15 October 2023
On day two of the KZN Top 10 Water Polo Tournament, taking place at the Clifton Aquatic Centre, the action was tighter, with four clashes being decided by a single goal.
The hosts, favourites to win the title after successive third place finishes at the Clifton Water Polo Tournament and the Hussar Grill SACS Water Polo Tournament, where they handed the eventual champions, SACS, their only defeat, faced a potential banana skin in their first outing on Saturday when they took on a dangerous Kearsney College team.
Yet, Mitchell Slade and company recorded a convincing 7-1 win, impressing with the assured manner in which they faced down the Kearsney challenge.
Their defence, especially, was outstanding and highlighted by a sequence of four magnificent saves in succession, after rebounds went back to the opposition, by net-minder Adam Zoio.
After that impressive victory, it was somewhat surprising that Clifton managed only a 4-3 win over Michaelhouse in their last match of the day to finish top of the Pool A standings.
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Hilton on song
Meanwhile, over in Pool B, Hilton College, fourth in both of the aforementioned tournaments, impressed in victories over DHS and Maritzburg College by 12 and nine goals respectively. They had a much tighter encounter with Westville, but still came away with the win to keep a clean slate.
Michaelhouse, who were underprepared and underperformed in the Clifton Water Polo Tournament, showed what some time together could do when they followed up their narrow loss to Clifton with a shock 5-4 win over Kearsney.
The boys from Botha’s Hill had earlier edged Northwood 9-8. The Knights, in turn, had opened the day with a 7-3 victory over Michaelhouse.
The biggest surprise on Saturday, though, went the way of Glenwood, who got one over their traditional rivals, DHS, snatching a 7-6 win. They hadn’t come close to victory in their earlier games, but the old foe brought out the best in the Green Machine.
The action on Sunday continues with the playoffs, with the final taking place at 16:00. The action starts at 08:00
Results
Saturday
Pool A
Northwood 7-3 Michaelhouse
Clifton 21-2 KZN Invitational
Clifton 7-1 Kearsney
KZN Invitation 1-21 Michaelhouse
Kearsney 9-8 Northwood
Clifton 4-3 Michaelhouse
Kearsney 4-5 Michaelhouse
Pool B
Hilton 15-3 DHS
Westville 17-4 Glenwood
Hilton 13-4 Maritzburg
Westville 7-9 Hilton
Maritzburg 7-11 DHS
DHS 6-7 Glenwood
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