New season – same goals for Paul Roos as SAC Shield looms
The 2024 water polo season raises the stakes during the second week of the school year with one of its premier events, the SAC Shield, getting underway on Thursday at St Andrew’s College in Makhanda.
The tournament kicks off with a north vs south clash between St Stithians College and Bishops Diocesan College, while the hosts are set to take on St John’s College in the third match of the day.
Out of the 13 schools in attendance, last year’s winners, Paul Roos Gymnasium are among the favourites and will be eager to go back-to-back, and in the process launch a season that holds great promise for the Stellenbosch side.
They’re drawn in Pool B, where they will take on Westville, Michaelhouse, Rondebosch, St John’s College, and the hosts.
Speaking exclusively to SuperSport Schools ahead of the tournament, head coach Vaughn Marlow said he was pleased with his side’s preparation and the team is eager to get the ball rolling.
“The squad has worked hard in the build-up to the start of the season,” he said.
“We are fortunate in that a good core of last year’s team is returning this year, so we are feeling good and prepared for the season to come.
“From a coaching perspective, I’m very happy with the pre-season. We had a good training camp before school and have been able to play a lot of preparation games. The goal is consistent improvement and that is what we will aim to do.”
Last year, the Western Cape side enjoyed a very good year, even though they lost in two finals against SACS at the Clifton and SACS Water Polo tournaments later in the season.
They did, however, get one over their provincial rivals earlier in the year when they claimed the silverware in the Western Province League.
PRG are aiming to improve their performances in high-pressure moments, and Marlow’s side will also want to stop playing second fiddle to SACS. However, the coach feels that competition will be tighter this season.
“Nothing motivates good teams like losing. I think SACS and PRG had good sides last year,” he said.
“We beat them in the final of the Western Province league to end the first term and then they got the better of us in the second half of the year. I think this year we should be fairly evenly matched again, along with Rondebosch, Bishops, St John’s, St Stithians, Hilton, Clifton, and others.
“I think against those top eight to 10 schools it could go either way, so motivation is high, and the boys are determined.”
That determination will be tested in Makhanda where the team will aim to emulate the 2023 outfit by putting together a successful defence of the title that they won by beating Rondebosch Boys’ High in the final a year ago.
Paul Roos plays five matches over the first two days of the tournament, so squad depth, stamina, and their resilience will be tested.
“The format around SAC Shield is unforgiving,” Marlow said.
“Long games, long course polo, and arguably the strongest line-up of any tournament in the country, means that, generally speaking, the better team wins on the day.
“There is no substitute for conditioning and hard work at this tournament, and without that, it’s very difficult to succeed.”
PRG’s goal for the season is to “play to their potential and work hard”. The SAC Shield presents them with an ideal opportunity to implement that goal.
Paul Roos Pool B fixtures at the SAC Shield 2024
Day 1, Thursday, 25 January @ St Andrew’s College
07:45 – (2) Paul Roos vs Westville
11:30 – (7) Paul Roos vs St Andrew’s College
15:15 – (12) Paul Roos vs Michaelhouse
Day 2, Friday, 26 January @ St Andrew’s College
07:00 – (19) Paul Roos vs St John’s College
13:00 – (27) Paul Roos vs Rondebosch Boys’ High
