Glenwood and Maritzurg College played in what might yet prove to be the most important inter-schools fixture as far as determining who the best high school 1st XV in KZN is this season. It was an unusual game in a sense. There were a lot of mistakes made by both teams and even the experienced referee got a few things wrong but all this did not reduce the action-packed excitement and intensity of the match, as both teams gave it there all for 70-minutes. The home team Glenwood gained a handy 17-0 early lead which threw College off their stride for a while but the visitors dug deep, showing tremendous heart and as is so often the case when two good teams meet, the game is never over until the final whistle. College fought back to within 6-points with just a few minutes left on the clock, before Glenwood sealed a deserved 27-14 victory by scoring a late try from a turnover.
Match highlights (#=minute)
#1. College almost got off to a great start. Wing Xolisa Guma who oozes x-factor ability, had precious few touches during the game but here he skilfully manoeuvres his body to get in behind the defence. Lock Wian Jacobs and flank Hayden Tharratt are in support and help build the play with offloads but later a bad pass later in the move would kill the advance.
#4. College’s flank Renard le Roux comes up with a big carry after breaking off the side of the scrum. Inside the Glenwood 22m, it’s Glenwood’ standout lock and captain Kevin du Randt who effects the turnover and the Green Machine counter-attacks. Good passing follows and young fullback Jayden Morgan has the meaningful run. Recycled ball takes play up to the College 22m where the visitors concede a penalty. In Morné Joubert’s absence, flyhalf Curtis Jonas is charged with the kicking duties and does a good job, striking the ball very well including this straightforward kick from in front which believe it or not Glenwood was not able to slot a fortnight before against DHS. 3-0.
#5. Glenwood scrummy Kwazi Khanyile produces a big exit kick from the base. The ball is allowed to bounce and a good chase sees Glenwood wing Philani Ngcobo force Guma into touch, resulting in an attacking setpiece for Glenwood. College disrupts the lineout but returning from injury prop Koos Tredoux recovers the ball near the back and sets off on the first of his good carries for the day, taking the play to near the College tryline. At the base of the ruck Khanyile stutters a bit but manages to feed Jonas and he lays it off to charging no.8 Marco Palvie who powers over for the first try. Jonas added the extras to make it 10-0 to Glenwood.
#7 & 8. Glenwood initate a good backline play and also win another important turnover from which they counter-attack.
#9. Once again Khanyile hesitates behind the advantage line but instead of closing him down quickly College makes the cardinal mistake of holding their line, which allows for recovery time inspired by Glenwood centre Donovan du Randt who’s stop-start motion outsmarts the defence. The young centre’s flashiness is part of the speed possessed by Glenwood backs that really catches College defenders flatfooted. Morgan collects and feeds Ilunga Mukendi and the impressive wing breaks down the right, beating both the tackles of College fullback Brandon Holder and cover in the form of flank Hayden Tharratt, on the way to the in-goal area. Jonas converts to make it 17-0 with an hour left to play.
College become unsettled. They are chasing the game now and lose focus, trying to force the play. Poor decisions and little errors hinder their progress. Continuity is hard to come by and Glenwood made it even harder through their good first half contest of ball on the ground.
#19 Young College halfback Rattray has a difficult time. He is usually the school’s third choice no.9 but injuries to those above him in the pecking order means he starts and on top of that he is asked to take on a lot of responsibility in this big game. During this move, his kick upfield almost turns into something spectacular for College. Held up in the wind, Guma had a realistic chance of getting to the ball first but coolly fullback Morgan runs onto the ball near the touchline, fielding it in his stride and within no time Glenwood are back on attack via his skill. Wing Ngcobo also contributes by beating tackles and had his final pass to Kevin du Randt been better, it might have been try-time again. Instead College regains possession, kicks the ball upfield where Palvie failed to catch it cleanly, knocking it forward in the process, which gives rise to an accidental offside decision when a support Glenwood player picks the ball up from in front of Palvie. Marcel Coetzee kicks the long penalty to open College’s scoring at 17-3.
#21 Soon after the kickoff, a handling error has College pinned on the backfoot again. Although they win a tighthead at the scrum with overlooked for KZN final trials prop Tiaan Steyn doing some sterling work, it’s untidy ball putting College under pressure. From the lineout where visiting captain Daryn Goodson is forced out, a good take by Kevin du Randt paves the way for Glenwood to rumble it up slowly via a midfield carry, which culminates in the ref awarding the hosts with a tackler not rolling away penalty. Jonas’ kick from close range increased the lead to 20-3.
#24 From a lineout player of the match Glenwood flank James Venter, an exceptional performer on the day broke free as has almost become his trademark of late. When tackled, he pops the ball to Tredoux, who continued on a good run. The end result is that Sparks Ngcobo, playing his 50th match for the Green Machine on Old Boys Day knocks on near the tryline, with a valid chance for Glenwood to get points.
#27 This is the start of some genuine opportunities for College to score a try. First from an attacking lineout set as the result of a penalty, College did not appear to have much energy in their offensive until flyhalf Matt Kriel uses his size and strength advantage to pry open the Glenwood defence and this almost results in a try for Marcel Coetzee, who is stopped on the line. A yellow card is issued to a Glenwood player.
#30 Still pinned back in their redzone, Kevin du Randt steals lineout ball from College but a fumble by Jonas is part of the uncharacteristically untidy performance delivered by the Glenwood backs and hands College an attacking scrum. Shortly thereafter a cut-out pass from Rattray to Guma, had the right wing challenging for a try in the right corner but he is bundled over the in-goal line, meaning relief via a 22m drop to Glenwood.
#32 From winning a lineout on the left, a College cross-field kick gets held up in the wind and offers an opportunity for either Coetzee or Guma to run onto it with the genuine chance to score a try from 50m out looking on. However the two players are focused on the ball and do not nominate. They collide as they both attempted to catch the ball out the sky. The chance goes abegging.
#34 Just before halftime College’s indecisiveness at the back nearly cost them dearly, as Venter pressures and almost gets a intercept
#Halftime 20-3
#36 Glenwood erred on the restart, handing the initiative to College via a scrum on halfway. First another useful carry by le Roux and then a highball kick by Kriel who now had the wind at his back forced a another error when S. Ngcobo knocks on the catch. Scrum College. Kriel then made a mini-break at first receiver, to get go-forward and off the ruck Rattray whipped out a long pass that is just too difficult for Holder to hold onto, otherwise he stood a good chance of scoring from close a range. From that scrum virtually on the Glenwood line, Jonas tries to ran the ball out but his suicidal flick pass goes to ground and causes his teammates to have to seal the ball to stop College getting it. Coetzee strokes over an easy penalty kick to reduce the deficit to 20-6.
The quality of the game deteriorated a little and the sharp whistle blasts of former international ref Marius Jonker make his presence on the field evident. Jonas misses a shot at goal from one of these penalties. Glenwood produce a couple of highlights though, first through an exciting play that sees Mukendi and Venter link up on attack and then through a linebreak by Mac Muller, which almost results in a second try for Palvie.
#54 A bazaar passage of highly exciting play results in turnovers for both teams as the game opened up completely. The crucial bit of action came about when Mac Muller gets caught in possession just inside the Glenwood half, allowing College to toe the ball ahead. Holder was able to get foot to it a second time and a favourable bounce leaves him in a one-on-on with Jonas who is also competing to win the ball. Holder’s strength proved key and the fullback scores after fighting off the effort of the little flyhalf to bring him to ground. 20-11.
The game refuses to flow for a while. There are exciting moments but the second half is filled with turnovers that along with the big battle upfront that really spark the enjoyment rather than the quality of continued attacking play.
#61 College employs a pick and drive which proves effective, They get deep into the redzone but a knock-on halts their progress.
#64 College comes close to scoring again. This time they are gifted the field position by yet another Glenwood handling error. However with time running out College panics and poor handling ends this opportunity.
#67 Powerfully built Marcel Coetzee has a chance to have a go. He sets off on a 40m run that dissects the first line defence. He’s eventually hauled in and brought to ground inside the Glenwood 22m area where the home side infringes, earning a player a yellow card and resulting in the score being reduced to 20-14 via Coetzee’s penalty.
#68 Glenwood delivers the knock-out blow when College throws caution to the wind by attempting to run the ball up the left. The tackled ball situation results in a quick turnover which Khanyile then uses to attack off around the fringe. He dodges a few tired would-be tacklers as part of an excellent run from about 40m out that sees him scoring Glenwood’s third try. Jonas converts. 27-14.
#Final score: Glenwood wins 27-14
@CRC: Reunion weekends like these are like taking your wife to the mall during the festive season. You come out of them with a headache and dented bank account. You guys enjoy. I have an envious College boy colleague here who would give anything but his mouth and liver to be there.
Well the College Reunion weekend starts this evening with a 30 year reunion dinner for the 1984 1st XV tour to Wales. Of the 27 boys who went to Wales 20 will be there tonight, including the SA Schools players in that side, Stransky (84) and Glover(85). All the masters who went along will also be there, apart from the coach, Dave Dell, who unfortunately passed away a few years back. His widow will be in attendance. Not sure what everyone’s livers are going to be like on Sunday?
@Grasshopper: Nice try Grassy – (referring to your remaining fixtures list) – No way are we playing you okes again on Dixon’s – it’s Goldstones next time round – show some compassion here
@beet: It’s true though, winning on Goldstones, Gilfillan or Meadows is far harder than winning at home..
@Grasshopper: Geez someone is already in FIFA World Cup mode
@Grasshopper: Higher grade maths then, have mercy on us blue-collar okes mon.
@Gungets Tuft: I reckon a team should get more points for an away win…..
@beet: Eeisch – how hard can it be to get it right. Maths Lit.
Said it before, on their day any KZN side can beat the other, even DHS and Northwood. Add home ground advantage, a tough schedule, and anything can happen.
@kcob: Don’t write off Westville to beat College. History against Westville winning but their 2014 team is a quite capable side.
I’ve also got to say that based on homeground advantage, College will travel to Balgowan as slight underdogs.
And like I said, if College wins both they still stand a chance of sharing the spoils.
Also Kearsney on OB’s Day & in their first major home game since Westville, might have a chance against MHS.
Bottomline. KZN rank order far from decided.
@Gungets Tuft: I just pray the old timers who calculate the results can get no.1 correct. They seemed to have made a hash of it last year with Westville being demoted a few places, so my faith in them is now lacking.
@Grasshopper: Before the July games we have Hilton, DHS and Westville. Long season, need some seriuos depth to carry those fixtures.
@beet: Agree.
GW, College, MHS, Kearsney, Westville, Hilton, DHS/Northwood….etc
Unless Kearsney can pull off the MHS win, I think this may end this way. DHS no push over either so, still have take it game by game!
@Gungets TuftIt’s at Glenwood. Last game for Kearsney, and Tristan Tedder’s 50th. I saw sparks managed to get 50 this last weekend; awesome!
Kearsney have Saints (h), DHS (a), MHS (h), GW (a).
@Grasshopper: Whoops, College should say A…
@Gungets Tuft: Glenwood’s remaining fixtures and we normally fit in a UK touring side in somewhere too;
31/05/2014 Monument A
07/06/2014 Hilton A
14/06/2014 Northwood H
21/06/2014 Kearnsey H
26/07/2014 Grey College H
02/08/2014 Affies A
09/08/2014 Maritzburg College H
16/08/2014 KZN Development H
@beet: If I am not mistaken the “official” rankings count only the first match of return derbies, in which case the result against Glenwood on Goldstones has no effect. Not relying on them slipping up against KZN opposition this year, Northwood seems to have not been able to reproduce the Jeppe and Hilton effort, they are already past the DHS skin, Hilton look a spent force unless they get Gouws back. Kearsney – they aren’t going to stand back, got lots of good decision making behind the scrum at 9 and 10, always going to be interesting. Is that at Glenwood or Kearsney?
I see a few of the injured College players had short runs on Saturday (Stuart, Gold, Seba, vd Linda, Koekemoer) so we hope they will be back in the groove soon as well. Manic term 3 fixture list (Affies, PBHS away, Glenwood on Goldstones, then GCB away.). Going to need a full squad on the run-in.
New here but I watched from U16 to 1st teams. Games where of a high caliber and SBR is exciting at the moment. Reffs on the day where very good, particularly Jonker who did a fantastic job. The U 16 and 2nd team games where excellent with one being a draw and the other GW won by 1 point. I think one of you guys is a reff and it looks like Durban has some great reffs this year. U16A reff was ok but 2nd team reff had eyes everywhere and did not miss mutch even carried over by college for 5 meter scrum. I saw the incedent at the end of the 1st game (fighting) but did not see any Old boys running in, but I could be mistaken. Excellent rugby and look forward to the rest of the school boy season in KZN.
@RBugger: Agreed, Boishaaipa always said yo can’t judge a year by the number of returning players, this year that does seem to have benefited Glenwood. Most of the boys playing this year are in matric and had a full year last year getting experience at this level. They are ‘battle hardened’ after losing quite a few last year. I really do think they could end up with a 80% win percentage which would be considered an amazing season considering the calibre of the opposition. Again, 4 big KZN games left with Affies, Monnas and Grey Bloem too….it doesn’t get any easier does it……hell that is tough and we might have more injuries…
@Buffel: IMHO it’s more like this based on results so far
1.Glenwood
2.Michaelhouse/College
4.Kearsney
5.Westville
6.DHS/Northwood/Hilton/Port Natal
10.St Charles
@beet: I say this is how things stand in KZN at the moment .1 Glenwood 2 College 3 KC 4 MHS and so on. If ‘house manage to beat KC then they would swop positions.
@RBugger: We agree that they are the side to beat but as Beet has said, potential slip ups in Northwood,Hilton and Kearsney who have the majority of the boys playing their last game in the “One Stripe”.
Glenwood is easily the best team in KZN this year, no doubt in my mind. Like I said at the start of the season, they were always going to be the team to beat.
With over 5 CW 2013 players including more Academy players in their 2014 side, the experience, depth and class of the team is massive.
The beat College without 2 of their star players (Coetzee and Joubert) these type of players are not easily replaced, let’s not forget Vidima who has been out for some time.
All we can now ask for, is for the KZN sides to really stand up against a mighty GW 2014 side, should give the likes of KC massive determination to go out and give there all against this side
Thanks everyone.
@Sir Pius: Hi Pius. Assuming Glenwood will win all their KZN games for the rest of the term (not a given as Hopper mentioned), the onus shifts onto College. They have 2 crucial local games left this term – on 07 June its Michaelhouse away – a battle for 2nd place as things stand. If College wins that game on 21 June its Westville away. So if College wins all their remaining games in KZN this term, they will have another shot at finishing first in the province albeit tie for first place. To do that they will have to beat Glenwood on Goldstones next term. So the race is not over yet.
Odds are good that no one will “overtake” Glenwood as you put it.
@Sir Pius: Kearsney, Hilton and Northwood are serious banana skins…..we don’t count chickens before they hatch…
Nice write up Beet. Glenwood has beaten the 3 top rugby schools in KZN this year, namely Westville, Michaelhouse and College.Surely no one can overtake them now in KZN. Well done to both teams for making Saturday a success.
Good match report and no-one can deny that the better team won on the day.
Now good luck to GW next week against Monnas – holding thumbs for you guys – go green!
@Thumper: Thanks Thumper but it was closer across the board;
Results of Glenwood vs College; http://www.glenwoodhighschool.co.za/sites/default/files/SPORT%20RESULTS%20vs%20COLLEGE%20KERSHAW.pdf
Played: 25
Glenwood won: 12
College won: 10
Drawn: 3
Points for Glenwood: 430
Points for College: 432
Avg score: 17-17
Gosh you can’t get more matched than that really. Interestingly College have the stronger Under15 group as a whole and Glenwood by far the stronger in Under14. Under16 looks a match…..interesting years ahead in the rugby. On the hockey front it’s all College bar the main game….
@Grasshopper: Glenwood were too good for us, great team. Best side won on the day, no complaints. Well done GW on winning the rugby and hockey!
Great write up, spot on as I saw it!