Glenwood win again at DHS

But it was so very, very close, nothing like the big wins of recent years. The final score was 24-23 to the Grasshoppers with DHS having a chance of victory with the last move of the match.

In fact, if you were a betting man and had bet on Glenwood, you would have been increasingly anxious during the match as DHS stood up with courage and energy against their more fancied opponents.

The Glenwood pack was stronger but DHS kept away from contact with them and in relied on their backs and loose forwards to do so, especially scrumhalf Sanele Nohamba, eighthman Matthew Hamilton and flank Phendulani Buthelezi.

Glenwood also wanted to run and had outstanding backs in Martin Holtzhausen and JC Conradie.

There was a huge crowd on the warm day on Van Heerdens at DHS when Glenwood kicked off and DHS immediately and effectively ran the ball back.

A break by Conradie in the centre set Glenwood attacking. Conradie was tackled by Tonderai Ndudzo but Glenwood went blind where Devon Brough gave Holtzhausen a pass that sent the stocky flyhalf over in the right corner. 5-0 after 5 minutes.

The DHS response was to attack down the left wing. It was a speedy attack forged by Mvumeleni Mathenjwa with a dummy and acceleration. Glenwood were penalised and scrumhalf Nohamba kicked the penalty goal. 5-3 after 8 minutes.

Glenwood had two promising attacks, first when Mayibongwe Maduna broke, the second when they won a DHS line-out and the backs raced 50 metres downfield, only to lose the ball to a turnover.

They also suffered a setback when their most experienced player, No.8 Marco Palvie, was helped from the field to be replaced by Edward Laubscher. DHS were penalised and Glenwood tapped and bashed. They went wide left and again Holtzhausen scored, this time in the left corner. 10-3 after 20 minutes.

Glenwood were penalised for a high tackle and Nohamba tapped and raced ahead. Flank Phendulani Buthelezi broke and seemed about to score when scrumhalf Craig Hunt brought him down, but DHS were bashing at the line and then went wide left where Ndudzo scored. 10-8 after 23 minutes.

The excitement in the ground increased as the boys sang, chanted, shouted and cheered.

From a scrum some 11 metres inside their half, Hamilton gave to Nohamba and the scrumhalf raced many metres till 15 metres from the Glenwood line, Hunt tackled him. DHS bashed and burly tighthead Tiaan de Jager got the ball to the line.

Glenwood were close when they were awarded a five-metre scrum but DHS evened matters out by winning a tighthead.

Half-time came with DHS in the lead 13-10 and there was the prospect of an upset victory.

DHS started the second half with confidence and were first to attack and first to score. In this half, Glenwood hampered their cause with two yellow cards, the first for a dangerous tackle. Nohamba goaled to make the score 16-10.

JJ van der Mescht had a telling charge down the left but put a foot on the touchline to give DHS a line-out five metres or so from their line. They overthrew the line-out and O'Neill caught the ball, beat two defenders and scored. This time Holtzhausen converted. 17-16 to Glenwood after 52 minutes.

From the kick-off Conradie broke, DHS were penalised, Matthew Bauer tapped the kick and Maduna scored. Critically, Holtzhausen converted. 24-16 after 54 minutes.

The tension was rising and so were the decibels.

Glenwood were penalised, substitute scrumhalf Bradley Sterling tapped and gave to Buthelezi who broke at speed, beat two defenders and scored. Nohamba converted. 24-23 with eight minutes to play.

A lot of excitement happened in those eight minutes. Glenwood lost a player to the sin bin for a tackle offence. Both sides were penalised. Conradie broke and at the end Buthelezi raced down the left but this time two Glenwood players brought him down. There was a knock-on and the final whistle went.

It was a great match, played with zest in a great spirit.

Scorers:

For Glenwood;

Tries: Martin Holtzhausen 2, Jonothan O'Neill, Maduna

Cons: Martin Holtzhausen 2

For DHS:

Tries: Tonderai Ndudzo, Tiaan de Jager, Phendulani Buthelezi

Con: Sanele Nohamba

Pens: Sanele Nohamba 2

1st XVs

DHS: 15 Cham Zondeki, 14 Mfundo Mkhize, 13 Onke Jiba, 12 Mvumeleni Mathenjwa, 11 Tonderai Ndudzo, 10 Gert Coetzee, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Matthew Hamilton, 7 Phendulani Buthelezi, 6 Sibusiso Mkhaliphi, 5 Ryan Dafel (captain), 4 Mandisi Mthiyane, 3 Tiaan de Jager, 2 Kamvelihle Fatyela, 1 Sandile Nduzi

Replacements: 16 Luthanda Jojo, 17 Thomas Kempson, 18 Sean Barnes, 19 Ayanda Sithole, 20 Simphewe Ncube, 21 Bradley Sterling, 22 Hlumelo Mekuto

Glenwood: 15 Dylan Kruger, 14 Devon Brough, 13 JC Conradie, 12 Mayibongwe Maduna, 11 GJ Lubbe, 10 Martin Holtzhausen, 9 Craig Hunt, 8 Marco Palvie, )7 Austin Brummer, 6 Jonothan O’Neill, 5 JJ van der Mescht, 4 Matthew Bauer, 3 Renier van Rooyen, 2 Bredon Schwulst, 1 Quinton Voster

Replacements: 16 Connor Botha, 17 Shane Westman, 18 Lindokuhle Cele, 19 Ettiene Terblanche, 20 Edward Laubscher, 21 Jadin Jooste, 22 Morné van Rensburg, 23 Conan le Fleur

Referee: Saneke Mdalose

Assistant referees: Vusi Msibi, Lusand Mtiya

Recent Results

2003: Glenwood won 31-16 & DHS won 27-12

2004: Glenwood won 13-6

2005: Glenwood won 31-16

2006: DHS won 28-21 & Glenwood won 34-9

2007: Glenwood won 13-6

2008: Glenwood won 12-6

2009: Glenwood won 31-3

2010: Glenwood won 20-6

2011: Glenwood won 19-5

2012: Glenwood won 34-9

2013: Glenwood won 46-14

2014: Glenwood won 38-13

2015: Glenwood won 45-21

2016: Glenwood won 24-23