Kearsney: Glenwood stay unbeaten
This was a game that many were looking forward to as both Glenwood and Hoërskool Noord-Kaap had shown they wanted to move the ball rapidly. They did not disappoint and in a thrilling game with good defence on both sides, only one try a piece was scored in the first half, but it certainly was not dull.
Noord-Kaap was first on the board after 12 minutes, when a long pass found their fullback Cameron Hufke, one of the standout players at the festival. He broke through the defence, passing to wing Maurice Amerika who forced his way over the line. Hufke's conversion was successful and the Kimberley side led 7-0.
Wing and captain Morné van Rensburg put Glenwood on the board with a penalty. In a good attacking move with scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse, prominent centre Jacques Conradie scored. Van Rensburg had a successful, for Glenwood to lead 10-7.
Noord-Kaap came back and were awarded a penalty quite a long way out which Hufke put through the posts to take the sides into the break at 10-all.
Just three minutes into the second half, pacy Glenwood wing Siyanda Cele rounded the defence to dot down under the posts making an easy two-pointer for Van Rensburg, and a 17-10 lead.
Again Noord-Kaap pressed and were rewarded when, after forwards had made a number of attempts and been thwarted, the ball went down the line across the field, finding Hufke on the outside. He dived over in the corner, but could not convert from the touchline. However, the gap had narrowed to 15-17.
Glenwood then struck back and Cele used his pace to go over in the corner for his second try and take the scoreboard to 22-15.
With turnover a plenty, play moved from end to end and touchline to touchline. Noord-Kaap came within two metres of scoring but Glenwood defended well. Eventually from a quick tap penalty, the ball was passed to a charging Conrad van Aswegen and after attempting his bullocking runs a number of times, he burst over. A difficult conversion was just wide, but it became 20-22 with two minutes remaining.
Glenwood were awarded a penalty just on the halfway line and fullback Rynard Jonker closed the excellent game with a further three points and a 25-20 win.
After their exciting match, a delighted Noord-Kaap were presented with a new award: the Standard Bank trophy for the side playing the most attractive rugby at the festival.
Scorers:
For Glenwood:
Tries: Jacques Conradie, Siyanda Cele 2
Cons: Morné van Rensburg 2
Pens: Morné van Rensburg, Rynard Jonker
For Noord-Kaap:
Tries: Hufke, van Aswegen, Maurice Amerika
Con: Hufke
Pen: Hufke