In what would be one of Glenwood’s toughest fixtures of the year, Hoërskool Monument, better known as ‘Die Wit Bulle’ travelled down to Durban to take on the Green Machine on Saturday, 13th of April 2019.
Last year saw the Green Machine triumph over Monnas, beating them 49-22. It was no secret that the boys from Krugersdorp were looking to set the record straight.
Glenwood’s unbeaten run came to an end as Monnas scored four unreciprocated first-half tries to beat Glenwood 11-48 in a much-awaited fixture.
The game started in blistering fashion as Monnas opened the scoring straight from the kickoff. Right winger Kagiso Nyamande dotted down after a favourable bounce from a kick. Although some might say it missed, the flags were raised and the conversion deemed successful. Monnas lead 7-0.
It was nine (9) minutes later when Monnas stretched their lead, courtesy of some brilliance from their fly-half Goodman. From the ruck, he dummied the defence to slip through right on Glenwood’s 22m and cross over. The conversion hit the upright. Monnas leading by 12-0.
Glenwood fought back, getting two penalties in a kickable position and Glenwood fly-half, Jordan Hendrikse made no mistake. But ill-discipline and leaky defence proved costly for Glenwood as Monnas took advantage, scoring three (3) more tries before half time. It was a magical brace from the playmaker, van der Walt, securing the ball from a kick upfield to run in his own try and offloading to scrumhalf Franco Hallat, Rynhard Mouton who stretched their lead to 36-6 going into the break.
There was no doubt that the Green Machine had their backs against the wall. It would take a monumental effort for them to turn it around.
Glenwood let themselves down with defensive- and handling errors. Monnas were awarded a scrum on their 22m when fly-half Goodman, spotted a gap behind Glenwood’s defence, chipped the ball, got it and ran up the field to touch down in the right-hand corner. Some individual brilliance from the Monnas fly half.
The Green machine found some reward for their meek display of attack when Glenwood’s Vian du Plooy went over for a try from a rolling maul – 23 minutes into the second half. The conversion was missed.
Monnas wrapped up the game scoring another magical brace, with Van der Walt darting through the Glenwood defence like a hot knife through butter after Hendrikse failed to retrieve his own kick. The replacement hooker capitalized on a handling error and crashed over in the corner right, just at the end of the game. The conversion missed but Monnas walked away with a dazzling 48-11.
This game was a long shot from Glenwood’s clinical attack and steadfast defence we normally see from the boys. Credit to Monas who exploited their poor defence and capitalized on the Glenwood boys’ mistakes.
Glenwood seriously needs to go back to the drawing board in preparation for the Kearsney Easter festival. Discipline and poor defence should be addressed. This is a game that the Glenwood boys need to forget but learn from their mistakes.
Congratulations to Monnas.
GLENWOOD: 11 (6)
Try: Vian du Plooy
Pen: Jordan Hendrikse (2)
MONNAS 48 (36)
Try: Kagiso Nyamande, Herschelle Goodman (2), Luan van der Walt (2), Franco Hallat, Rynard Mouton
Con: Byron Wentink
Report by Alex van der Merwe
Photos by Ethan Hayman (Glenwood Media Club)