KEARSNEY College had a historic weekend in the Top 10 tournament, claiming the overall trophy for the first time in 30 years and finishing in the top three of their respective age categories.

First-team captain Blake Kruger, who ended the season with 176 caps, became the most-capped first-team player in the College’s history.

Kearsney’s first-team water polo squad faced formidable opponents at the annual Top 10 Tournament held at Westville Boys’ High.

In the opening match against Northwood, Kearsney took an early lead and showcased strong defence, securing a 5–1 advantage by half-time. Northwood fought back in the second half, however, levelling the score at 5–5. With just 10 seconds remaining, Levi Thom scored the decisive goal, sealing a 6–5 victory for Kearsney.

The second game pitted them against Hilton. Despite a hard-fought battle, Kearsney narrowly lost 9–11.

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The third game was against Michaelhouse. After a slow and steady first chukka, where Kearsney held a 2–1 lead, the team pulled away in the second and third chukkas, eventually winning comfortably with a final score of 11–4.

Reddam House Umhlanga, Curro Hillcrest and Thomas More College combined to form a co-ed team for the tournament. Kearsney dominated this match, winning 16–4.

Kearsney finished second, behind Hilton, in the pool stages. First place advanced to the semi-finals while second place played against the third-placed team from the opposite group for a chance at the semi-finals.

In a display of resilience and determination, Kearsney emerged victorious with a 5–3 win over Clifton College to secure a semi-final against Westville Boys’.

Having only a 90-minute break between games, teams were undeniably fatigued. Westville was a tough opponent, and Kearsney had lost to them by a single goal two weeks earlier. This time, however, they were determined and succeeded – winning 7–5 to secure a place in the final against Hilton College.

In the final, facing Hilton for the third time in two weeks, it was a tightly contested match. Hilton took an early lead, going up by one in the opening minutes, but Kearsney managed to end the first quarter with a 2–1 lead and held onto the advantage for the remainder of the game, clinching the championship with a narrow 8–7 victory.

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