Durban Girls’ College are KZN Top 10 water polo champions
From the opening game of the KZN Top 10 Girls’ Water Polo Tournament, on Friday, at Durban Girls’ College (DGC), it was crystal clear, the team to beat was the host, DGC. Even their second stringers, DGC 2, were clearly one of the better sides in action.
St Anne’s Diocesan College wasn’t in action on Friday, but they soon made their case as the leading challengers to DGC when they took to the water on Saturday.
The hosts cruised through their group assignments, with a 7-1 win over Thomas More College being their closest victory. St Anne’s, meanwhile, never allowed a team to get closer than seven points to them, and they dominated DGC 2, winning 13-3.
DGC 2, however, finished second in the group, thanks to a tight 7-6 win over Reddam House Umhlanga on Friday.
They went on to face Thomas More College in the third and fourth place playoff, with DGC 2 triumphing 5-1.
In the title game, DGC took charge and dictated play, powering their way to a 10-4 victory over St Anne’s.
Commenting on his team’s success, DGC coach Peter Lavett told SuperSport Schools Plus: “It was great to start off with a tournament win. I’m very proud of the girls. We have prepared well, and we managed to play according to our game plan
“We wanted to start this part of the year with a solid tournament, getting basics right and making sure all players know their role in the team. We have big goals for this part of the season, and we achieved the first goal by winning the KZN Top 10.”
Levett said he was pleased with his players’ ability to win in more than one way. He explained: “We were able to practice moves and different tactics through the pool stage and I am very proud of the girls that we kept our composure and focus through games where we won by more than 15 goals.
“Hannah Weinert, in goal, had a great tournament,” he added. “But the real standouts were the matrics who have a tough exam period but still performed at a top level.”
A challenging list of top tournaments lies ahead for DGC, including the DGC u16 tournament this week. Then, the first team will compete in the Reddam House Constantia and St Anne’s tournaments.
“The goal is to play for medals at all three events,” Lavett said.
RESULTS
Friday, 29 August
Westville Girls’ High 0-22 DGC
Thomas More College 7-4 St Mary’s DSG
Maris Stella 8-10 Reddam House Umhlanga
St John’s 0-20 Danville
DGC 2 7-6 Reddam House Umhlanga
St Mary’s DSG 11-3 Westville Girls’ High
Danville (5) 4-4 (7) Thomas More College
Maris Stella 9-2 Our Lady of Fatima
Saturday, 30 August
DGC 2 10-5 Maris Stella
Curro Hillcrest 3-5 Our Lady of Fatima
DGC 15-0 St Mary’s DSG
Thomas More College 18-0 St John’s
Westville Girls’ High 2-6 Danville
Our Lady of Fatima 3-20 St Anne’s
Curro Hillcrest 2-13 DGC 2
St John’s 0-22 DGC
Reddam House Umhlanga 3-10 St Anne’s
DGC 2 15-0 Our Lady of Fatima
Danville 0-13 DGC
St Mary’s DSG 16-0 St John’s
St Anne’s 15-5 Curro Hillcrest
Westville Girls’ High 1-13 Thomas More College
Danville 4-5 St Mary’s DSG
Reddam House Umhlanga 9-4 Curro Hillcrest
St Anne’s 14-2 Maris Stella
DGC 7-1 Thomas More College
Our Lady of Fatima 3-12 Reddam House Umhlanga
St Anne’s 13-3 DGC 2
Curro Hillcrest 1-8 Maris Stella
St John’s 2-10 Westville Girls’ High
Sunday, 31 August
Cup semi-finals
Thomas More College 3-8 St Anne’s
DGC 13-3 DGC 2
11th/12th
St John’s 1-8 Curro Hillcrest
9th/10th
Westville Girls’ High 3-1 Our Lady of Fatima
7th/8th
Danville 6-3 Maris Stella
5th/6th
St Mary’s DSG 4-8 Reddam House Umhlanga
3rd/4th
Thomas More College 1-5 DGC 2
Final
St Anne’s 4-10 DGC
