St Stithians downs Durban Girls’ College to win National Aquatics title
A strong defensive effort, followed by goals in crucial moments, helped St Stithians Girls’ College overcome Durban Girls’ College (DGC) 6-3 in the final of the National Aquatics Festival in East London on Saturday.
The title game brought to a conclusion to the two-day event, hosted by Clarendon High School for Girls.
Saints, under the leadership of head coach Megan Sileno, entered the festival among the favourites to go all the way. They were drawn in Pool B with Maris Stella, Collegiate Girls’ High School, Clarendon 2nds, and their provincial rivals, St Mary’s Waverley.
Sileno’s charges dominated their pool games and won all four of their matches, scoring 37 goals in the process.
The top spot in the group secured a semifinal birth against the hosts, who pushed Saints to the limit in a nail-biting contest. In the end, the Johannesburg school prevailed 8-7 after a hard-fought battle to move on to the final.
They were up against the defending champions DGC in the title decider and were out to avenge last year’s semifinal exit at the hands of the Durban school.
The Johannesburg outfit made their intentions clear early in the final and took control of matters early on.
Saints had the majority of ball possession and were solid at the back, with Danielle Sassenberg, Courtney Calenborne, Isabella Imbriolo, and Cadha Mosehla pulling the strings. They led throughout the first stanza after Mosehla scored two cracking goals in quick succession before Sassenberg and June Stander joined the scoring party.
At the halfway point, Saints was ahead 4-3 after DGC responded through Kayla Andrews and Inge Southey (2).
In the third chukka, St Sthithians’ captain Tori Tanner-Ellis netted her side’s fifth goal to open up a two-goal buffer.
They maintained their lead thanks to the superb goalkeeping of Ngcali Metu, who made numerous saves to keep her team in front.
DGC created opportunities in the final chukka but misfired, and a second goal from June Stander secured the win for Saints.
Reacting to the final, coach Sileno told SuperSport Schools Plus: “This is nice. We’ve only been together for two full weeks of school.
“We’re still trying to figure each other out and find our groove, but I think we’re getting there quite nicely.
“I was very happy with the performance at Brian Baker. We fixed a few things that helped us in this tournament.”
After breezing through the pool stage, Sileno and her charges were met by a stern challenge in the last four from Clarendon.
The teams exchanged the lead numerous times, but Saints claimed victory after a last-gasp five-metre penalty scored by Mosehla.
“Our semi-final was a bit chaotic, and the girls were losing their heads and getting involved in too many things that weren’t about the game,” Sileno said.
“The key in the final was controlling the defence, and we knew the attack would come, and I think they did very well.
“Our matrics are very good leaders, and they remained calm and composed in the pool, and that helped us get through today.”
The title is coach Sileno’s first with Saints since joining the school in January.
She made the switch from KwaZulu-Natal’s St Anne’s Diocesan College. Her husband, Jason Sileno, the new Aquatics Director at Saints, formerly plied his trade at Hilton College.
“We haven’t really experienced Joburg yet because we’ve been trying to get our feet under the desk and find our way,” she remarked when asked about the transition.
“But it’s been great. Saints has been welcoming. The community in Johannesburg is awesome, and we have a great family.
“It’s a nice routine to slot into, and we’re getting there.”
The St Stithians Girls’ College team will return to tournament action at the Old Petrian’s Water Polo Tournament at St Peter’s College this month.
The bronze medal match was between Clarendon and Rhenish.
The hosts, under the guidance of coach Hannah Muller, comfortably clinched third place, beating their opponents 9-4.
That final placing matched Clarendon’s performance at the National Aquatics Festival in Durban in 2024.
Scorers in the final
St Stithians Girls’ College 6: Cadha Mosehla (2), June Stander (2), Danielle Sassenberg, Tori Tanner-Ellis. Durban Girls’ College 3: Inge Southey (2), Kayla Andrews.
Results
DGC 18-1 Our Lady of Fatima
St Mary’s Waverly 9-0 Clarendon 2nds
St Stithians 9-3 Maris Stella
St Mary’s Waverley 6-4 Collegiate
Maris Stella 8-5 Clarendon 2nds
Clarendon 14-4 St Mary’s Kloof
DGC 10-7 Rhenish
St Mary’s Kloof 11-6 Our Lady of Fatima
Rhenish 3-2 St Mary’s Waverley
Clarendon 9-5 Collegiate
Clarendon 2nds 5-4 Our Lady of Fatima
St Mary’s Kloof 5-1 Maris Stella
St Mary’s Waverley 3-2 Collegiate
Semi-finals
DGC 10-3 Rhenish
St Stithians 8-7 Clarendon
Final
St Stithians 6-3 DGC
Final standings
St Stithians Girls’ College
Durban Girls’ College
Clarendon High School for Girls
Rhenish Girls’ High School
St Mary’s Waverley
Collegiate Girls’ High School
St Mary’s DSG Kloof
Maris Stella
Clarendon 2nds
Our Lady of Fatima
