12 December 2024
The KZN u19 boys’ water polo team, coached by Rob Ambler, finished as the runner-up at the Schools Water Polo South Africa Inter-Provincial Tournament in East London on Wednesday, falling 6-8 to Central Gauteng A in the final.
The team played some sensational water polo during the event, which ran from 7-11 December, and their excellence was rewarded with the selection of five players for the South African Schools squad, which matched the champions, Central Gauteng, for the most players chosen.
Those five also represent five schools, which reflects nicely on how the standard of the game continues to grow in KZN.
The KZN contingent featured the Goalkeeper of the Tournament, Ross Strauss (see feature photo), of Clifton College, and the winner of the Best Attacker accolade, Tristan Uys, of Hilton College. Both were immense during KZN’s impressive run, and both were clearly the best in their positions.
Kirk Wilson, the 2025 DHS Head Boy, was a rock-solid presence in the centre of the KZN defence, and he, too, cracked the nod. Northwood‘s Matt Lortan, blessed with subtle skills and fast hands, was also included, as was Kearney College‘s James Pohl, who was outstanding at both ends of the pool, and who played his best in the biggest games.
Central Gauteng had Greg Pryce, the Best Defender for the second year in succession, included in the lineup once again. He was joined by his St John’s College teammate, Ross Rovelli, while Jon-Marc De Carvalho, also from St John’s, coached Central Gauteng to the title and was named the SA Schools’ coach.
Glenwood‘s Rob Ambler was named the team’s manager.
King Edward VII (KES) also had two players included, goalkeeper Judah Dos Santos and defender Karabo Mameregane, while the Central Gauteng contingent was completed by Marc Smith, of St Stithians, who was named the Player of the Tournament.
Western Province, who finished third, provided four players. Two of them were from Bishops Diocesan College, Thomas Truter and Ross Stewart, while Paul Roos provided Arkin Marais.
Nick Fall, of SACS, the Best Attacker in 2023’s tournament, was again a force to be reckoned with, and he, deservedly, cracked the nod for a second year on the trot.
The lineup was completed by Buffalo City‘s Liam Hansen and Thomas Caswell. What a story the local team was! Made up entirely of Selborne College boys, they played out of their skin to finish in fourth place.
Unsurprisingly, when Hansen, Head Boy of Selborne for 2025, and Caswell had their names called out, those selections were greeted by massive rounds of applause.
With only three of the KZN squad matriculating in 2024, the team is likely to be in the hunt for the IPT title again, and it should, too, deliver many more South African Schools’ players.
SOUTH AFRICAN SCHOOLS SQUAD
Arkin Marais (Paul Roos Gimnasium, Western Province), Greg Pryce (St John’s College, Central Gauteng), James Pohl (Kearsney College, KwaZulu-Natal), Judah Dos Santos (King Edward VII, Central Gauteng), Karabo Mamaregane (King Edward VII, Central Gauteng), Kirk Wilson (Durban High School, KwaZulu-Natal), Liam Hansen (Selborne College, Buffalo City), Marc Smith (St Stithians, Central Gauteng), Matthew Lortan (Northwood, KwaZulu-Natal), Nicholas Fall (SACS, Western Province A), Ross Rovelli (St John’s College, Central Gauteng), Ross Stewart (Bishops, Western Province), Ross Strauss (Clifton College, KwaZulu-Natal), Thomas Caswell (Selborne College, Buffalo City), Thomas Truter (Bishops, Western Province), Tristan Uys (Hilton College, KwaZulu-Natal).
Manager: Rob Ambler (Glenwood, KwaZulu-Natal)
Coach: Jon-Marc De Carvalho (St John’s College,Central Gauteng)
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