College suprise Glenwood in Durban
Match report
Beaten at home, Maritzburg College went away and beat Glenwood in Durban on Saturday.
The following report is from Glenwood:
The second game of the year between Glenwood and Maritzburg College had been eagerly awaited by many as often these games turn out to be classic schoolboy spectacles. Glenwood and College had met earlier in the year at College, and Glenwood had pulled off a historical win on Goldstone's 24-22 after being 22-7 down.
Anyone who wrote College off this year, has no idea about KwaZulu Natal Schools rugby, for even if they have had a lean year with some surprise losses. College came down to Durban with a job to do, and they did it well.
College applied the pressure from the start, starving Glenwood of the ball for much of the first quarter. The Glenwood forwards did not assert any dominance over the College pack and certainly did not produce their normal fiery display. The Glenwood forwards were flat and lost numerous balls on the ground to the committed College loose trio.
The first points came to College in only the 25th minute after sustained pressure saw them edge closer to the Glenwood line and after some solid drives by the College pack lock S Henderson crashed over for the five-pointer. The try was converted by fullback John King, and College went ahead 7-0.
Glenwood, by the admission of their coach Toppy Hortop, had their worst game of the season, though the saying is very true that you can play only as well as the opposition allow you to, and College were good on Saturday.
College’s next points came just before the break when a superbly executed move saw left-wing Brendan Marais slice through the Glenwood defence to score under the posts, duly converted by John King to take College into the break 14-0 up.
Glenwood had few attacking opportunities during the game and when they did mange to get the ball it was either kicked away or simply held onto. The fluidity in the Glenwood backline was missing and far too much ball was kicked away simply giving possession back to College.
The second half was tighter though Glenwood failed to stamp any authority on the game.
The teams each scored seven points in the second half, College from flyhalf Z Mdadane, converted by King, and Glenwood’s best passage of play led to a try by centre Marlin Boyd after a break down the left touchline by wing Dale Slater saw a inside pass to Boyd who dotted down under the uprights. It was converted by Dominic Momberg.
On the whole Glenwood could not structure phases together and lost too much ball to College who were undeniably the better team on the day which saw them home to a 21-7 victory.
