26 September 2025
After a frenetic 16-match Thursday, the Clifton Water Polo Tournament eased into a lighter Friday schedule of eight games, but the morning fixtures carried heavy stakes with quarterfinal places on the line.
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The four pool winners – Clifton College (A), Kearsney College (B), St John’s (C), and Hilton College (D) – enjoyed a rest day after compiling perfect group stage records. That left the runners-up and third-placed sides to scrap for survival.
The day opened with Selborne College, second in Pool A, against Westville Boys’ High, third in Pool C. In bright Durban sunshine, Selborne surged 5-4 ahead by halftime but then trailed 7-5 heading into the last chukka.
Under pressure, they responded well. Liam Hansen narrowed the gap with a penalty, Daniel Woodin equalised with a sharp shot, and Hansen struck again to seal an 8-7 win.
Next, the defending champions, SACS, third in Pool D, faced Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG), the Pool C runners-up. With their title defence hanging by a thread, SACS produced a clinical start, storming to a 5-1 lead in the first chukka and stretching it to 7-2 at halftime. PRG rallied in the third, but SACS stayed in control to close out a confidence-restoring 13-8 victory.
The third playoff pitted Reddam House Constantia, third in Pool A, against Affies, second in Pool C. Affies led 8-6 at halftime, but Reddam fought back to level it at 13-13, forcing a penalty shootout.
With the scores locked 1-1, Affies had a strike disallowed for a double movement, and Blake Brown calmly converted to send Reddam through.
Northwood, the unfortunate losers of two one-goal games in Pool B, endured more heartbreak against Pool D runner-up, Michaelhouse. Their contest also went to penalties after finishing 7-7.
‘House goalkeeper Elliot Springate set the tone with an early save, and Michaelhouse converted steadily to clinch the shootout and a quarterfinal berth.
Those results produced enticing quarterfinals: Hilton vs Reddam, St John’s vs Michaelhouse, Kearsney vs Selborne, and Clifton vs SACS, with that last one a clash worthy of a final, with the hosts needing to dethrone the defending champions to keep their title bid alive.
In the afternoon, the morning’s losers met the pool stragglers. Westville edged out King Edward VII (KES) 13-11, PRG overcame Maritzburg College 11-6, and Affies overwhelmed Grey College 15-3. Durban High School (DHS), the strongest of the fourth-placed teams from the most tightly contested group, rounded off the day with an 8-5 win over Northwood.
On Saturday, 12 matches take place. The first 10 include the Cup quarterfinals and the Plate semi-finals. Then, the action will be paused for the screening of The Rugby Championship match between South Africa and Argentina, which is being played at Hollywoodbets Kings Park, in Durban, on five big screen TVS.
After that, the day’s action ends with the Cup semi-finals.
FIXTURES
Saturday, 27 September
Game 33 – 07:00 – QF1 – Hilton vs Reddam House Constantia
Game 34 – 08:00 – QF2 – St John’s vs Michaelhouse
Game 35 – 09:00 – QF3 – Kearsney vs Selborne
Game 36 – 10:00 – QF4 – Clifton vs SACS
Game 37 – 11:00 – Westville vs Paarl Roos
Game 38 – 12:00 – Affies vs DHS
Game 39 – 13:00 – KES vs Maritzburg College
Game 40 – 14:00 – Grey College vs Northwood
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
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