Glenwood outclass Menlopark in Durban
A cold, wet and miserable day greeted both teams as the men from Pretoria travelled down to the coast of Durban to clash in what promised to be a very physical encounter between the two teams who boasted some very big boys.
The conditions one would think would dictate how the game would be played but both teams had different ideas.
Menlo park started off promisingly as they came out looking to prove a point. In the early stages, they held Glenwood deep in their own half for the first 10 minutes adopting the tactic of picking and driving with their forwards for two or three phases then looking to spread the ball wide and catch the Glenwood defence unaware, Glenwood’s defence held resolute as it has for most of the season so far.
It was a Menlopark handling error that gave Glenwood the opportunity to clear lines and so they did with flyhalf Dylan Pretorius that hacked a kick away down the field, a strong chase by Glenwood captain Dylan Kruger put Menlopark on the back foot with a lineout five meters from their own try line. Kruger found his way over the try-line thanks to an overthrow by Menlo gifting Glenwood the first points of the game, Morne van Rensburg was unable to convert, Glenwood lead 5-0.
Glenwood began to look more confident with more ball in hand as they strung a few phases together, a set backline move from Glenwood allowed Van Rensburg to find a half gap and the offload was given to fullback Siyanda Cele who dotted down in the corner, the conversion was successful by Van Rensburg, a 12-0 lead to Glenwood.
Late in the half Glenwood’s discipline lacked as Lock forward JJ van der Mescht was yellow carded for hands in the ruck close to his try line. That is how the half ended 12 points to 0 in favour of Glenwood.
The second half began just how Glenwood would have wanted with a try to wing Morne van Rensburg in the first 30 seconds of the half as a kick down field by Dylan Pretorius spotting there was no one covering at the back for Menlo allowed a strong chase and finish by Van Rensburg, he converted his own try. 19-0 to Glenwood.
A set move by Glenwood from the base of a scrum 10 meters from the Menlopark line allowed for Siyanda Cele to bag his brace as he went over just next to the uprights, Van Rensburg wasn’t able to convert in horrible conditions. 24-0 to Glenwood.
A handling error by Menlo park at the base of their scrum allowed Pretorius to flick a pass away to Le Fleur who handed the pass off to Janus Hendrikz who went over for his 12th of the season, the conversion was missed by Van Rensburg, 29-0 to Glenwood.
Glenwood started to turn up the heat as the rain began to come down once again, they spread the ball wide through the hands in conditions that shouldn’t have allowed for it as Rynardt Jonker linked up with his centre pairing as Jonker put a little grubber through for Conan Le Fleur to chase, try time as Le Fleur gathered the ball and slide over the whitewash. A change of kicker was thought to bring a change of fortune but unfortunately Jaden Hendrikse could not convert for Glenwood.
The final try and points of the game were scored by the Green Machine as inside centre Rynardt Jonker went over in the corner next to the Glenwood group of supporters, Hendrikse was unable to convert. That is how the game ended for both teams with Glenwood showing to much skill and physicality for Menlo park.
The Scorers:
For Glenwood:
Tries: Kruger, Cele 2, Van Rensburg, Hendrikz, Le Fleur, Jonker.
Con: Van Rensburg
Source: T Nightingale (Marketing Department)
Photos Credits: Joshua Rathbone
