Glenwood in Argentina, Part III
Glenwood have played their third match on their Argentinian tour in leafy Mendoza down below the Andes. Sean Erasmus, the Glenwood coach, reports.
We have just returned from our afternoon matches against the Club of Mendoza.
They had two teams that played against us, the one team was the clubs Under-18A team and the other was their Under-19A team. Our Gold Team played against the Under-18s and the Green Team played against the Under-19s.
The Gold team played against a very good team that liked to move the ball around and use the space. The Mendoza team opened the scoring after we let them break the line due to poor defence. Their centre dotted down under the poles to take the lead by 0-7. The game continued for most of 20 minutes without any score with both teams playing hard physical rugby, we had our chances to score but never made use of them.
The referee was struggling to communicate with the boys and a few times our tour guide had to run on and help with the law interpretation and just plain translate any comments. The Mendoza boys scored another try on the stroke of half time to take the lead by 0-12.
The Gold team started better in the second half and Kenny van Niekerk barged over for the first try that was converted by Jacques Dumas. The Glenwood boys seemed to be on fire and played really well in the second half but failed to turn opportunities into points when they had to. The last pass was poor or we ran just too far before passing. One of the passes that went astray was picked up by Mendoza and the dotted down under the poles scoring the last points of the game. Final score 7-19 to Mendoza. We had every chance to win the game but did not take them.
The Green team put a much better performance together and seems to start understanding each other better. Warren Potgieter had a great day with the boot as he kept the team going forward. The interplay between backs and forwards was really good and we moved the ball around causing huge spaces in defence.
In total the team scored eight beautiful, well-deserved tries against a team that is highly rated. We starved them of ball and used our chances with ball in hand. Wayne Vermeulen scored the first try and was quickly followed by Nkululeko Mcuma, both tries converted by Warren Potgieter. The Mendoza boys answered with a try of their own from a drive at the line-out taking the score to 14-7. Warren Potgieter extended our lead with a beautiful penalty kick from about 40 metres, 17-7. Nkululeko Mcuma received the ball from the forwards as they rumbled through the fringe defence making short passes before giving it to Mcuma who scored a great team try, Warren Potgieter converted just before half-time taking Glenwood into the lead by 24-7.
The half-time chat was brief and to the point as the boys wanted to keep the ball close and under control. Dylan Coulson opened the score in the second half with a great run on the outside of his opposite centre. Warren Potgieter once again converted the try to take the score to 31-7. The Glenwood boys had a great second half moving the ball around and making awesome passes in contact not allowing defence to get organised.
West Jeffereys moved to lock and soon after that got onto the score card scoring from a pick and go close to the line, Warren converted extending the lead to 38-7. We made some changes to the team with 20 minutes to play giving some of the other boys a chance to run against the older boys and also to allow some sore bodies to get a rest. Carel Swart broke the defence next making a 50-metre run before giving the ball to ever present Warren Potgieter who dived over in the corner for his first self converted try of the tour. Glenwood 45, Mendoza 7.
The boys seemed on fire as they moved the ball around enjoying the game. The midfield did a switch and left winger Dewaldt de Waal received the ball in space with about 50 metres to go to the try line, he stepped inside then outside before out sprinting the defence to dot down and score the last try of the match, and yes Warren Potgieter converted yet again a great kick from the touchline. It was a great win for the boys as they near the end of their tour, Glenwood 59, Mendoza 14. A hard-fought game.
We were all invited to an asado (braai) after the game and the boys had plenty of red meat yet again followed by a delicious desert. We have been excellently hosted here in Mendoza and the boys have been very happy and well looked after. Thank you Mendoza!
We now have free time until 12 tonight when we are all off to a movie before we head off to the airport for a four-hour flight back to Buenos Aires and on to Iguaçu Falls at 6 am. We play our last game in Buenos Aires before heading back to South Africa!
Love to all our families, friends and colleagues, we will keep you updated after arrival in Iguaçu. God Bless!
Ciao
By Sean Erasmus