Glenwood in huge win
In a curtainraiser to the Sharks match with the Bulls on Saturday Glenwood played Maritzburg College and produced a record win of 57-12 after leading 25-7 at half-time.
Wow! Not since the 1990s have there scores to equal this in matches between Glenwood and Maritzburg College and then it was College that enjoyed the big wins. It is not the highest score. That was 61 by College in 1995. It is not the biggest points' difference. That was by College in 1995 and 1996. But it is Glenwood's highest score and biggest victory.
It was not foreseen. It could not have been.
Glenwood had won one out of five, College six out of seven. College were ranked eighth on the FNB Top 20; Glenwood were not on it at all.
This is an upset of gigantic proportions and in fact it reflects the day's play and could have been an even bigger victory/defeat.
At half-time John Allan, a Glenwood Old boy who played for Scotland and South Africa in days of different eligibility regulations, predicted a scintillating second half with College coming back, showing the great heart for which they were known. It was a scintillating half all right but it was Glenwood who scintillated, score 32 points to five in the half.
It was hot at Kings Park in Durban and there were ranks of cheerful boys from each school in their blazers and ties. The Glenwood =boys [probably enjoyed it more while the College boys ended the match with a mournful, homemade version of Auld Lang Syne.
There were early signs of the coming events. Glenwood started the attacking with intensity and their left wing, Zambian born Ilunga Mukendi raced away on counterattack, the same left wing destined to score a hat-trick of tries in the match and come close on a fourth occasion as well.
The Glenwood flyhalf Jerome Bossr kicked two penalty goals to give his side a 6-0 lead after 12 minutes. Between the two penalty goals, College's outside centre Matt Kriel of College left the field with what seemed to be a serious injury to his left arm. Sthembokuhle Mpanza took his place.
It was obvious that the Glenwood pack, even with Under-19 laws in action, was far to strong for College at scrums and when they won their second tighthead they created an overlap on the right for fullback Jaydon Morgan but College survived and won a turnover. Their clearing kick was not out and Bossr raced downfield towards the left. He gave to Morgan who gave to Mukendi who swerved around the first opponent and the cut in side, forcing his way over the line despite the efforts of five defenders to stop him. 11-0 after 16 minutes.
The second Glenwood try came as a surprise and was blest by good fortune. Bossr kicked a lone way downfield towards the touchline on his left but the ball broke sharply infield and into the arms of Mukendi who raced nearly 30 metres to the posts. 18-0 after 24 minutes.
College won a scrum about 12 metres inside the Glenwood half and flyhalf Jean de Wet went on a deceptive run. Tackled he did an underarm offload to centre Charl Frackers who raced over near the posts. Left-footed Ruben van Blerk converted. 18-7 after 26 minutes.
Straightaway Glenwood hammered at College defence, and eventually massive tighthead Khuthazani Mchunu burst over for a try. 25-7 after 35 minutes. And that was half-time.
There was an interview with Allan at half-time. One of the things he said was: "Look at schoolboy rugby, how they run with the ball and how they move the ball – how they enjoy themselves. That's what rugby's all about. It's not about the tactics. It's about enjoyment."
He got that right but proved a poor prophet. Mind you it seemed that he was right as College started the second half with great purpose. Twice they eschewed penalty kicks at goal in search of a try, first with a line-out and then with tap and charge. They then went wide left and tall Xolisa Guma strode over for a try. 25-12 four minutes into the second half. But that proved College's lot.
Bossr goaled a penalty after a maul infringement, a long kick., 28-12 after 43 minutes.
College were attacking when about 12 metres outside of the Glenwood 22 eighthman Marco Palvie won the ball on the ground and Glenwood ran down the left. The next thing Mukendi was racing, accelerating, swerving and scoring under the posts. 35-12 after 52 minutes.
There was no doubt who would in the match.
Jordan du Preez tapped a penalty and centre Donovan du Randt kicked a low kick ahead and raced after the ball. He got there first and flykicked the ball ahead. Just before it reached the dead-ball line Du Randt dived on it. Bossr converted from touch. 42-12 after 54 minutes.
Palvie went on yet another powerful run down the midfield and gave to Durandt who scored again. 49-12 after 58 minutes.
Again Palvie, taking a short pass from Du Preez, raced down the midfield. Challenged he passed to Sibonakaliso Dubazane who was tackled high from behind. Bossr surprised by kicking for goal, perhaps just to top fifty. 52-12.
Palvie was at it again and this time gave to Mukendi who was stopped just short of the line.
To their credit College kept running but when they dropped the ball after the siren sounded for the end Bossr picked it up some 49 metres from the College line, swerved and then raced away for a try in the left corner.
While the conversion was being taken both sides lined up close to each other, each player clutching his school's badge. Then the shook hands.
It was an honourable match.
Scorers:
For Maritzburg College:
Tries: Charl Frackers, Xolisa Guma
Con: Ruben van Blerk
For Glenwood:
Tries: Ilunga Mukendi 3, Donovan du Randt 2, Khuthazani Mchunu, Jerome Bossr
Cons: Jerome Bossr 5
Pens: Jerome Bossr 4
Teams:
Maritzburg College: 15 Ruben van Blerk, 14 Kudzaishe Munangi, 13 Matthew Kriel, 12 Charl Frackers, 11 Xolisa Guma, 10 Jean de Wet, 9 Kyle Bowman, 8 Craig Glover, 7 Durang Atembe, 6 Kelton Thunder (captain), 5 D’Niel Immelman, 4 Bjorn Olivier, 3 Andrew Reintges, 2 Samuel Swanepoel, 1 Tanaka Chikwezvero
Replacements: 16 Austin Landman, 17 Smith, 18 Nic Odendaal, 19 Jonathon Colenbrander, 20 Corey Rattray, 21 Sthembokuhle Mpanza, 22 Hloni Tamhane
Glenwood: 15 Jaydon Morgan, 14 Ruan van Rensburg, 13 Donovan du Randt, 12 Marthinus Holtzhausen, 11 Ilunga Mukendi, 10 Jerome Bossr, 9 Jordan du Preez, 8 Marco Palvie, 7 Kuyenzeka Xaba (captain), 6 Austin Brummer, 5 Jeremia Brynard, 4 Dylan Weideman, 3 Khuthazani Mchunu, 2 Connor Botha, 1 Christopher Klopper.
Replacements: 16 Quintin Vorster, 17 Barnard van Rooyen, 18 Kwenzokuhle Blose, 19 Mayibongwe Maduna, 20 Sibonakaliso Dubazane, 21 Gideon Lubbe, 22 Devan Brough, 23 Ajay Pretorius.
Referee: Blake Beattie
Assistant referees: Andrew Pace, Danie Joubert
Results down the years:
1921: Glenwood won 5-0
1923: Glenwood won 14-3
1926: Glenwood won 3-0
1927: Draw 3-3 and College won 10-0
1928: Glenwood won 11-0; Glenwood won 21-0
1929: College won 8-5 and 22-3
1930: College won 9-6 and 18-0
1931: College won 24-0 and drew 8-8
1932: College won 21-6 and 15-6
1933: Glenwood won 4-0; Glenwood won 6-3
1834: College won 27-0 and 24-5
1935: Glenwood won 4-0; College won 15-3
1936: Draw 3-3; College won 12-8
1937: College won 11-6 and 23-0
1938: Glenwood won 11-6; College won 20-5
1939: Draw 0-0 and 8-8
1940: College won 8-6 and 11-8
1941: College won 5-3; Glenwood won 12-11
1942: Glenwood won 7-5 and 16-9
1943: College won 12-0 and Draw 6-6
1944: Draw 10-10; Glenwood won 8-3
1945: College won 15-8 and 7-3
1946: College won 19-4; Glenwood won 8-3
1947: College won 8-3; Draw 6-6
1948: College won 12-3
1949: College won 6-0 and 8-0
1950: College won 26-3
1951: College won 22-0 and 3-0
1952: College won 12-0 and 22-0
1953: Draw 6-6; College won 8-6
1954: College won 20-8; Draw 3-3
1955: College won 13-5
1956: College won 14-0 and 16-0
1957: Draw 6-6
1958: College won 11-3
1959: College won 10-6 and 23-8
1960: College won 11-0 and 18-0
1961: College won 20-0 and 32-0
1962: College won 16-0 and 11-3
1963: College won 30-3 and 24-5
1964: Glenwood won 14-12; College won 33-0
1965: Glenwood won 8-6
1966: Glenwood won 9-3; College won 15-6
1967: College won 11-3; Draw 8-8
1968: College won 14-3 and 8-6
1969: College won 31-9; Draw 9-9
1970: Glenwood won 12-11; College won 16-3
1971: College won 12-0 and 16-13
1972: College won 37-3; Draw 9-9
1973: College won 16-12 and 13-0
1974: College won 22-10 and 9-3
1975: Draw 6-6; Glenwood won 13-10
1976: College won 15-6; Glenwood won 14-4
1977: College won 6-0 and 31-6
1978: College won 28-9 and 27-4
1979: Glenwood won 33-6; College won 7-3
1980: College won 21-12; Glenwood won 10-9
1981: College won 9-7 and 19-10
1982: College won 15-6 and 19-18
1983: Glenwood won 15-7; College won 26-6
1984: College won 20-4 and 13-6
1985 : College won 25-3 and 22-6
1986: College won 29-3; Glenwood won 15-13
1987: College won 22-17 and 48-12
1988: College won 13-7 and 30-9
1989: College won 19-3 and 22-3
1990: College won 28-6 and 6-0
1991: College won 22-16; Glenwood won 16-11
1992: College won 42-9 and 8-0
1993: College won 24-10
1994: College won 35-3
1995: College won 61-13
1996: College won 53-5
1997: College won 48-10
1998: Glenwood won 31-5
1999: College won 16-10
2000: College won 28-16; Glenwood won 24-18
2001: College won 37-12 and 15-6
2002: College won 28-0 and 33-3
2003: College won 30-8
2004: Glenwood won 26-24; College won 21-7
2005: College won 30-7 and 12-5
2006: College won 24-0; Glenwood won 19-14
2007: Glenwood won 19-12
2008: Glenwood won 47-10 and 15-7
2009: Glenwood won 23-11 and 31-0
2010: College won 35-16; Glenwood won 20-13
2011: Glenwood won 33-30 and 31-3
2012: Draw 16-16 and a draw 27-27
2013: Glenwood won 33-15 and 44-40
2014: Glenwood won 27-14 and 21-20
2015: Glenwood won 57-12
