Clifton College ended the Northwood Stayers Water Polo Tournament unbeaten on Sunday, consolidating a rich run of form that began at the KZN Top 10 a week earlier. The Clifton side, largely made up of stayers, saw its toughest opposition in Kearsney College, whom they beat twice: first in pool play and again in the final.
Final and key results
The final produced a close contest, with Clifton prevailing 6-4 over Kearsney. The pair had met in Pool A earlier in the weekend, a match decided by a single goal as Clifton edged Kearsney 6-5.
- Champions: Clifton College (undefeated)
- Runners-up: Kearsney College
- Third place: Westville Boys’ High (6-4 over Northwood in third-place playoff)
- Fifth place: Northwood Invitational team (6-5 over Maritzburg College)
The tournament provided several tight scorelines. Thomas More College, who impressed at the recent KZN Top 10, claimed seventh place in a narrow 3-2 victory over Glenwood. Curro Hillcrest finished ninth after a 7-3 win against St Charles College.
Context: a month of heavy competition
Clifton’s decision not to travel to the Saints Water Polo Invitational in Johannesburg this coming weekend was explained by their packed schedule. Over the last month the school has contested the Clifton Water Polo Tournament, the SACS Water Polo Tournament in Cape Town and the KZN Top 10, in addition to this Northwood event. Given that fixture list, the choice to remain in KZN is understandable even as the side demonstrates strong form.
Kearsney, who won the Saints Invitational in 2024, did not attend the SACS tournament in Cape Town but are scheduled to compete in Johannesburg. They will be joined there by Hilton College, Michaelhouse and Durban High School, according to the tournament entries for the senior boys’ event, which features top teams from Gauteng, KZN, the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape.
Weekend summary — pool play highlights
Pool matches produced a number of decisive results and a few close encounters. Kearsney recorded a big pool victory over Maritzburg College (reported as 13-4), while Clifton registered comfortable pool wins including an 8-4 result against Westville and an 8-2 win over Northwood on Saturday.
| Position | School | Notable score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clifton College | Final 6-4 vs Kearsney |
| 2 | Kearsney College | Pool 6-5 vs Clifton |
| 3 | Westville Boys’ High | 3rd place 6-4 vs Northwood |
| 5 | Northwood Invitational | 5th place 6-5 vs Maritzburg College |
What this means locally
For Clifton, successive strong performances against quality KZN opposition will build confidence ahead of interprovincial tournaments. Their back-to-back victories over Kearsney across two weekends — at the KZN Top 10 and at Northwood — are particularly significant given Kearsney’s pedigree in school water polo.
For Kearsney, the narrow losses underline a competitive parity between the two schools. Despite missing the SACS event in Cape Town, the Botha’s Hill side remains a threat in upcoming national-level invitationals.
The tournament also highlighted depth across the province, with teams such as Westville, Thomas More and Curro Hillcrest producing notable performances. Coaches and selectors monitoring the local scene will have taken interest in several tight fixtures that could influence squad choices for larger events.
Looking ahead
Johannesburg will host the Saints Invitational this coming weekend where several KZN schools are expected to compete, giving players further opportunities to test themselves against the best from other provinces. While Clifton will not make the trip, others including Kearsney, Hilton, Michaelhouse and Durban High School are scheduled to attend.
The Northwood Stayers tournament offered competitive match practice and a reminder that KwaZulu‑Natal remains a strong production line for school water polo talent.
