Makhanda, where we beat Clarendon.
“So, it was very nice to show our parents what we can do.”
In a gruelling final against St Mary’s, DGC claimed the honours on penalties after the match ended 7-7 after four chukkas.
It was their defence that shone, with several players making crucial blocks and steals with minutes left on the shot clock.
Lavett also said allowing young players to familiarise themselves with the tempo of the tournament early on reaped rewards for his side at a later stage.
“We took it one game at a time. The girls worked hard, and we focused a lot on our defence.
“Many of our young girls, who are in grade 10 and new in the team, got some water time and that paid off at the end of the tournament, where we had to show up.
“This season has started very nicely and I’m hoping we can continue the momentum into this weekend,” he added.
DGC, managed by Cortney Whitfield, will also need strong showings from some of their experienced players, including Inge Southey, Kayla Andrews, and Lara Mervis, if they are to go all the way in Johannesburg.
Durban Girls College fixtures at the Petrian’s Water Polo Tournament:
Thursday, 22 February
11:10- Durban Girls College vs St Peter’s College
17:00- Durban Girls College vs Rustenburg
Friday, 23 February
08:10- Durban Girls College vs Pretoria Girls
16:20- Durban Girls College vs St Dominic’s
18:40- Durban Girls College vs Reddam House Constantia
Saturday, 24 February
08:45- Durban Girls College vs Collegiate
