2 October 2023
Clifton College and Hilton College did battle for third place at the SACS Water Polo Tournament on Monday after both schools turned in a series of superb performances to reach the semi-finals.
Before the playoffs began, they both completed pool play with victories.
Clifton cruised past Grey College 7-0 in their final Pool A game, but a 1-1 draw between SACS and Bishops prevented them from improving on their overnight third place standing, despite going four from four on Sunday, which included handing SACS their only defeat – a 2-4 loss – of the tournament.
Hilton wrapped up their Pool B schedule with a comfortable 5-1 win over Northwood. Meanwhile, Kearsney College suffered a narrow 5-6 loss to Wynberg Boys in their last outing.
Superb wins
Both Clifton and Hilton then delivered superb wins in their first playoff games. Clifton outlasted Saint John’s College, who had finished second in Pool B after posting eight wins in nine games, by two goals to one. Then, Hilton handed Bishops, who had also won eight of nine, a 3-1 loss.
Next up for Hilton was Paul Roos Gymnasium. The teams had drawn 4-4 on Sunday. This time, though, Paul Roos sneaked a 5-4 win.
Then, Clifton matched up with SACS again. Paul Martin’s charges controlled the first half and opened up a nice 3-1 lead at the break, but SACS, after changing to a man-to-man defence for the second half, quickly drew level and then went 5-3 up as their goalkeeper, Ryan Dawson, pulled off a series of stunning saves.
Clifton skipper Mitchell Slade pulled one back for his team, but they ran out of time, leaving them to face Hilton in the second last match of the tournament in a repeat of the third and fourth playoff that took place at the Clifton Water Polo Tournament. The final, between SACS and Paul Roos, was also a repeat of that event.
Mixed fortunes for KZN schools on day one at SACS | Pinnacle Schools (pinnacle-schools.com)
Clifton, Hilton shine at SACS Water Polo Tournament | Pinnacle Schools (pinnacle-schools.com)
Third and fourth playoff
Following their narrow defeat against SACS, Clifton had only half-an-hour to recover before their clash with Hilton, but they were up for it. The teams traded blows and were level at 1-1 at half-time, with Meyer Malherbe striking for Hilton and David van Rooyen replying for Clifton.
In the second stanza, Clifton edged ahead through Owen Field, but Hilton made it 2-2 with just over two minutes remaining through a penalty shot from Meyer Malherbe. Just 10 seconds later, though, Clifton were again in front as Mitch Slade powered a shot into the back of the Hilton net.
He soon doubled his team’s advantage with the conversion of a penalty shot, and then ran down the clock to secure a 4-2 victory for Clifton.
In the title-decider, which was the sixth time that SACS and Paul Roos have contested a water polo final this year, the home team emerged 6-3 winners, improving their record to 4-2 against PRG in finals.
Day Three Results
Kearsney 5-6 Wynberg
Jeppe 4-1 Saint Alban’s
Saint David’s 6-2 Pretoria Boys
Selborne 7-2 Saint Benedict’s
Clifton 7-0 Grey College
St Stithians 6-0 Grey High
Saint John’s 8-0 Parktown Boys
Hilton 5-1 Northwood
Bishops 1-1 SACS
Paul Roos 4-4 Rondebosch
Clifton 2-1 Saint John’s
Hilton 3-1 Bishops
SACS 5-4 Saint David’s
St Stithians 1-3 Paul Roos
Hilton 4-5 Paul Roos
Clifton 4-5 SACS
Hilton 2-4 Clifton
SACS 6-3 Paul Roos
Clifton results
Clifton 6-1 Wynberg
Clifton 8-5 Saint Alban’s
Clifton 2-3 Bishops
Clifton 2-3 Grey High
Clifton 4-2 SACS
Clifton 5-0 St Stithians
Clifton 3-2 Kearsney
Clifton 3-2 Jeppe
Clifton 7-0 Grey College
Clifton 2-1 Saint John’s
Clifton 4-5 SACS
Clifton 4-2 Hilton
Hilton results
Hilton 5-1 Saint David’s
Hilton 3-7 Saint John’s
Hilton 7-1 Parktown
Hilton 5-1 Rondebosch
Hilton 4-0 Saint Benedict’s
Hilton 3-0 Pretoria Boys
Hilton 5-1 Northwood
Hilton 3-1 Bishops
Hilton 4-5 Paul Roos
Hilton 2-4 Clifton
Northwood results
Northwood 2-5 Paul Roos
Northwood 8-0 Parktown
Northwood 1-6 Saint David’s
Northwood 6-2 Saint Benedict’s
Northwood 3-2 Selborne
Northwood 1-7 Rondebosch
Northwood 2-6 Saint John’s
Northwood 1-5 Hilton
Kearsney results
Kearsney 5-2 Jeppe
Kearsney 2-7 St Stithians
Kearsney 5-6 SACS
Kearsney 6-2 Grey College
Kearsney 3-2 Grey High
Kearsney 3-6 Bishops
Kearsney 2-3 Clifton
Kearsney 7-4 Saint Alban’s
Kearsney 5-6 Wynberg Boys
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