Win for Water Polo Witsies
It was a triumphant end to the season for the Wits Men’s Water Polo Club this past weekend.
The team, competing in the Gauteng 3rd Division, won the cup on Sunday with a score of 8 goals to 6 against Pretoria Old Boys.
Saturday afternoon saw the team compete in a nail-biting semi-final against home favourites, Jeppe Water Polo Club. After drawing 2-2 at the end of the match – with a tie in the following penalty shootout – Wits’ Brett van Staden, 1st year medicine, scored the winning goal in the sudden-death penalty shootout.
Going for Goal: Wits’ Brett van Staden scores the winning goal in the semi-final against Jeppe Water Polo Club. Photo: Tracey Ruff.
Sunday’s final had the team play 4 chukkas of 12 minutes – longer than the 2 chukkas of 10 minutes in the semi-final. At half-time, Wits was leading by 6 – 1, which led to Pretoria Old Boys changing up their tactics and scoring five more goals.
Keeper and vice-captain, Murray Dryden, had “a fantastic game” according to fellow player Richard Fisher, 4th year mechanical engineering. “[He] saved two five metre penalties and several one-on-ones, which is very unusual for any keeper.”
The club, which has undergone significant improvement since last season under new coach, Kelsey White, is currently top of their league.
