College force a draw

It was not a great game at Glenwood on a wet and windy Saturday afternoon in a Premier Interschools clash on Saturday - not until the last two minutes that is. Then came a thrilling finish.

It was in fact a drab game with much kicking and poor handling, set alight by a great Glenwood try, till that finale. That it was a drab game was obviously the fault of the weather. The wind blew and the rain came down, at times in torrents.

It seemed a match that Glenwood were well on the way to winning, but then came an energetic response from the Maritzburg side. With two minutes to go Glenwood, at home on Dixon's, led 16-6, thanks to the boot of Warren Potgieter and a try of great splendour, made by scrumhalf Mtokosisi Mkhabela and rounded off by fullback Corné Vermaak.

The Glenwood supporters, in their green blazers were impervious to the rain in the excitement of imminent victory and then, suddenly, College came alight.

The first half went along in pretty boring fashion. Warren Potgieter goaled a penalty, Marcel Coetzee two penalties and Warren Potgieter his second. It was 6-all with half-time looming.

The best up till then had been two breaks by centre Marcel Coetzee, and counterattack by sturdy Jesse Kriel and an up-and-under and catch by Corné Vermaak and a strong rumble by  Marne Coetzee. Then came the brightest moment of the half by far.

Glenwood had a scrum in midfield and Michael van Aardt played from the back to scrumhalf Mtokosisi Mkhabela who burst down the right with an astonishing burst of speed. Confronted by Jesse Kriel the scrum threw a long and perfect pass to Corné Vermaak on his right and the tall fullback raced over and round to the posts. That made nit 13-6 at the break.

The second half trudged on for 33 minutes. College were close to scoring when they charged down Warren Potgieter's kick. Glenwood ran from their own line with Corné Vermaak striding down the field and it was only a handling breakdown that prevented the try. College overthrew a line-out on their line and Warren Potgieter was close but Jesse Kriel took his side out of danger and onto the attack.

With nine minutes to play, Warren Potgieter goaled a long kick with the wind. When he tried it again later, he let College in.

With some four minutes and a bit to go, College kicked a penalty out five metres from the Glenwood line and bashed. They were held up, which gave them a five-metre scrum. Cameron Christie got close and then they spread the ball wider and Marcel Coetzee cut back off a pass from Jesse Kriel and swept over to score. He converted from a sharp angle. 16-13 with two minutes to play.

With just second left a penalty for a high tackle and Warren Potgieter aimed at goal. He was short from 60 metres and College ran. They kept running with great energy. Down the field they went to Glenwood were penalised and from a sharp angle Marcel Coetzee goaled.

The effect of the draw was fascinating. Glenwood supporters were plunged into a slough of despond while College supporters were filled with glee.

The teams:

Glenwood: 15 Corné Vermaak, 14 Dylan Coulson, 13 Nkululeko Marwana, 12 Akhona Nela, 11 Sphamandla Ngcobo, 10 Warren Potgieter, 9 Mtokosisi Mkhabela, 8 Michael van Aardt, 7 Rupert Kay, 6 Jaques Meintjes, 5 Sihle Ngxabi, 4 Wandi Mazibuko, 3 Marne Coetzee, 2 Sanele Pina, 1 Matthew Worral-Clare.

Replacements: 16 Kyle Westman, 17 Wayne Vermeulen, 18 Kobus Viljoen, 19 Sebastiano Bracco, 20 Nkululeko Mcuma, 21 Derwent Stopforth, 22 Heino Beneke.

Maritzburg College: 15 Jesse Kriel, 14 Cyle Muil, 13 Marcel Coetzee, 12 Murray Janse van Rensburg, 11 Banele Ngwenya, 10 Lukas Booysen, 9 Josh Rencken, 8 Reegan Smith (captain), 7 Cameron Christie, 6 Jacque Conradie, 5 Robert Kamhoot, 4 Everett Pieterse, 3 Mvelo Khumalo, 2 Vuyo Khathide, 1 Alex Cahill.

Replacements: 16 Banele Mhlongo, 17 Njabula Gumede, 18 Wesley Rogers, 19 Dijon Du Toit, 20 Kelvin Elder, 21 Gareth Orr, 22 Dylan Rogers.

Referee: Tahla Ntshakaza (KwaZulu-Natal Referees' Society)

Assistant referees: Shaun Weir (KwaZulu-Natal Referees' Society), Paul McKay (KwaZulu-Natal Referees' Society)