IN their penultimate fixture of the season, Glenwood travelled to the provincial capital to take on their traditional rivals, Pietermaritzburg College.
With Glenwood having won the first fixture earlier in the year at home, College would have been keen to put one over the visitors to even up the score.
The opening period of the game saw both teams throwing everything they had at each other. College scored first through a penalty early in the half as they enjoyed much of the territorial and possession advantage.
Glenwood hit back with a well constructed try by Sphamandla Ngcobo who went over in the corner to score and give the visitors a 5-3 lead. The try was unconverted.
Glenwood began to take control in the middle part of the half as they played with more energy and determination. Ngcobo went over the try line again as Glenwood worked through a number of phases. The try was converted by Jonas and the lead was extended to 12-3.
Not to be outdone, College hit back just before the half time with a try of their own as they went into the break with Glenwood leading 12-10.
The second half saw the game open up with both sides playing with width and speed. College looked dangerous every time the ball went wide and made Glenwood work hard to stop their attack. The increased tempo that College played at visibly started to take its toll on the visitors as their defensive line was broken regularly.
College’s hard work was rewarded with a try and a conversion that took them into the lead for the second time in the game. At 20-10 it seemed as though a Glenwood victory was hanging in the balance.
Guts, determination and pure desire were all that kept Glenwood in the game. As the minutes ticked away the visitors began to claw their way back. Curtis Jonas took advantage of a sustained period of attack as his team were rewarded with a penalty deep in the College half. He converted the penalty and reduced the deficit to 20-15.
Having now gotten themselves within reach, Glenwood started to play their usual brand of rugby that has seen them be so successful this year. As they applied the pressure, the College defensive unit began to crack.
With the pressure mounting, College conceded a penalty inside their half again and while the advantage was being played Morne Joubert, the Glenwood and SA Schools full-back, positioned himself behind the ruck and slotted a drop goal 40 meters out from the home side's try line. The gap had now closed to 18-20.
The final five minutes were an intense affair. Glenwood did most of the playing and spent much of the time inside the College half. This pressure, once again, led to a College indiscretion as they were penalised deep inside their 22 meter line with just over a minute left on the clock. Curtis Jonas converted the penalty which now took Glenwood into a 21-20 lead.
College kicked off in what was the last movement of the game. Glenwood received it, took the ball into a ruck and secured possession only to be penalised for holding onto the ball. With no time on the clock College opted to kick for goal. The dream of a Glenwood win on Goldstones seemed to be over. Unfortunately for the home side, the kick went wide which gave the win to Glenwood 21-20.
