ST Andrew's College ended as the toast of the 40th annual Vides water polo tournament as they beat hosts and defending champions Selborne in an entertaining final at Selborne College on Saturday night.
It was St Andrew’s third Vides title in the past four years, and they were made to work for it by a game Selborne side who recovered from a poor start, but ran out of steam in the end as St Andrew’s emerged 10-8 victors.
“It was a great result and we are extremely happy with the win,” St Andrew’s coach David Mackenzie said.
St Andrew’s got off to a fast start and were 2-0 up in the first two minutes of the first chukka. Wade Ackermann, who picked up the man of the match award for the final, opened the scoring with an early penalty, while Heath Field added the second from a good counter attack.
Despite Selborne looking to reply, a well-organised St Andrew’s defence limited them to shots from far out which were easily dealt with.
With just over two and a half minutes left in the chukka, Field extended St Andrew’s lead with a spectacular back shot, with them taking a 3-0 lead into the break, despite good late pressure from Selborne. The crowd thought Selborne had scored early in the second chukka when a shot was half blocked by goalkeeper Martin Kruger, but he recovered to stop it from crossing the line. St Andrew’s then counter attacked, going 4-0 up as captain Matthew Stainforth scored.
This finally sparked Selborne into action and most of the rest of the chukka belonged to them.
Stephan Nieuwenhuizen finally got them on the board with a fighting goal and Luke Johnson converted a penalty after being fouled in the zone.
The score was 4-2 at half-time and St Andrew’s gave themselves some breathing space at the start of the third chukka when Ackermann scored his second. Selborne then hit back with two goals in quick succession. Nieuwenhuizen scored his second and then Joshua Fenn converted as they cut the deficit to 5-4 and it was game on.
Ackermann then restored St Andrew’s two-goal lead with a fantastic lob with two minutes and 21 seconds remaining, but Selborne hit straight back through Ridge Snelling to make it 6-5 with just under two minutes left.
With four seconds left in the chukka Selborne ’keeper Mitchell Connellan threw a pass to Snelling who tread up and out the water, caught the ball and spectacularly swivelled and finished into the top corner for the best goal of the game that also drew Selborne level, making for an exciting final chukka.
“I think we lost a bit of intensity, so at the break I told the guys to restabalise and get back to where we wanted to go,” Mackenzie said.
The coach’s words seemed to spur St Andrew’s on and they found another gear as they stormed into a 9-6 lead in the first three minutes of the fourth chukka as Andrew van Vuuren, Ackermann and Heath slotted goals.
Selborne's Daniel Ryan then pulled a goal back with a great finish into the left hand side netting, but Stainforth restored St Andrew’s three-goal lead.
With 12 seconds remaining Selborne's Troy Mynhardt then had the game’s final say with a goal and the game ended 10-8 in favour of St Andrew’s.
St Andrew’s reign as Vides champs
It was St Andrew’s third Vides title in the past four years, and they were made to work for it by a game Selborne side who recovered from a poor start, but ran out of steam in the end as St Andrew’s emerged 10-8 victors.
“It was a great result and we are extremely happy with the win,” St Andrew’s coach David Mackenzie said.
St Andrew’s got off to a fast start and were 2-0 up in the first two minutes of the first chukka. Wade Ackermann, who picked up the man of the match award for the final, opened the scoring with an early penalty, while Heath Field added the second from a good counter attack.
Despite Selborne looking to reply, a well-organised St Andrew’s defence limited them to shots from far out which were easily dealt with.
With just over two and a half minutes left in the chukka, Field extended St Andrew’s lead with a spectacular back shot, with them taking a 3-0 lead into the break, despite good late pressure from Selborne. The crowd thought Selborne had scored early in the second chukka when a shot was half blocked by goalkeeper Martin Kruger, but he recovered to stop it from crossing the line. St Andrew’s then counter attacked, going 4-0 up as captain Matthew Stainforth scored.
This finally sparked Selborne into action and most of the rest of the chukka belonged to them.
Stephan Nieuwenhuizen finally got them on the board with a fighting goal and Luke Johnson converted a penalty after being fouled in the zone.
The score was 4-2 at half-time and St Andrew’s gave themselves some breathing space at the start of the third chukka when Ackermann scored his second. Selborne then hit back with two goals in quick succession. Nieuwenhuizen scored his second and then Joshua Fenn converted as they cut the deficit to 5-4 and it was game on.
Ackermann then restored St Andrew’s two-goal lead with a fantastic lob with two minutes and 21 seconds remaining, but Selborne hit straight back through Ridge Snelling to make it 6-5 with just under two minutes left.
With four seconds left in the chukka Selborne ’keeper Mitchell Connellan threw a pass to Snelling who tread up and out the water, caught the ball and spectacularly swivelled and finished into the top corner for the best goal of the game that also drew Selborne level, making for an exciting final chukka.
“I think we lost a bit of intensity, so at the break I told the guys to restabalise and get back to where we wanted to go,” Mackenzie said.
The coach’s words seemed to spur St Andrew’s on and they found another gear as they stormed into a 9-6 lead in the first three minutes of the fourth chukka as Andrew van Vuuren, Ackermann and Heath slotted goals.
Selborne's Daniel Ryan then pulled a goal back with a great finish into the left hand side netting, but Stainforth restored St Andrew’s three-goal lead.
With 12 seconds remaining Selborne's Troy Mynhardt then had the game’s final say with a goal and the game ended 10-8 in favour of St Andrew’s.
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