Green Machine in nail-biter
The annual FNB Classic Clash between Glenwood and Durban High School was always going to be a tight affair with the match, as expected, going down to the wire.
The overall strength of the schools was evident with Glenwood, up to that point, having won 15 of the 16 games played on the day. So, it was up to the DHS 1st team to buck the trend.
The game started off slowly with both sides feeling each other out. DHS opened the scoring from a Ryan Matthyssen penalty which was followed by a Pearton reply a few minutes later. The half-time score was 6-all thanks to another three-pointer each from the respective kickers.
It was not the most entertaining affair as far as quality and expansive play are concerned as both teams committed to many unforced errors but, it was uncompromising schoolboy rugby and when is any Derby match anything other than a test of will and determination?
For most of the match it was anybody’s game and a moment of brilliance was always going to be the deciding factor.
The match-winning moment would come with 15 minutes left on the clock – a ruck just outside the DHS 22m line, following a line-out take by Glenwood eighthman Brendon Botha, saw scrumhalf Andrich Arlow fling the ball out to lock Steen Smith. The powerful second-rower, after expertly drawing the defender, executed a magical pass to flank Kyle van Deventer, who, running just off his left shoulder, collected the ball on the 22 and sped through the gap to dive over under the posts. Flyhalf Storm Pearton duly converted to effectively seal the match for the ‘Green Machine’ – the final score 13-6.
This weekend will see the top two KZN Rugby Schools in action at Glenwood on their Old Boys Day, when the ‘Green Machine’ take on Maritzburg College at 12 p.m. on Saturday.
