By Johnathan Paoli
The National Co-Ed Water Polo Tournament reached an exhilarating conclusion at the Pearson High School in Gqeberha this weekend, with Reddam House Bedfordview crowned champions in the girls’ division and Woodridge College storming to glory in the boys’ category.
Tournament director Jason Saunders, described the event as bringing together 36 schools from across the country, producing matches that swung between tense shootouts and emphatic wins, and leaving spectators in no doubt about the depth of talent developing at this level.
“What we saw over these four days was the highest standard of school water polo in years, proof that the sport is thriving at co-ed schools across the country,” Saunders said.
In the girls’ final, Reddam Bedfordview completed a flawless campaign with a hard-fought 10–7 victory over Kingswood College.
The match was a showcase of attacking intent from both sides, with Reddam’s national youth star, Anastasia Hambakis, playing a central role.
She scored four goals, combining her sharp movement and strong shooting to repeatedly unlock the Kingswood defence.
Support came from Aimme Hattingh and Caitlin Scrimgeour, who each found the net three times, giving Reddam a consistent edge throughout the contest.
Kingswood, however, fought to the final whistle, responding with goals from Megan Fletcher and Casey Williamson, who struck twice each, while Caitlin Steymann, Megan Sheard and Kate Wilson all added one apiece.
For Reddam, the victory was the culmination of four days of dominance built on attacking flair and defensive organisation.
Hambakis, reflecting on the win, praised her team for going into the final expecting nothing less than a battle.
The home crowd at Pearson High also had reasons to celebrate.
Their girls’ team claimed third place with a spirited 5–3 win over St Peter’s College, while their boys’ side, who had been unbeaten in the group stage, pushed all the way to the final before stumbling at the last hurdle.
Hudson Park, another Eastern Cape side, wrapped up their campaign by beating Beaulieu College 7–4 to secure fifth position, ending their tournament on a positive note.
The boys’ championship match, however, belonged to Woodridge.
Facing a Pearson team that had dominated their way to the final, Woodridge produced a breathtaking performance, dismantling the hosts by 11 goals to two.
Christian Chandler was at the heart of the victory, scoring four times with clinical finishing, while teammates Carter Rosser and Oliver Martin netted two apiece.
Further strikes from Gian Moolman, Sam Barnes and Daniel Henning sealed an emphatic scoreline.
For Pearson, whose goals came through Rolan Swanevelder, the final was a sobering experience after they had looked the tournament’s form team, boasting an unbeaten run and a positive goal difference far superior to any other side.
On the day that mattered most, though, Woodridge’s pressing, pace and shot selection proved far too much to handle.
Chandler, who captained the Woodridge side, could not hide his delight after the win.
“It was one of those days where everything clicked. We respected Pearson, but we came in with belief and wanted to show the country what Woodridge water polo is about,” he said.
The result not only gave Woodridge a championship to celebrate but also established their reputation as one of the most formidable boys’ teams in South African schools’ water polo.
Elsewhere in the boys’ competition, Glenwood House captured the bronze medal after overcoming St Peter’s College in an action-packed 12–7 contest.
Steyn City edged Reddam Bedfordview by a single goal in their playoff to claim fifth, while Stirling High enjoyed a tense one-goal win over their East London rivals Hudson Park to secure seventh.
These tight finishes spoke to the overall balance of the competition, where no team was ever guaranteed an easy path.
Taken as a whole, the tournament showcased both the competitiveness and the bright future of co-ed water polo in South Africa.
The individual brilliance of players such as Hambakis and Chandler, already standing out at youth international level, was complemented by the collective spirit of their squads and the tactical nous of their coaches.
Pearson High, despite missing out on a title, could take pride in reaching both finals, an achievement that further cemented the school’s reputation as a hotbed for water polo talent.
As the tournament closed, the sense was less about victors and vanquished and more about the progress of the sport itself.
Director Saunders summed it up by noting that events like this were vital for building a sustainable future for water polo in South Africa.
He said the triumphs of Reddam Bedfordview and Woodridge may have been the headlines, but the real winners were the players and the sport itself, which left Gqeberha hopeful by the promise of even greater things to come.
INSIDE EDUCATION
