Waterpolo Win

At the very end of the Lent term, our U18 boys took part in an incredibly challenging tournament for the Schools Water Polo League finals, over at Whitgift School. This tournament only fell three days after their English Schools National Finals, where the boys were among the other five top schools in the country (and placed 4th in the country, narrowly losing out on the bronze medal to Bolton in the 3rd/4th playoff); a brilliant achievement. The team had beaten Bolton previously in the tournament which was a huge achievement and possibly the highlight of all of their sporting careers to date, given Bolton's infamous success in the pool.

In the Schools Water Polo League finals the following Monday, with the top four teams in the South, it really was all to play for and anyone’s game, as all teams had wins and losses, with the final results and placings coming down to goal difference. Alleyn’s started off with a narrow loss to Northampton School for Boys, but luckily dusted off the cobwebs to then beat Trinity (the newly crowned national champions) 3-2, and then our local rivals from Dulwich College, 7-2. Our goal difference across the tournament (of which, everything fell on the last game’s results between Trinity and NSB) was best of all teams tied on points, meaning Alleyn’s were victorious and won the gold medals; a phenomenal achievement, after seven years of determination and commitment to school water polo! Since the start of the competition in 1973, Alleyn’s had only won the Schools Water Polo League once, so the boys’ success, winning this competition is truly an outstanding and historical achievement! This is also only our third ever water polo title at the senior boys age group, which is absolutely tremendous.

Wrriten by Charlotte Ody, IC Water Polo