30 September 2024
(Article by Marlowe Bloem)
Clifton won all three of their group games, and a quarter-final against Westville Boys’ High, to book a place against SACS in the semi=finals of the Clifton Centenary Water Polo Tournament on Saturday evening.
The Capetonians had won the event in 2023 and were looking to usurp the hosts, in order to reach the final against St John’s College. A fantastic battle unfolded
Barely a minute in, and the hosts scored through their captain, Oliver Ditz. Receiving the ball on the wing, he went for a lob shot and he pulled it off, with the ball dropping into the back of the net and leaving a gentle ripple in the water.
Both sides then traded blows before the first-quarter ended. The crowd cheering on excitedly, knowing they were in for a tight contest.
First-quarter score: 2-1 in favour of the hosts.
SACS came out steaming hot in the second-quarter, with their third goal outstanding. A long pass was sent out from the back, on the counter-attack. The ball was chased by Nicholas Fall, who was one-on-one with the ‘keeper, Ross Strauss (feature photo). With excellent awareness, Fall, then, gave a short pass on his inside to Matt Forbes, who shot the ball into an empty net. It was a moment of incredible vision and clinical attacking. It also showed why SACS are always in the mix at the business end of big tournaments.
Second-quarter score: 4-3 in favour of SACS.
Fall, the Attacker of the Tournament at the 2024 Inter-Provincials in Gqeberha, was an excellent weapon for the visitors. Receiving the ball near the Clifton goal, he took a long stride right to create space to shoot. Strauss made an adjustment, but Fall blasted the ball at the far left corner, for yet another goal.
Clifton fought back, scoring two goals of their own, with one of them being a vicious, long-range missile from Nathan Burger that brought the teams level again.
Third-quarter score: 5-5 in favour of the audience.
In the last chukka, SACS played down the wide channels and passed inside to their drivers, who pelted long shot after long shot at Strauss. Clifton used the counter-attack to create their opportunities.
Each side scored a goal. It was evenly matched. However, a last minute penalty to SACS gave Fall an opportunity to win it. With venomous power, he beat the broad-shouldered Strauss, the ball rattling into the left-hand corner, to give SACS victory and a place in the final.
Fulltime score: 7-6 in favour of SACS.
It was the kind of contest that neither side deserved to lose. Both were excellent all around, but, unfortunately, there had to be a winner and a loser.
Clifton can be proud of how they played. If they continue with this kind of form, they will be a powerful force this season, one capable of winning tournaments. But matters at the top end of water polo in KZN are very even. That’s good for the game and good for the spectators.
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