DAY 4 | Hansen stars as Selborne retains ITEC title
Selborne College’s talisman Liam Hansen netted four goals to lead his side to a comfortable 12-8 victory over Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) in the final of the Grey College ITEC Water Polo Tournament in Bloemfontein on Sunday.
Hansen and his teammates were superb throughout the tournament and remained unbeaten after finishing atop Pool B before cruising past their opponents in the knockout stages.
Affies were equally impressive throughout the weekend and, led by the sharp-shooting Alexander Kelbrick, had set their sights on redemption after losing last year’s final 5-11 against the same opponent.
The first chukka of the match was one to savour, with both sides playing an attacking brand of water polo. Meanwhile, both shot-stoppers, Matt Bean and Etienne Nortje, were solid between the sticks.
Kelbrick opened the scoring for his side, before Selborne’s skipper, Daniel Breetzke, levelled matters.
The champions went on the attack again and were duly rewarded when Hansen and Connor Maree netted to put them into a 3-2 lead after the opening quarter.
In the second chukka, Selborne turned up the heat and opened up a four-goal advantage at the break, leading 7-3.
The final two chukkas were highly entertaining, as Kelbrick and Hansen recorded hattricks, with Affies making up some ground to leave the outcome of the contest still in the balance as time ticked away.
Selborne led 8-6 in the final quarter, and, with a successful defence of the ITEC title beckoning, they extended their advantage once more through Daniel Breetzke, Kairon Roux, Dominic Stegmann, and Hansen to finish four goals clear of Affies.
The back-to-back champions received a late red card when Maree infringed in the pool, but it did little to slow their charge to capture the crown as they completed the tournament unbeaten.
Earlier in the day, in a thriller, Glenwood High edged Stirling 11-10 to finish in seventh place, while Pretoria Boys High thumped Pearson High 13-5 and took ninth spot.
There was a happy ending for the hosts as they took a 10-8 win over Jeppe, which sewed up fifth spot, while Northwood had the measure of Grey High, beating the side from Gqeberha 7-4 to claim the bronze medal.
Results: Day 4
Pretoria Boys High 13-5 Pearson High School
Glenwood High School 11-10 Stirling High
Grey College 10-8 Jeppe High for Boys
Northwood School 7-4 Grey High School
Selborne College 12-8 Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool
Scorers in the final
Selborne College 12 (7): Daniel Breetzke (x2), Liam Hansen (x4), Conner Maree, Samuel Van de Venter, Armand Van Rooyen, Mitchell Holl, Hairon Roux, Dominic Stegmann. Affies 8 (3): Alexander Helbrich (x4), Andre Van der Heever, Christiaan Truter, Julien Du Toit, Ettiene Van der Merwe.
Final standings:
Selborne College
Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool
Northwood High School
Grey High School
Grey College
Jeppe Boys High School
Glenwood High School
Stirling High School
Pretoria Boys High School
Pearson High School
