Westville Boys’ High School is beaming with pride after the water polo team’s performance at the annual Durban High School U16 Water Polo Tournament which took place from 6 to 9 October. WBHS played against Durban High School, Affies, Clifton, Kearsney and Selborne Colleges.
The school’s sports department officer, Thomas Jackson said that this was the first medal WBHS have won at the tournament and the boys played with respect and passion. “Friday rolled on and so did the wins as we finished off our pool games with a 10-8 win over Affies, which placed us 2nd in Pool D playing Kearsney in the play-offs. After a hard fought evening game, Westville came out eventual winners at 8-6 and saw them progress to the quarter finals. Westville came across dark horse prospects Selborne College in the pick of the quarter finals. Westville raced to a 5-1 lead going into the final chukka but with two cap offs from Westville, Selborne charged to fight back to 5-4, and with goalkeeping heroics by Connor Clare, saving a penalty with time up, the Westville boys were in the semi finals,” said Jackson.
Jackson added that the boys went into Saturday evening in a position they have never been before at the DHS U16 Tournament, which was the semi final. “Westville came up against hosts, DHS. The score line did not reflect the intensity of the game as Westville came out 10-4 winners, with DHS unable to find an answer to the finesse shooting of Max Scully and a dominant Centre Forward display by Rhees Hall. Rematch if day 1 awaited in the final, Clifton College. Westville struck first with two cool penalty conversions by Jared Beyleveldt and the final was on. A change in game plan seemed to keep Clifton at bay, and with Calvin Deyzel pinning two goals in the bottom corner Westville were up 5-4 going into the final quarter. An intense fight back from Clifton in the final quarter saw them beat us 5-7, Westville winning the silver medal. A notable mention to Rhees Hall, Max Scully and Connor Clare for being selected to the tournament team,” said Jackson.
