A contrast of styles as St Charles tackles Glenwood in a King Price Derby
St Charles College hosts Glenwood High in a King Price Derby clash in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday. It’s a big day for Saints, their Old Boys’ Weekend, and they’ll be highly motivated to get one over the visitors from Durban.
Kickoff is at 15:30. Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools.
The match brings together two sides with contrasting identities. St Charles embraces an expansive game, and they try to get the ball out wide quickly. Glenwood, meanwhile, plays a more traditional game, using their forwards to soften up their opposition and suck in defenders before setting their backs moving.
The different approaches reflect the backgrounds of coaches, Craig Dwyer (St Charles) and Justin Hollis (Glenwood), with Dwyer’s rugby journey including a 10-year stint coaching in New Zealand. Dwyer, it should be noted, is a Glenwood Old Boy. Hollis hails from Queen’s College.
The Saints’ forwards should not be underestimated, though. They started the season without specialist locks because of injuries, but they now boast a clean bill of health, with Joshua Harris and Braydon Joese filling the second row. Glenwood will be without their big second-rower and captain, Sambesiwe Ndamase, with loosehead prop, Bonga Cibane, taking over the leadership reins.
Another big change for the visitors is Jonah Chaita playing flyhalf. Last weekend, Joshua Kopp pulled on the no.10 jersey. Opposite Chaita, Caleb Sharp possesses a fantastic goal-kicking boot. Regularly converting tries to turn five points into seven points is valuable.
One of Glenwood’s most exciting players is their hooker, Tyler Leon. He’s not a tall player, but he’s rock solid and a powerful presence around the park, usually good for a bullocking highlight run or two.
In the backline, fullback Rosco Williams provides the spark, along with inside centre, Elgenio Oerson. They were both included in the Sharks Academy Week team.
Saints’ fullback PJ Dlamini is also a counterattacking threat, good at spotting opportunities and gaps. In the back three, his wings, Raheem Wheatley and the experienced Matthew Ludick, bring some gas to the wide attack.
Both teams have found themselves just off the pace in a very competitive KZN season at the top level. Rugby in the province is in a very healthy state, and keeping up with the front-runners is a tough challenge. But they’ve both also produced some entertaining rugby.
Glenwood’s played a tougher schedule and has played good rugby in spurts. In their most recent outing, they pushed Hilton College hard on Gilfillan Field and trailed only 7-17 at halftime before Hilton hit their stride in the second half and pulled away to a 42-7 victory.
St Charles had too much firepower for Clifton at the Sharks Schools Rugby Day. They’ll find the Green Machine to be a far more abrasive challenge.
In the cauldron-like setting of Old Orchards, with Saints vociferously backed by their schoolmates and Old Boys, Glenwood can expect a stern examination, but they’ve never shied away from a challenge, and an exciting game is on the cards.
St Charles College vs Glenwood High at Old Orchards, Pietermaritzburg, at 15:30
St Charles College: 15 PJ Dlamini, 14 Raheem Wheatley, 13 Nala Njabulo, 12 Likuthi Mbalana, 11 Mathew Ludick, 10 Caleb Sharp, 9 Agape Nyawo, 8 Thomas Borgen, 7 Hlubelihle Nkosi, 6 Joshua Barkhuizen, 5 Joshua Harris, 4 Braydon Joese, 3 Bonga Nkosi, 2 Dresden Coetzee, 1 Dane Allardice.
Glenwood High: 15 Rosco Williams, 14 Lebohang Skosana, 13 Cade Isaacs, 12 Elgenio Oerson, 11 Jakub Bednar, 10 Jonah Chaita, 9 Vincenzo Loutz, 8 Inginathi Pepu, 7 Cody Sell, 6 Andile Mbokazi, 5 James Swift, 4 Nathan Lupke, 3 Zazi Msimango, 2 Tyler Leon, 1 Bonga Cibane.
