Glenwood by a point

A win at Goldstone's is always special, even if it is by a point as Glenwood did in their 21-20 victory over Maritzburg College on Saturday.

In their penultimate fixture of the season Glenwood travelled up to the provincial capital to take on their traditional rivals, Pietermaritzburg College. With Glenwood having won the first fixture earlier in the year at home, College would have been keen to put one over the visitors to even up the score.

The opening period of the game saw both teams throwing everything they had at each other. College scored first through a penalty early in the half as they enjoyed much of the territorial and possession advantage.

Glenwood hit back with a well constructed try by Sphamandla Ngcobo who went over in the corner to score and give the visitors a 5-3 lead. The try was unconverted.

Glenwood began to take control in the middle part of the half as they played with more energy and determination. Ngcobo went over the try line again as Glenwood worked through a number of phases. The try was converted by Jonas and the lead was extended to 12-3.

Not to be outdone, College hit back just before the half time with a try of their own as they went into the break with Glenwood leading 12-10.

The second half saw the game open up with both sides playing with width and speed. College looked dangerous every time the ball went wide and made Glenwood work hard to stop their attack. The increased tempo that College played at visibly started to take its toll on the visitors as their defensive line was broken regularly.

College’s hard work was rewarded with a try and a conversion that took them into the lead for the second time in the game. At 20-10 it seemed as though a Glenwood victory was hanging in the balance.

Guts, determination and pure desire were all that was keeping Glenwood in the game.  As the minutes ticked away the visitors began to claw their way back. Curtis Jonas took advantage of a sustained period of attack as his team were rewarded with a penalty deep in the College half. He converted the penalty and reduced the deficit to 20-15.

Having now got themselves within reach, Glenwood started to play their usual brand of rugby that has seen them be so successful this year. As they applied the pressure, the College defensive unit began to crack.

With the pressure mounting, College conceded a penalty inside their half again and while the advantage was being played Morné Joubert, the Glenwood and SA Schools full-back, positioned himself behind the ruck and slotted a drop goal 40 metres out from the home sides try line. The gap had now closed to 18-20.

The final five minutes were an intense affair. Glenwood did most of the playing and spent much of the time inside the College half. This pressure, once again, led to a College indiscretion as they were penalised deep inside their 22-metre line with just over a minute left on the clock. Curtis Jonas converted the penalty which now took Glenwood into a 21-20.

This moment of relief was short lived! College kicked off in what was the last movement of the game. Glenwood received it, took the ball into a ruck and secured possession only to be penalised for holding onto the ball.

With no time on the clock College opted to kick for goal. The dream of a Glenwood win on Goldstone's seemed to be over. Unfortunately for the home side, the kick went wide which gave the win to Glenwood 21-20.

Scorers

For Glenwood:

Tries: Sphamandla (“Sparks”) Ngcobo 2

Cons: Curtis Jonas

Pen: Curtis Jonas 2

Drop: Morné Joubert

For College:

Tries: Marcell Coetsee, Daryn Goodson

Cons: Marcell Coetsee 2

Pens: Marcell Coetsee 2

Teams

Maritzburg College: 15 Mathew Kriel, 14 Xolisa Guma, 13 Marcell Coetsee, 12 Jordan Koekemoer, 11 Byron Watson, 10: Mac van der Linde, 9 Mathew Seba, 8 Daryn Goodson, 7 Renard le Roux, 6 Hayden Tharratt, 5 Wiaan Jacobs, 4 Slade Stuart, 3 Disi Dlamini, 2 Masikane Mazwi, 1 Tiaan Steyn

Glenwood: 15 Morné Joubert, 14 Jayden Morgan, 13 Spamandla Ngcobo, 12 Donovan Du Randt, 11 Ilunga Mukendi, 10 Curtis Jonas, 9 Kwazikwenkosi Khanyile, 8 Jaco Coetzee, 7 McMillan Muller, 6 James Venter, 5 Nama Xaba, 4 Kevin Du Randt (captain), 3 Koos Tredoux, 2 Percy Mngadi, 1 Kenny van Niekerk

Match Report by Michael Vowles

Photographer: Gareth Sedgbeer-Williams

Caption: Sphamandla Ngcobo and Donovan du Randt

Results Down the Years

1921: Glenwood won 5-0

1923: Glenwood won 14-3

1926: Glenwood won 3-0

1927: Draw 3-3 and College won 10-0

1928: Glenwood won 11-0; Glenwood won 21-0

1929: College won 8-5 and 22-3

1930: College won 9-6 and 18-0

1931: College won 24-0 and drew 8-8

1932: College won 21-6 and 15-6

1933: Glenwood won 4-0; Glenwood won 6-3

1834: College won 27-0 and 24-5

1935: Glenwood won 4-0; College won 15-3

1936: Draw 3-3; College won 12-8

1937: College won 11-6 and 23-0

1938: Glenwood won 11-6; College won 20-5

1939: Draw 0-0 and 8-8

1940: College won 8-6 and 11-8

1941: College won 5-3; Glenwood won 12-11

1942: Glenwood won 7-5 and 16-9

1943: College won 12-0 and Draw 6-6

1944: Draw 10-10; Glenwood won 8-3

1945: College won 15-8 and 7-3

1946: College won 19-4; Glenwood won 8-3

1947: College won 8-3; Draw 6-6

1948: College won 12-3

1949: College won 6-0 and 8-0

1950: College won 26-3

1951: College won 22-0 and 3-0

1952: College won 12-0 and 22-0

1953: Draw 6-6; College won 8-6

1954: College won 20-8; Draw 3-3

1955: College won 13-5

1956: College won 14-0 and 16-0

1957: Draw 6-6

1958: College won 11-3

1959: College won 10-6 and 23-8

1960: College won 11-0 and 18-0

1961: College won 20-0 and 32-0

1962: College won 16-0 and 11-3

1963: College won 30-3 and 24-5

1964: Glenwood won 14-12; College won 33-0

1965: Glenwood won 8-6

1966: Glenwood won 9-3; College won 15-6

1967: College won 11-3; Draw 8-8

1968: College won 14-3 and 8-6

1969: College won 31-9; Draw 9-9

1970: Glenwood won 12-11; College won 16-3

1971: College won 12-0 and 16-13

1972: College won 37-3; Draw 9-9

1973: College won 16-12 and 13-0

1974: College won 22-10 and 9-3

1975: Draw 6-6; Glenwood won 13-10

1976: College won 15-6; Glenwood won 14-4

1977: College won 6-0 and 31-6

1978: College won 28-9 and 27-4

1979: Glenwood won 33-6; College won 7-3

1980: College won 21-12; Glenwood won 10-9

1981: College won 9-7 and 19-10

1982: College won 15-6 and 19-18

1983: Glenwood won 15-7; College won 26-6

1984: College won 20-4 and 13-6

1985 : College won 25-3 and 22-6

1986: College won 29-3; Glenwood won 15-13

1987: College won 22-17 and 48-12

1988: College won 13-7 and 30-9

1989: College won 19-3 and 22-3

1990: College won 28-6 and 6-0

1991: College won 22-16; Glenwood won 16-11

1992: College won 42-9 and 8-0

1993: College won 24-10        

1994: College won 35-3

1995: College won 61-13        

1996: College won 53-5        

1997: College won 48-10        

1998: Glenwood won 31-5

1999: College won 16-10        

2000: College won 28-16; Glenwood won 24-18

2001: College won 37-12 and 15-6

2002: College won 28-0 and 33-3

2003: College won 30-8

2004: Glenwood won 26-24; College won 21-7

2005: College won 30-7 and 12-5

2006: College won 24-0; Glenwood won 19-14

2007: Glenwood won 19-12

2008: Glenwood won 47-10 and 15-7

2009: Glenwood won 23-11 and 31-0

2010: College won 35-16; Glenwood won 20-13

2011: Glenwood won 33-30 and 31-3

2012: Draw 16-16 and a draw 27-27

2013: Glenwood won 33-15 and 44-40

2014: Glenwood won 27-14 and 21-20