Selborne ready for stiff competition at Clifton Water Polo Tournament
“It’s do or die, from the first game.” That was the sentiment Selborne College first team coach, Storm Siebert, shared with SuperSport Schools Plus ahead of the Clifton Water Polo Tournament, which takes place at the Clifton Aquatic Centre, in Durban, from Wednesday.
An extra day has been added to the event this year, making it five days in duration, from 24-28 September.
Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools
Some of the country’s top sides will be in action, including Selborne College, the sole representatives from the Eastern Cape.
The East London school heads to Clifton with their sights set on improving on last year’s showing.
In 2024, they just sneaked into the top 10 after beating Northwood School 9-6 in the 9th/10th playoff match.
“The preparation has been good. We have had a good couple of weeks of prep heading into the Clifton Tour,” Siebert reckoned.
“We had a couple of matrics make themselves unavailable for this season due to prelims. So, we have a mix of a fair amount of core players together with some exciting youngsters, who are getting an opportunity on the big stage.”
Selborne has been drawn in Pool A where they will face Clifton, Reddam House Constantia, and Maritzburg College.
They have some serious firepower in their squad, which includes SA Schools’ stars Liam Hansen and Thomas Caswell, while the experienced Samuel van de Venter will also be eager to put on a show.
Their ability to score goals in crucial moments will be key, and attack is an area on which they’ve placed a lot of their focus.
“Our attack, at times, has been rushed, and we’ve really focused on patience and maturity on attack,” coach Siebert said. “Another big focus point has been the team’s mentality and calmness in pressure situations.
“We are expecting a pool of very close results, where any team can top another one on the day. We need to prepare thoroughly for each encounter.”
The Clifton tournament will also provide coach Siebert’s side with an opportunity to prepare for the SACS Water Polo Tournament, which happens a week later, through the tough matches they’ll face in Durban.
“I’m not too concerned about a final placing as our goal. Rather, [our focus is about] getting our processes and game plan correct and trying to improve in every game.
“The results and final placings will fall into place,” he ended.
Selborne kicks off their campaign in Pool A against Reddam House Constantia on Wednesday at 15:10.
SELBORNE COLLEGE TEAM
Matthew Bean, Nathan Weise, Adam de Lange, Liam Hansen, Michael Miller, Daniel Woodin, Cullen Mortlock, Thomas Caswell, Blake Abrams, Samuel van de Venter, Nico van de Venter, Joshua Lentz, Aaron James.
FIXTURES
Wednesday, 24 September
Game 1 – 11:00 – Pool A – Clifton vs Maritzburg College
Game 2 – 11:50 – Pool B – Kearsney vs Northwood
Game 3 – 12:40 – Pool C – DHS vs Westville
Game 4 – 13:30 – Pool D – Hilton vs Michaelhouse
Game 5 – 14:20 – Pool B – Paul Roos vs Grey College
Game 6 – 15:10 – Pool A – Selborne vs Reddam Constantia
Game 7 – 16:00 – Pool C – St John’s vs Affies
Game 8 – 16:50 – Pool D – SACS vs KES
18:00 – Opening Ceremony
Thursday, 26 September
Game 9 – 07:00 – Pool D – Hilton vs KES
Game 10 – 07:50 – Pool C – St John’s vs DHS
Game 11 – 08:40 – Pool B – Kearsney vs Grey College
Game 12 – 09:30 – Pool A – Clifton vs Reddam Constantia
Game 13 – 10:20 – Pool D – Michaelhouse vs SACS
Game 14 – 11:10 – Pool C – Westville vs Affies
Game 15 – 12:00 – Pool B – Paul Roos vs Northwood
Game 16 – 12:50 – Pool A – Selborne vs Maritzburg College
Game 17 – 13:40 – Pool D – Hilton vs SACS
Game 18 – 14:30 – Pool C – St John’s vs Westville
Game 19 – 15:20 – Pool B – Kearsney vs Paul Roos
Game 20 – 16:10 – Pool A – Clifton vs Selborne
Game 21 – 17:00 – Pool D – KES vs Michaelhouse
Game 22 – 17:50 – Pool C – Affies vs DHS
Game 23 – 18:40 – Pool B – Grey College vs Northwood
Game 24 – 19:30 – Pool A – Reddam Constantia vs Maritzburg College
Friday, 26 September
Game 25 – 08:00 – 2nd Pool A vs 3rd Pool C
Game 26 – 09:00 – 2nd Pool B vs 3rd Pool D
Game 27 – 10:00 – 3rd Pool A vs 2nd Pool C
Game 28 – 11:00 – 3rd Pool B vs 2nd Pool D
Game 29 – 13:00 – Loser 25 vs Pool D
Game 30 – 14:00 – Loser 26 – 4th Pool A
Game 31 – 15:00 – Loser 27 – 4th Pool B
Game 32 – 16:00 – Loser 28 – 4th Pool C
18:00 – Parents Social Evening
Game 33 – 07:00 – QF1 – 1st Pool D vs Winner 27
Game 34 – 08:00 – QF2 – 1st Pool C vs Winner 28
Game 35 – 09:00 – QF3 – 1st Pool B vs Winner 25
Game 36 – 10:00 – QF4 – 1st Pool A vs Winner 26
Game 37 – 11:00 – Winner 29 vs Winner 30
Game 38 – 12:00 – Winner 31 vs Winner 32
Game 39 – 13:00 – Loser 29 vs Loser 30
Game 40 – 14:00 – Loser 31 vs Loser 32
Game 41 – 15:00 – Plate SF 1 – Loser 33 vs Loser 35
Game 42 – 16:00 – Plate SF 2 – Loser 34 vs Loser 36
South Africa vs Argentina – Viewing on five big screen TVs
Game 43 – 19:30 – SF 1 – Winner 33 vs Winner 35
Game 44 – 20:30 – SF 2 – Winner 34 vs Winner 36
Sunday, 28 September
Game 45 – 07:00 – 15/16 – Loser 40 vs Loser 39
Game 46 – 07:50 – 13/14 – Winner 40 vs Winner 39
Game 47 – 08:40 – 11/12 – Loser 37 vs Loser 38
Game 48 – 09:30 – 9/10 – Winner 37 vs Winner 38
Game 49 – 10:20 – 7/8 – Loser 41 vs Loser 42
Game 50 – 11:10 – 5/6 – Winner 41 vs Winner 42
Game 51 – 12:00 – 3/4 – Loser 44 vs Loser 43
Game 52 – 13:00 – 1/2 – Winner 44 vs Winner 43
14:00 – Prize Giving
