KwaZulu-Natal Results – 11 May 2013
With pools of water lying on areas of Dixon’s at Glenwood, it was better suited for duck-diving rather than rugby. The home sides played their normal style of rugby trying to swing the ball at every opportunity, but this was not the style to be used in the muddy conditions. Hilton on the other hand sensibly kicked for territory and kept pressure on Glenwood who made many handling mistakes which could have cost them the game.
Much credit must go to the Hilton captain Cameron Wright who used his powerful kicking from the base of scrums and rucks to keep his side going forward. Hilton locks, Christian Wiessing and Jayson Gouws dominated the lineouts but as with Glenwood, it was handling that cost them two possible tries in the first half. Wright kicked two penalties to put the visitors into a 6-0 lead.
Glenwood continued to play enterprising rugby, also getting close to the goal line on a few occasions. A passage of good play towards the end of the half led to a penalty, converted by fullback Corné Vermaak, to take them into the break 3-6 behind.
In the second half Glenwood began to play more territory and Hilton lost some of their composure exhibited in the first half. The field conditions had also deteriorated with much of the game played in the midfield. The home side came closer to scoring with two penalties by Vermaak putting them 9-6 in front.
Hilton’s mauling, which has been a feature of their game, saw a penalty awarded for illegal pulling down by Glenwood from which Wright brought the scores level. Glenwood had not given up on moving the ball and with seven minutes remaining Vermaak scored from his own 22 metre area after Glenwood had set up some good phase ball. This was not converted but the home side had scored a try to put them 14-9 in front.
Hilton again put pressure on Glenwood and another successful maul was legally stopped just short of the Glenwood tryline. From there Glenwood moved the ball and right wing Morné Joubert made tracks down the touchline passing inside to supporting Vermaak who dived over in the corner and this time he sent the ball through the uprights for the Glenwood 21-9 win.
Vermaak scored all 21 points for Glenwood, missing just the one conversion kick, also from the corner, but the end result is not a fair reflection of how close the game was in the atrocious conditions.
Other results; Maritzburg College 23 Michaelhouse 9; St Charles 16 St Albans 37; George Campbell 18 Voortrekker 3; Thomas More 31 Treverton 10; Werda 12 Gelofte 26
