Glenwood win at Wildeklawer
An early morning wake up, early breakfast, hour drive to Maritzburg College and a tough physical game versus Boland Landbou, all of these challenges lay before the team on Day 1 of the Wildeklawer SuperSchools Rugby festival.
Glenwood gave away possession after a poor kick and Landbou were quick to counterattack and score the first try and convert it to lead 0-7. With the ball still a bit slippery from the early morning dew Glenwood conceded another penalty for offside play that Landbou slotted to extend the score to 0-10.
Glenwood moved the ball wide from the restart and left wing Sphamandla Ngcobo had a lot of work to do before going over to score a well-worked try. The conversion was missed and Glenwood still behind by 5-10. Another penalty and successful shot at posts put Landbou 5-13 in the lead. Glenwood put a couple of phases together moving the ball through the hands and finally Sphamandla Ngcobo (11) scored his second try at the end of a back line move, Corné Vermaak (15) failed to convert the try and at half-time Glenwood had narrowed the gap to 10-13.
Glenwood started where they finished in the second half with flyhalf Curtis Jonas (10) sliding through defence to score in the opening quarter of the second half. Vermaak converted and Glenwood took the lead for the first time 17-13. Landbou kicked a ball into midfield and strong No. 8 Jaco Coetzee fought the tackle and scored a great individual try from 40m out which Vermaak also converted. Glenwood 24, Landbou 13.
Corné Vermaak was the next try scorer using his pace and strength to get over the line in the corner. He failed to convert a tough kick and the score moved to 29-13 to Glenwood.
With seven minutes to go Glenwood scored the last try through Sphamandla Ngcobo who went over for his hat-trick of tries outrunning defence and scoring a beautiful try, Vermaak converted on the end whistle to take the final score to 36-13 for Glenwood!
Glenwood’s 1st XV play another tough game on Saturday, 4 May against Paarl Boys' High at 11:00.
Scorers:
For Glenwood:
Tries: Sphamandla Ngcobo 3, Corné Vermaak, Curtis Jonas, Jaco Coetzee
Cons: Vermaak 3.
For Boland Landbou:
Try: Matthys Basson.
Con: Tian Nel
Pens: Nel 2.
By Sean Erasmus
Photographer Brett Webber
