SA’s best chase KES Water Polo Tournament glory
The leading schoolboys’ water polo teams in South Africa will assemble in Johannesburg this weekend to battle it out for the prestigious title in the annual King Edward VII (KES) Water Polo Tournament.
The action takes place at the Mark Stevens Aquatic Centre at KES and runs from Friday, 28 February to Sunday, 2 March.
It’s the 42nd edition of the tournament and it will be broadcast live on SuperSport Schools.
Rondebosch Boys’ High is the defending champion after they defeated St John’s College 11-7 in last year’s final.
Coach Jared Wingate-Pearse’s troops dominated in their group games and went on to finish unbeaten after edging out Hilton College 12-10 in the quarterfinals and Bishops 12-11 in the final four.
They will return as one of the favourites for the title. They’ve put together a stellar season that’s seen them win the SAC Shield, in Makhanda, and dominate in the Western Cape.
Joining them on the trip up to the City of Gold will be their provincial rivals, Bishops, South African College High School (SACS), and Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG).
Coach Jabulani Sibiya’s Bishops’ side took bronze in 2024, but they’ll have their sights aimed higher this time around.
In 2024, SACS finished fourth while PRG placed seventh. Both have been in inconsistent form of late, but tournament polo could be just what they need to spark their play.
The host province, Gauteng, has a handful of teams participating in the tournament.
KES will be joined by St Stithians College, Jeppe High School for Boys, Pretoria Boys High, and St John’s. They’re not to be underestimated and will be out to make their mark.
St John’s, led by coach Vlado Trninic, is perhaps the standout team among the Gauteng contingent.
They’ve played some great polo under captain Nicholas Searle and will be eager to go all the way after coming up just short in some major tournaments in recent times, which has included a runner-up finish in the SACS Water Polo Tournament at the end of the last year, and another silver medal in the SAC Shield earlier this year.
The Gauteng sides will lean on the keen competition within the region to prepare themselves for a tilt at the title.
Another province with strong representation at the event is KwaZulu-Natal.
They also have five teams making the trip up to Johannesburg: Northwood School, Westville Boys’ High, Clifton College, Hilton College, and Kearsney College.
Many will single out Kearsney as a top contender for the title, and rightfully so, considering their recent form under head coach Nicholas Rodda.
The Botha’s Hill boys, who lifted the St Stithians Invitational title against other stayers’ teams in late 2024, replace Grey High in the tournament line-up. They have been in sublime form and are currently unbeaten in 14 matches this year.
Both Hilton and Clifton enter the tournament under the radar, and that could also work in their favour. Hilton, especially, bears watching. They recently played to a thrilling 11-11 draw with Kearsney and they’re loaded with provincial players.
Northwood and Westville, meanwhile, will embrace the underdog tag and want to prove they’re not there just to make up the numbers. The Knights showed at the ITEC Grey College Water Polo Tournament that they’re ascending.
The field is completed by the two best Eastern Cape sides, St Andrew’s College (SAC) and Selborne College.
They were last in action at the Vides Water Polo tournament, where St Andrew’s took home silver while Selborne claimed bronze.
In last year’s KES tournament, Selborne played 10th and St Andrew’s 11th. They appear to be more settled this year and could launch a stronger challenge on this occasion.
The action kicks off on Friday morning at 07:00, with t Andrew’s taking on St Stithians.
Pretoria Boys High and Hilton College will close off the day’s play, with the final match starting at 19:00.
Groups
Pool A: Bishops, Northwood, St Andrew’s College, St Stithians.
Pool B: Kearsney College, King Edward VII, Paul Roos, Westville Boys’ High.
Pool C: Clifton College, Jeppe High School for Boys, Rondebosch Boys’ High, Selborne College.
Pool D: Hilton College, Pretoria Boys High, SACS, St John’s College.
Fixtures
Friday, 28 February
07:00 – St Andrew’s vs St Stithians; 07:50 – Kearsney College vs Westville; 08:40 – Selborne College vs Rondebosch; 09:30 – St John’s College vs Hilton College; 10:20 – Bishops vs Northwood; 11:10 – KES vs Paul Roos; 12:00 – Clifton College vs Jeppe; 12:50 – SACS vs Pretoria Boys High; 13:40 – St Stithians vs Bishops; 14:30 – Westville vs Paul Roos; 15:20 – Selborne College vs Clifton College; 16:10 – St John’s College vs SACS; 17:00 – St Andrew’s vs Northwood; 17:50 – KES vs Kearsney; 18:40 – Rondebosch vs Jeppe; 19:30 – Pretoria Boys High vs Hilton College.
Saturday, 1 March
07:00 – St Andrew’s vs Bishops; 07:50 – Kearsney vs Paul Roos; 08:40 – Clifton vs Rondebosch; 09:30 – St John’s College vs Pretoria Boys High; 10:20 – St Stithians vs Northwood; 11:10 – KES vs Westville; 12:00 – Jeppe vs Selborne College; 12:50 – SACS vs Hilton College; 13:40 – 3rd Pool A vs 4th Pool B (Plate Quarterfinal 1); 14:10 – 3rd Pool B vs 4th Pool A (Plate Quarterfinal 1); 14:40 – 3rd Pool C vs 4th Pool D (Plate Quarterfinal 1); 15:10 – 3rd Pool D vs 4th Pool C (Plate Quarterfinal 1); 15:40 – 1st Pool A vs 2nd Pool B (Cup Quarterfinal 1); 16:30 – 1st Pool B vs 2nd Pool A (Cup Quarterfinal 2); 17:20 – 1st Pool C vs 2nd Pool D (Cup Quarterfinal 3); 18:10 – 1st Pool D vs 2nd Pool C (Cup Quarterfinal 4); 19:00 – Plate Playoff; 19:30 – Plate Playoff; 20:00 – Cup Playoff; 20:30 – Cup Playoff.
Sunday, 2 March
07:00 – Plate semifinal 1; 07:30 – Plate semifinal 2; 08:00 – Cup semifinal 1; 08:50 – Cup semifinal 2; 09:40 – Plate 7th/8th playoff match; 10:10 – Plate 5th/6th playoff match; 10:40 – Plate 3rd/4th playoff match; 11:10 – Plate final; 11:40 – Cup 7th/8th playoff match; 12:10 – Cup 5th/6th playoff match; 12:40 – 3rd/4th Playoff match; 13:30 – Final.
