Ian Melliar Water Polo tournament returns but can Selborne College clinch it again?
Selborne College from East London in the Eastern Cape will be tasked with the challenge of defending their Melliar Water Polo title when they take to the pool on day one of the tournament at Wynberg Boys High this coming weekend.
The u15 tournament will return for its 16th edition this year, with 24 teams set to battle it out over four days in two separate venues.
The spectacle will be played at the Wynberg High School swimming pool and junior pool, with each team getting an opportunity to play at both pools.
In last year’s edition, the Eastern Cape side were dominant and remained unbeaten throughout the group stages to seal the title in a closely fought final against Bishops.
During the pool stages, Selborne defeated Clifton (5-0), Michaelhouse (10-1), Western Province invitational (10-1), SACS (7-1), and Bishops (7-5) before edging out Hilton (12-11) in the semi-finals and then winning the title with a (3-1) against Bishops.
This year, the defending champions are seeded in Pool B. The group has potential to be the group of death, and it features the likes of Maritzburg College, Paul Roos, SACS, St Albans, and St David’s.
They will begin their title defence against SACS on Friday afternoon.
Bishops, who took home the silver medal in last year’s instalment will be battling it out in Pool C with newcomers, Wahoo, Glenwood House, Grey College, Hilton College, and St Johns.
Other teams to look out for in Pool A and D respectively are also newcomers Grey College, Jeppe Boys High, Woodridge from Gqeberha and Kearsney College.
Glenwood House will kick-off the action against Bishops on day one at 12:00. Other matches to keep an eye on in the opening day include hosts, Wynberg Boys up against Grey High School, St Davids versus SACS, and Paul Roos against Maritzburg College.
The groups:
Pool A- Hellenic, Kearsney, Rondebosch Boys, St Stithians, Woodridge, Westerford.
Pool B- Maritzburg College, Paul Roos, SACS, Selborne College, St Albans, St David’s.
Pool C- Bishops, Glenwood House, Grey College, Hilton College, Wahoo, St Johns.
Pool D- Affies, Clifton, Grey College, Jeppe Boys High, Wynberg Boys High, St Andrews.
Fixtures:
Friday:
High School Pool:
12:00- Glenwood House vs Bishops; 12:35- Grey College vs Wahoo; 13:10- Clifton vs Affies; 13:45- Jeppe Boys vs St Andrews; 14:20- Grey High School vs Wynberg Boys; 14:55- Kearsney College vs Woodridge; 15:30- Rondebosch vs St Stithians; 16:05- Westerford vs Hellenic; 16:40- Paul Roos vs St Alban’s; 17:15- SACS vs Selborne College; 17:50- St Davids vs Maritzburg College; 18:25- Hilton College vs St Johns.
Junior School Pool:
12:00- Rondebosch vs Westerford; 12:35- St Stithians vs Woodridge; 13:10- Kearsney vs Hellenic; 13:45- Paul Roos vs Maritzburg College; 14:20- Selborne vs St Alban’s; 14:55- SACS vs St David’s; 15:30- Glenwood House vs St John’s; 16:05- Grey College vs Hilton College; 16:40- Wahoo vs Bishops; 17:15- Clifton vs St Andrew’s; 17:50- Grey High School vs Jeppe Boys; 18:25- Wynberg Boys High vs Affies.
Saturday:
High School Pool:
08:00- Kearsney vs Rondebosch; 08:35- Hellenic vs Woodridge; 09:10- Westerford vs St Stithians; 09:45- Paul Roos vs SACS; 10:20- Maritzburg College vs St Alban’s; 10:55- St David’s vs Selborne College; 11:30- St John’s vs Grey College; 12:05- Hilton College vs Bishops; 12:40- Wahoo vs Glenwood House; 13:15- St Andrews vs Grey High School; 13:50- Jeppe vs Affies; 14:25- Wynberg Boys vs Clifton; 15:00- Bishops vs Grey College; 15:35- St John’s vs Wahoo; 16:10- Hilton College vs Glenwood House; 16:45- Affies vs Grey High; 17:20- St Andrew’s vs Wynberg Boys; 17:55- Jeppe vs Clifton.
Junior School Pool:
08:00- Glenwood House vs Grey College; 08:35- Bishops vs St John’s; 09:10- Wahoo vs Hilton College; 09:45- Clifton vs Grey High School; 10:20- Affies vs St Andrew’s; 10:55- Wynberg vs Jeppe; 11:30- Woodridge vs Rondebosch; 12:05- St Stithians vs Hellenic; 12:40- Westerford vs Kearsney; 13:15- St Alban’s vs SACS; 13:50- Selborne College vs Maritzburg College; 14:25- St David’s vs Paul Roos; 15:00- Hellenic vs Rondebosch; 15:35- Woodridge vs Westerford; 16:10- St Stithians vs Kearsney; 16:45- Maritzburg College vs SACS; 17:20- St Alban’s vs St David’s; 17:55- Selborne College vs Paul Roos.
