Glenwood outshines Pretoria rivals

GLENWOOD High’s Green Machine outshone a team from Pretoria in a rugby clash at the weekend.

Menlo Park started off promisingly as they came out looking to prove a point. In the early stages, as they held Glenwood deep in their own half for the first 10 minutes, adopting the tactic of picking and going 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 Menlo Park handling error that gave Glenwood the opportunity to clear lines and so they did with fly half Dylan Pretorius who hacked a kick away down field. A strong chase by Glenwood captain, Dylan Kruger, put Menlo Park on the back foot with a lineout five meters from their own try line. It was Kruger who 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 to give Glenwood the 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 full back Siyanda Cele, who dotted down in the corner. The conversion was successful by Van Rensburg with 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.

The second half began just how Glenwood would have wanted with a try to winger Morne van Rensburg in the first 30 seconds of the half, as a kick down field by Dylan Pretorius allowed a strong chase and finish by Van Rensburg. He converted his own try bringing the score 19-0 to Glenwood.

A set move by Glenwood from the base of a scrum 10 meters from the Menlo Park 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, with the score 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. He went over for his 12th try of the season. The conversion was missed by Van Rensburg bringing the score to 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. Jonker put a little grubber through for Conan Le Fleur to chase, and it was try time as Le Fleur gathered the ball and slid 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. Hendrikse was unable to convert.

The final score was 39-0 to the Green Machine.

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