Glenwood just win

Glenwood played host to Michaelhouse this weekend in what proved to be a game that saw Glenwood win by a small of margins.

The 1st half saw Glenwood secure both the possession and territorial advantage but, unfortunately, the home side were not able to translate this into points on the score board. Often playing with too much width, the Glenwood side saw their ball being turned over on numerous occasions thus allowing the Michaelhouse side the freedom to run the ball as they wished.

With Glenwood unable to build and sustain pressure on the Michaelhouse side, the visitors took full advantage and capitalised on the Glenwood mistakes. Mid-way through the first half, the Michaelhouse backs spread the ball wide after turning over another Glenwood ball and scored in the right hand corner. Slick handling and speed out wide, normal trademarks of a Michaelhouse team, were the difference as the visitors went into the break with a five-point lead.

Glenwood had their opportunities to score, and to build a healthy lead, but were held up twice over the line after some brutal forward play and they missed several kicks at goal from penalties deep inside the Michaelhouse half.

What was becoming very clear as the game entered the second half was that the Glenwood forwards were starting to take control as their team kept playing most of the rugby deep down inside Michaelhouse territory. This pressure resulted in the visitors making a number of errors as they paid the ultimate price with two yellow cards received for repeated infringements. With their goal kicking game not working for them, the Glenwood team decided to play into corners and it was from here that they launched their attacked.

Three tries were scored from the line-out mauls and it was James Venter, Kenny van Niekerk and Jaco Coetzee that crossed the white-wash for the home team. Curtis Jonas, the Glenwood flyhalf, converted 1 try.

Although the Glenwood forwards were well in control, it was the Michaelhouse fly half who kept his team in the game with 3 long range penalties. With only minutes to go the home side led 17-14 and it seemed as though the game could go either way. It was Kwazi Khanyile and Curtis Jonas, Glenwood’s halfbacks, who established some order in the otherwise rattled Glenwood team as they kicked for territory and forced the visitors to play from inside their half.

With the final whistle came a collective sigh of relief for the Glenwood coaches, team and supporters. The final score was 17-14 but this performance was not one to be remembered. The Michaelhouse side must be commended on their attitude and commitment as they made life very difficult for the Glenwood side.

Scorers:

For Glenwood:

Tries: James Venter, Kenny van Niekerk, Jaco Coetzee

Con: Curtis Jonas

For Michaelhouse:

Tries: Liam Furniss

Pens: Bader Pretorius 3

Team

Glenwood: 15 Morné Joubert, 14 Ilunga Mukendi, 13 Sphandla Ngcobo, 12 Ruben Fouché, 11 Philani Ngcobo, 10 Curtis Jonas, 9 Kwazi Khanyile, 8 Jaco Coetzee, 7 McMillan Muller, 6 James Venter, 5 Ntokozo Vidima, 4 Kevin du Randt (captain), 3 Jakobus Tredoux, 2 Percy Mngadi, 1 Kenny van Niekerk

Replacements: 16 PJ Kobbie, 17 Blessing Thole, 18 Christopher Klopper, 19 Ruan Desmore, 20 Nama Xaba, 21 Marco Palvie, 22 Donovan du Randt, 23 Christopher Bredell, 24 Jayden Morgan

By Michael Vowels

Photographer: Andries Erasmus

Photo: Jaco Coetzee of Glenwood on the charge