Glenwood win well again
On a perfect, warm, still winter’s day in Pietermaritzburg, Glenwood beat Voortrekker 38-5, scoring six tries to one.
The lack of competitive match-practice was evident throughout this game, with both schools not having played domestically since May because of strikes and holidays. Some rather ordinary decision-making, as well as some unimaginative option-taking, contributed substantially to a game which did not really do justice to either side.
It was a hard game, played between two uncompromising sets of forwards who toiled to gain possession at the set phases and the break-down points. For Glenwood there were Trojan efforts from eighthman Brendon Botha and flank Kyle van Deventer. Amongst the Voortrekker ‘Vories’, nobody worked harder than eighthman and captain Leon Buys, who was ably supported by hooker N du Plooy.
The home side, almost immediately from the kick-off, were awarded a penalty which centre R van Schalkwyk was unable to convert.
Andrich Arlow’s crisp service from the base of the scrum allowed the Glenwood backs to run onto the ball at pace. Outside centre Hennie Swart enjoyed the space afforded him running with determination, commitment and undoubted skill throughout the match. The bulky outside centre opened the scoring. After he had initially breached the defence he looped around, and thanks to some quick hands from his team-mates, scored in the corner in the 8th minute. Swart was unsuccessful with the conversion from the touch-line. Hooker and captain Dean Muir as well as tighthead prop Dexter Fahey touched-down for The Green Machine before half-time and both were converted to give the visitors a 19-0 lead at the break.
Shortly after the break, lock Larry Mnchunu, with an overlap on his outside threw an outrageous dummy sending the Voortrekker defense the wrong way as he ghosted through the gap for Glenwood’s fourth – conversion successful.
After being denied so far, Voortrekker captain Leon Buys eventually pulled one back in the 52nd minute to give the home town supporters something to cheers about – conversion missed. Replacement loosie Kyle Cooper came on and made an immediate impact adding some much-needed aggression to the Glenwood cause, he would go over the line twice while Swart converted his second – final score 38-5.
An entertaining game, played in a competitive and enjoyable spirit and, in the words of Voortrekker’s Headmaster after the game: “We will all build on the relationship being fostered between the two schools and look forward to the fixture in 2008.”
The scorers:
For Glenwood:
Tries: Hennie Swart, Dean Muir, Dexter Fahey, Larry Mnchunu, Kyle Cooper 2
Cons: Swart 4
For Voortrekker:
Try: Leon Buys
By Brendon Liebenberg
