KZN u19 girls ready for tough IPT challenge
The KwaZulu-Natal u19 girls’ water polo team is bracing itself for a tough and competitive Schools Water Polo South Africa Inter-Provincial Tournament when they kick off their campaign in East London this coming weekend.
The much-anticipated tournament takes place from 7-11 December, with the u19 matches being played at the Joan Harrison Swimming Pools.
KZN heads into the tournament with a new face at the helm after Nicholas Rodda was appointed head coach.
He has taken over from Paul Martin, Clifton College‘s coach, who moves to Hilton College next year. Hilton’s Jason Sileno heads to St Stithians College.
Rodda will be looking to stamp his authority on the team after an extremely successful season with Kearsney College in 2024.
Their outstanding achievements included winning the Reef Cup, clinching gold at the Saints Invitational Tournament, and claiming the KZN Top 10 title.
“I’m very excited. This is my first u19 provincial side,” Rodda told SuperSport Schools Plus.
“I have coached u13, u14, u15, and u16 girls’ sides in Gauteng before. We have some really good players who are coming along nicely as a team.”
Rodda has a balanced and strong team with some familiar names at his disposal. It includes five players from Durban Girls’ College: Inge Southey, Josie Phillips, Kayla Andrews, Kayleigh Nieuwstad, and Lara Mervis.
Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High supplies Alwande Zondi and Jada Bishop to the provincial side, while Amber Lewis is the only player from Reddam House Umhlanga.
Gemma Malherbe and Megan Peters represent St Anne’s, while Georgina Strachan and goalkeeper Kate Swainston-Harrison are from St Mary’s Diocesan School for Girls, Kloof.
Caitlin McMurray, from Thomas More College, completes the lineup.
“There are a number of St Anne’s girls who decided not to play IPT this year, which is a bit of a loss,” Rodda said, reflecting on a side that finished as the runner-up at their own St Anne’s Water Polo Tournament against many of the country’s best teams.
“However, the girls who have made the side have stepped up to fill that void and excel in it. The team selected themselves at the Top 10 tournament,” he added.
“We have been training well and working hard, both in the pool and the gym, which is new for a lot of the girls, who have never been in the gym for IPT training before this year.”
KZN will face all the top teams in the tournament in Pool A, which also features Western Province A, Buffalo City, Central Gauteng A, and Nelson Mandela Bay.
Coach Rodda believes playing strength versus strength will benefit all of those teams.
“This is the pinnacle of schools’ water polo,” he said. “Having more competitive games over the tournament only improves the water polo that is being played overall. It’s strength versus strength as opposed to runaway games.
“It will also benefit those teams in the opposite group, being more competitive. Yes, it will make it more difficult to make the final but, at the end of the day, if you want to be the best, you have to beat the rest.”
KZN finished fourth at last year’s tournament in Gqeberha. They followed that up with another fourth-place finish at the Currie Cup in March.
Rodda said the goal is to remain consistent and to possibly go one step further this time around.
“Top four is the first goal,” he said. “If we make the semifinals, then we will adjust our goal for something further, but we, ultimately, will take it game by game.
“We will align our goals when we are in East London as a team. Playing as a unit and not as individuals will make this a success, but as soon as we don’t work as a unit, we will, unfortunately, fall short,” he warned.
KwaZulu-Natal u19 Girls Pool Fixtures
8 December
11:20 – KwaZulu-Natal vs Buffalo City
16:45 – KwaZulu-Natal vs Nelson Mandela Bay
9 December
09:10 – KwaZulu-Natal vs Central Gauteng A
14:35 – KwaZulu-Natal vs Western Province A
KwaZulu-Natal u19 Girls
Alwande Zondi, Jada Bishop (Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School), Amber Lewis (Reddam House Umhlanga), Caitlin McMurray (Thomas More College), Gemma Malherbe, Megan Peters (St Anne’s DSG), Georgina Strachan, Kate Swainston-Harrison (St Mary’s Diocesan School for Girls, Kloof), Inge Southey, Josie Phillips, Kayla Andrews, Kayleigh Nieuwstad, Lara Mervis (Durban Girls’ College).
Non-Travelling reserves
Brogan Reid (Maris Stella), Chiara Collett, Kirsten Du Plessis, Erin Prato (Reddam House Umhlanga), Casey Macleod-Henderson (St Anne’s DSG).
