Glenwood are the Champions!
We are pleased to report back on a successful match and tournament. Glenwood are now crowned World Champions at the SANIX Junior Rugby World Cup 2016 – making it twice in a row that a South African school has retained the title.
Glenwood faced Higashi Fukuoka High School in the Cup Final.
The George Watson College’s Bagpipe and Drum band welcomed both teams to the field. This famous Scottish band had been playing all over the campus for the past week and, playing Auld Lang Syne, made the atmosphere that much more fitting for a clash of the tournament’s best.
Both teams sang their national anthems and tears flowed down the cheeks of our boys. Proving the match meant a lot to all the team members, for both schools.
Francke Botha and Jonothan O’Neil proved early on that the Glenwood team was a force to be reckoned with and the Japanese were not ready for it.
Maarten Holtzhausen took an early penalty kick and put the first points on the board. Gideon Lubbe broke through the defence to force a knock on. Dylkan Weideman also made his presence known as he flattened the Japanese nr 9.
Lubbe took another Fukuoka player out followed by a try by Holtzhausen set up via Dylan Kruger. Holtzhausen converts his own try.
Hendrikse’s box kick gave Fukuoka a penalty which they scored on.
Glenwood’s mauls remain strong as well as their line outs. JC Conradie broke away to score an uncontested try under the poles. Holtzhausen converts and Glenwood is having it!
Glenwood was surprised by a sudden strong attack from Fukuoka – Weideman penalised with yellow card for no arms in tackle.
Quintin Vorster came off near the end of the of the 1st half – Shane Westman comes in to take over.
Japan’s poor handling earned Glenwood a lineout. Glenwood’s defence remains strong and scrums are still strong.
In the second half Fukuoka are on the attack and quickly put some points on the board. Substitutions saw Maduna and JJ van der Mescht replace Conradie and Weideman. Not too long after the substitution Van der Mescht showed his presence dragging two Fukuoka players across the field. Lubbe broke away again and put another try down for Glenwood with the help of Seun Maduna. Holtzhausen converts again.
O’Neil sets up a brilliant try by Maduna after an incredible power run across the field. Conversion. Jordan Hendrikse was subbed out for Jaden Jooste, giving a fresh pair of legs on the field. Laubscher and Brendon Schwulst are also replaced by Connor Botha and van Rensburg. Francke Botha came off – Ettiene Terblanche on.
Van der Mescht pushed through tough opposition to score directly under the poles. Morné van Rensburg stretched his legs with a conversion.
Austin Brummer and Lubbe worked together to ensure the final try of the game by captain Brummer. A conversion ensured the right team won.
Final Score: 45-6
After the match, the SANIX management and press filled the field and awarded the runners up and winners with medals and, of course, the trophy!
The roar of the crowd, and also a small group of Japanese who travelled from Stellenbosch to support, substantiated the win and made the win that much more special. The team and management are to be congratulated on a highly successful tournament – six wins out of six games.
We thank the school, staff and parents for their support of the team and the tournament and look forward to bringing home the trophy.
Glenwood land in Durban at 15h00 on Saturday 07 May 2016
By Ian Schoeman, Team manager
