KZN reverses WP loss, faces Central Gauteng in boys’ u19 IPT final
In March, in East London, the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) u19 boys’ team beat Western Province, on their way to a runner-up finish behind Central Gauteng in the Currie Cup South African Junior Water Polo Championships.
On Monday, at the Schools Water Polo South Africa Inter-Provincial Tournament, in East London again, Western Province avenged that loss, defeating KZN 10-7. On Tuesday, the same teams met in the semi-finals of the event. In an electric contest, KZN reversed their loss of a day earlier, coming back from 5-6 down at halftime to score a spectacular 14-11 victory over the defending champions, which thoroughly entertained the large crowd.
When they had met a day earlier, Western Province had rocketed out of the blocks and into a 5-0 lead in the first chukka, and they started well again, quickly taking a 2-0 lead. This time, though, KZN pulled it back to 2-2 before a scoring spurt from Province opened a three-goal lead at 5-2.
Coach Rob Ambler‘s KZN side is made of stern stuff, however, and they began to turn the tide in the latter stages of the chukka, pulling to within a goal.
Then, after halftime, they turned up the heat on Province and turned a 5-6 deficit into a 9-6 advantage heading into the last chukka.
When KZN added another goal, they appeared to be on course for the final. But Western Province is a battle-hardened outfit, too, and they staged a fightback, putting the ball in the hands of star forward, Nick Fall, who fired in a couple of goals with his accurate and powerful left arm.
With time winding down, coach Jabz Sibiya‘s boys had clawed their way back into the contest, trailing only 11-12. His opposite number, Rob Ambler, called a timeout and made it crystal clear to his players that they were to close Fall down as soon as he received the ball. That instruction worked. KZN was able to stop Western Province from scoring again and reversed the momentum once more.
They struck twice more to secure a heart-stopping and satisfying victory, Ambler, who had tried to play it cool during the game, although his mask had slipped once or twice in moments of celebration, this time let out a roar of delight and made a double fist pump.
Commenting after the game on his charges’ superb third chukka, he said he didn’t change anything at halftime. “The guys got out [of the pool] and they said ‘We’re not out of this, we’re in it. We’ve gotta go!’ We were on a high. In that second chukka, we came back in a big way.”
“These boys are incredible,” he smiled. “It’s not me. It’s them. I give the tools and they use them. That’s it!”
Casting an eye towards the final, where they will face Central Gauteng A, although that wasn’t yet known after his team’s epic victory, Ambler shook his head when asked if it would be a challenge to get them up for the game again. “No! These guys are professionals,” he said, gesturing to his players going through their warm-down, already putting their big win behind them.
“They work hard. They train hard together. They’re a team above all else.”
Tristan Uys, as he has done throughout the tournament, was a handful in front of goal, and he struck five times for KZN, while James Pohl sent four into the back of the Western Province net, and Luca Sandri added a brace.
The fact of the matter, though, was that KwaZulu-Natal’s victory was a team win. They worked exceptionally hard for one another, and that proved enough.
Arkin Marais led the Province goal scorers, scoring a hat-trick, while Fall was joined on two goals by Ross Stewart.
In 2023, Ambler guided the KwaZulu-Natal u16 team to the Inter-Provincial title. That was followed by a role as coach of the South African u18 team which contested the World Aquatics Men’s u18 Water Polo Championships in July in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Now, he has an opportunity to lead the KZN boys to the u18 title.
Standing in their way is Central Gauteng, the team that beat them 8-6 in the Currie Cup final after KZN had beaten Central Gauteng 12-8 in a pool stage clash.
It truly is that close between KZN, Central Gauteng, and Western Province. Betting on the outcomes of clashes between those sides would be foolhardy, and predicting the outcome of Wednesday’s final is a coin flip.
Earlier in the tournament, KZN edged out Central Gauteng, fighting back from a 0-3 deficit to win 10-9. That slow start almost cost them the game, and a slow start cost them the game in their pool loss to Western Province, so one of the keys to victory for Ambler’s boys will be to make a solid start.
Coach Jon-Marc De Carvalho‘s Central Gauteng boys had an easier semi-final assignment, taking on the spirited locals, Buffalo City. It was tight in the early going, with Central Gauteng edging ahead 3-2, but they slowly but surely increased the gap, going on to an 11-3 victory.
Jack Wilkins led the Gauteng goal scorers, netting three, while Ross Rovelli, Marc Smith, and Alexander Kelbrick recorded doubles.
Gauteng poses a different threat to the one KZN faced from Western Province. They’re a more physical unit, which works hard to pressure the player on the ball. The contest will be decided by how well KZN deals with that pressure, and by Gauteng’s ability to force turnovers and turn those into goals.
Earlier on Tuesday, in the quarterfinals, Buffalo City scored a 9-6 win over Central Gauteng B, KwaZulu-Natal A outplayed Nelson Mandela Bay 16-4, and Western Province A swamped KwaZulu-Natal B 18-4. Central Gauteng A comfortably dealt with Western Province B, running out 15-5 winners.
The Aussie Crocs, from Brisbane, met a Pool B Invitation side, made up of players from Central Gauteng B, Western Province B, KwaZulu-Natal B, Northerns, Zimbabwe, and Eastern Gauteng, and posted a comfortable 12-6 victory.
SCORES
Buffalo City 9: Liam Hansen (4), Kairon Roux (2), Thomas Caswell (1), Daniel Breetzke (1), Connor Maree (1). Central Gauteng B 6: Calder Millington (1), Mukhetwa Maemu (1), Logan du Preez (1), Simon Mussett (1), Erik Arwidi (1).
KwaZulu-Natal A 16: Luca Sandri (3), Tristan Uys (3), Brogan Jones (3), Mitchel Garreua (1), Ethan Lyne (1), James Pohl (1), Max Scully (1), Matthew Lortan (1), Lian Terblanche (1), Thomas Taylor (1). Nelson Mandela Bay 4: Calum Emslie (3), Zandré Botha (1).
Western Province A 18: Luke Burger (3), Mac Lecuona (3), Matthew de Villiers (2), Bradley Warneke (2), Arkin Marais (2), Jandro Rojo-Roos (1), Ross Stewart (1), Adam October (1), Zack Cicero (1), Thomas Truter (1), Connor Melling-Williams (1). KwaZulu-Natal B 4: Robert Smith (2), Ryan Spooner (1), Ruan Basson (1).
Central Gauteng A 15: Marc Smith (3), Mark Hudson (3), Karabo Mamaregane (2), Ross Rovelli (2), Greg Pryce (2), Nicholas Searle (1), Jack Wilkins (1), Harry Wilkins (1). Western Province B 5: Struan Valentine (1), Blake Brown (1), William Robinson (1), Milo Letschert (1), Jayden Bosman (1).
Zimbabwe 8: Sibusiso Sibanda (3), Chika Mgbemena (2), Nathan Horner (1), Dylan van Hoof (1), Ruan Nel (1). Eastern Gauteng 6: David Emslie (4), Nathan Whelan (1), Njabulo Zulu (1).
Aussie Crocs 12: James Martin (4), Jack Plowman (3), Benjamin Spall (2), Cameron Medley (1), Angus Cope (1), Harry Colley (1). Pool B Invitation 6: William Robinson (2), Simon Mussett (2), Chris Chapman (1), Milo Letschert (1).
Nelson Mandela Bay 16: Calum Emslie (5), Spencer Arshade (4), Oliver Martin (3), Zandré Botha (2), Coel Trollip (1), Adam Nurse (1). KwaZulu-Natal B 12: Kyron de Kock (3), Ruan Basson (3), Drew Hollingsworth (2), Buyani Dlamini (2), Nicholas Naude (1), Matthew Botha (1).
Central Gauteng B 11: Travis Donnelly (3), Ethan Horn (3), Chris Chapman (2), Francois Hartslief (1), Mukhetwa Maemu (1), Simon Mussett (1). Western Province B 8: Milo Letschert (2), William Robinson (2), Matt Forbes (1), Struan Valentine (1), Blake Brown (1), Migael Terblanche (1).
Northerns 11: Kamva Kenqu (3), Ulric Curlewis (2), Marthinus Wessels (2), Criston Richter (1), Thabiso Mbembele (1), Luke Egan (1), Zander van Niekerk (1). Eastern Gauteng 4: Luc Starkey (2), Reece Coetzer (1), David Emslie (1).
KwaZulu-Natal A 14: Tristan Uys (5), James Pohl (4), Luca Sandri (2), Thomas Taylor (1), Adrian Truter (1), Mitchel Garreau (1). Western Province A 11: Arkin Marais (3), Ross Stewart (2), Nicholas Fall (2), Jandro Rojo-Roos (1), Zack Cicero (1), Bradley Warneke (1), Adam October (1).
Buffalo City 3: Liam Hansen (1), Thomas Caswell (1), Dominic Stegmann (1). Central Gauteng A 11: Jack Wilkins (3), Ross Rovelli (2), Marc Smith (2), Alexander Kelbrick (2), Mark Hudson (1), Harry Wilkins (1).
Northerns 8: Criston Richter (2), Marthinus Wessels (2), Aidan Butler (2), Luke Egan (1), Ulric Curlewis (1). Zimbabwe 9: Ruan Nel (4), Sibusiso Sibanda (2), Garrick Duff (1), Tian Muller (1), Nathan Horner (1).
Playoff Fixtures, Wednesday, 11 December
08:00 – KwaZulu-Natal B vs Western Province B, 7th/8th, Joan Harrison West Pool
08:50 – Northerns vs Zimbabwe, 9th/10th, Clarendon High
09:05 – Nelson Mandela Bay vs Central Gauteng B, 5th/6th, Joan Harrison West Pool
10:10 – Western Province A vs Buffalo City, 3rd/4th, Joan Harrison West Pool
13:15 – KwaZulu-Natal A vs Central Gauteng A, Final, Joan Harrison East Pool
