26 March 2024
KZN schools won four of five u14 matches and won five out of five games in the u15 age group at the Glenwood Rugby Festival on Tuesday, the penultimate day of the event.
Only Westville Boys’ High‘s u14s, who suffered a narrow 12-19 defeat to Jim Fouché, went down. It was a good day for the Bloemfontein school, who also beat KZN Development 29-5 in an u15 game and won 24-0 against Potchefstroom Volkskool at 2nd XV level.
DHS recorded two comfortable victories – 40-7 over Wesvalia (u14) and 43-3 over Volkskool Heidelberg (u15) – while Glenwood were also convincing winners, beating Volkskool Heidelberg 47-5 (u14) and Potchefstroom Volkskool 52-0 (u15).
Northwood didn’t surrender a point, with their u14s outplaying Trinity House 52-0 and their u15s thumping Centurion 54-0. Westville’s u15s overpowered Trinity House 69-7.
The Clifton College u14s completed an unbeaten festival, easing to a 54-0 win over Potchefstroom Volkskool to maintain a perfect defensive record. They had previously cantered to a 69-0 victory over Trinity House and beat Volkskool Heidelberg 41-0.
Clifton’s Director of Rugby Grant Bell shared his enthusiasm for the festival, saying: “Festivals are about developing teams and exposing players to teams from other provinces, so it is about exploring yourself as a player and developing yourself, rather than trying to win things.
“Winning is wonderful, but I don’t think that’s the first prize.
“That’s what I love about festivals. It’s a different atmosphere. It’s not that derby atmosphere that you get, but the rugby is hard and uncompromising. I really appreciate that, and I love the fact that Glenwood hosts this festival every year, and I am very supportive of it.”
Bell said the eclectic make-up of the participating schools was unique, which is what makes the Glenwood Rugby Festival special.
As a younger school – the College is 22 years old in 2024 – which didn’t have boarding until this year, Clifton has been playing catch-up with the other traditional boys’ schools on the rugby field. But, blessed with an excellent team of coaches, viewed objectively, the school has made massive progress in a relatively short space of time.
“Just to be at this level, and to be competitive is really what we want, for now,” Bell said. “We’re building a base for the next 10 years.”
The u14A team, which includes the core of 2023’s exceptional Prep 1st XV, impressed with the manner in which they ran the ball against Potchefstroom Volkskool.
“My culture is very much a 15-man game. I try to play with a lot of width,” Bell said. “At the same time, you still have to get your basics right. You have to learn how to carry hard. You have to get your fundamentals right, and your set piece.”
Scrumming was a work in progress, Bell admitted, with the team still trying to work out which is its best front row.
On a positive note, he said the side has some solid building blocks. “We have some pace on the edge. We have a good 10 and a good eight, who can control his links, and good decision makers there, and we have a good 15, at the back, as well. If he grows his confidence, he can turn into a real game-changer.”
RESULTS
u14
DHS 40-7 Wesvalia
Clifton College 54-0 Potchefstroom Volkskool
Glenwood 47-5 Volkskool Heidelberg
Northwood 52-0 Trinity House
Jim Fouché 19-12 Westville
u15
Wesvalia 43-15 Westville 2
Glenwood 52-0 Potchefstroom Volkskool
Northwood 54-0 Centurion
Westville 69-7 Trinity House
DHS 43-3 Volkskool Heidelberg
Jim Fouché 29-5 KZN Development
2nd XV
Jim Fouché 24-0 Potchefstroom Volkskool
Sarel Cilliers 52-33 Westville
FIXTURES
27 March
Field 1 – 1st XV
08:00 Wesvalia vs Jim Fouché
09:20 Frikkie Meyer vs DHS
10:40 Potchefstroom Volkskool vs Glenwood
12:00 HTS Middelburg vs Eye of the Tiger
13:20 Volkskool Heidelberg vs Hilton College Invitation
14:40 Dinamika vs Melkbosstrand
16:00 Centurion vs Landboudal
Field 2 – u16
08:00 Eye of the Tiger vs Clifton College
09:20 Westville vs Sarel Cilliers
10:40 Wesvalia vs Jim Fouché
12:00 Potchefstroom Volkskool vs KZN Development
13:20 Dinamika vs Melkbosstrand
14:40 Volkskool Heidelberg vs DHS
16:00 Pietersburg vs Glenwood
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