When the pressure reaches boiling point and the margin for error vanishes entirely, champions reveal themselves. Kearsney’s 1st water polo side did exactly that at the Clifton Water Polo Tournament over the weekend.
The KwaZulu-Natal outfit finished runners-up after an exhilarating campaign that featured a stunning semi-final comeback and back-to-back penalty shoot-outs.
Dominant pool stage sets the tone
Kearsney announced their intentions early, sweeping through their pool matches with three consecutive victories to top their group. They opened with a hard-fought 12–10 triumph over Michaelhouse before finding their rhythm with a comprehensive 15–5 dismantling of Clifton 2nds. A 16–13 victory over Paul Roos confirmed their credentials and secured top spot heading into the knockout stages.
The quarter-final against Reddam Constantia saw Kearsney maintain their momentum with a commanding 19–14 victory. Max Mills was in blistering form, rattling the net nine times.
Semi-final for the ages
If the quarter-final showcased Kearsney’s attacking firepower, the semi-final against hosts Clifton College revealed the steel in their spine. Trailing 4–9 many teams would have folded. Not this Kearsney side.
What followed was one of the tournament’s defining passages of play. Kearsney unleashed six unanswered goals, storming back to take a 10–9 lead.
Clifton, to their credit, refused to buckle and clawed their way back to 11–11, forcing a penalty shoot-out. Kearsney missed their opening shot.
Enter Roarke Stacey. The Kearsney goalkeeper produced two match-defining saves, denying Clifton’s final two attempts to seal a dramatic 4–3 shoot-out victory.
Final heartbreak on penalties
The final against Hilton proved to be another tense, tightly-contested affair. Neither side could be separated after regulation time, with the match deadlocked at 8–8. For the second consecutive match, Kearsney’s fate would be decided from the penalty spot.
This time, fortune favoured Hilton. They edged the shoot-out 5–4, leaving Kearsney with the silver medal. It was a cruel ending to an exceptional tournament, but there was no shame in defeat after such a valiant campaign.
Individual honours and milestone moment
The tournament produced individual recognition for two standout Kearsney performers. Mills, who tormented defences throughout the competition, was named Attacker of the Tournament.
Oliver Ludwig claimed the Defender of the Tournament award, capping a superb weekend at both ends of the pool. The final also marked an extraordinary personal milestone for Ludwig, who earned his 200th Kearsney 1st team water polo cap.
