Mutual & Federal Premier Interschool Maritzburg College vs Glenwood High School Historic Overview  

Apr 15 • General News, Premier Schools • 2893 Views • Comments Off on Mutual & Federal Premier Interschool Maritzburg College vs Glenwood High School Historic Overview  

Mutual & Federal Premier Interschools is a series of 12 matches, which feature the highest profile and most traditional interschool rugby rivalries from South Africa’s top rugby schools, which are broadcast live on SuperSport from March to August.

Schoolboy rugby has served as one of the cornerstones of domestic rugby dating back more than a century, and true to its slogan “Honouring Heritage. Playing for the Future”, Mutual & Federal Premier Interschoolsis about n. The series, now in its third ye, is expected to grow even stronger. 

The Mutual & Federal Premier Interschools stories are further captured in 12 Preview shows, which preview all the games and provide historical overviews of these traditional schools and highlight other academic, cultural and sporting achievements.

Maritzburg takes on Glenwood at Kingspark Stadium on Saturday, 18 April as the Super15 (Cell C Sharks v Vodacom Blue Bulls) curtain raiser, kick off at 13.55. The match will be televised live on SuperSport 10

The Preview Show will start airing Wednesday evening, 15 April 2015 at 17:45 on SuperSport 210 

For all results, fixtures, videos, photos and information visit the new Premier Interschools website at http://www.premierinterschools.co.za/

All stats provided by Nelio De Sa from www.RUGBY15.co.za

Follow Interschools on: 

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/Premierinterschools

Twitter: @PremierSchools

 Historic overview

Maritzburg College vs Glenwood High School

A 94-year KZN rivalry continues as Maritzburg College from Pietermaritzburg take on Durban side Glenwood High on Saturday 18 April.

The two schools first met in 1921 at Glenwood, as the hosts won 5-0. In the Maritzburg College Reunion encounter in June 2010, Maritzburgcame out on top for the first time since 2006.

The biggest victory for College over Glenwood was 61-13 at College in 1995. Glenwood’s greatest triumph, meanwhile, was a 47-10 win, also at College, in 2008.

Ahead of the clash, a College statement said: “The long rivalry between the two schools started in 1921, making Glenwood one of our oldest and most respected rivals. At that stage, the normal practice was to play opponents twice each season, home and away. This practice has lapsed with every one of our opponents in KwaZulu Natal, except Glenwood.

“Glenwood, together with Westville, are the only schools in the province that can provide matches for all our teams and this makes a Saturday rugby match against them a particularly eagerly-awaited prospect. 

“Over many years, College has had the better of exchanges at First XV level. However, Glenwood’s rugby has improved dramatically in recent years and we look forward to a close encounter.”

Matches Played: 164

College Wins: 109

Glenwood Wins: 38

Draws: 17

Last 5 seasons:

Rugby at Maritzburg College

Maritzburg College is traditionally the dominant school rugby force in KwaZulu-Natal. The first recorded rugby match in the province took place in the Market Square of Pietermaritzburg in October 1870 as MaritzburgCollege (then known as Pietermaritzburg High School) took on Hermansburg School. Played on a sun-baked, wheel-rutted, gravel surface; the contest lasted for more than three hours and ended in a 2-0 victory for the High School.

The 1897 1st XV

The arrival of James Mervyn (Skonk) Nicholson as a master signalled a revival in the school’s rugby fortunes. From 1948 he coached the First XV for 35 seasons until 1982. In 1949 the First XV was unbeaten, as were ten other teams of his, while a further 13 First XVs during that period lost only one match each. His overall record was:

                          JM (Skonk) Nicholson 

His teams in the 1950s and early 60s were particularly successful, at one stage losing only five matches in 11 years.

Skonk’s successors were scarcely less outstanding. The 1985, 1988 and 1995 sides went unbeaten and four other First XVs lost just one match apiece. Since the turn of the century, College has unsurprisingly found it difficult to match those heady statistics. 

Other schools’ increasing desire for sporting success, a greater spread of talent, the erosion of the rural core of College boarders and a greatly strengthened fixture list have all pegged Maritzburg back in the modern era.

The First XV’s record, however, represents only a fraction of the rugby played at Maritzburg College. Every weekend as many as thirty teams take the field, playing the game with fierce enthusiasm and pride. The school’s rugby success is built on a firm and broad foundation.

For many years, Maritzburg College’s rugby has been characterised by the rugged qualities and outstanding supporting work of its forwards. Hard running and punishing tackling of its backs, as well as an eagerness to move the ball at every opportunity has also played a part. 

Maritzburg College’s consistent record, depth of talent and enviable reputation for a hard but sporting approach to the game has made it, historically, the premier rugby school in KwaZulu-Natal.

The Skonk Nicholson Dream Team (1948-1982)

Back: PJ Lindsay (1977), LM Sharp (1972), K Oxlee (1952).

Centre: JF Eliot (1955), JGM Anderson (1971), OB Taylor (1954), GD Adam (1972), JD McIntosh (1963), IL Smith (1948).

Front: BL Dennison (1973), A van der Watt (1965), DM Anderson (c) (1963), Mr JM Nicholson, CM Jamieson (vc) (1979), BA Sharp (1964), GC de Graaf (1978).

Springbok internationals from College (Test Caps Only)

Famous Maritzburg College Springbok Flyhalves

A further two players received Springbok colours for going on tour, but never played in a test match: Jeremy Thomson (1996) and Pieter Dixon (2000). 

In addition, several College Old Boys have represented other countries: Hubert Freakes and Geoff Appleford(England), Juan Grobler and Chad Erskine (United States), Brenton Catterall (Zimbabwe), Wim Visser (Italy), Frank Goedeke (Germany) and Andrew Binikos (Cyprus).

Current Crop

The 2015 vintage for College boasts a number of KZN provincial representatives at either Craven Week, Academy Week or U16 Grant Khomo in their squad.

Wingers Xolisa Guma and Kudzaishe Munangi played Craven Week and Academy Week respectively in 2014. Hooker Samuel Swanepoel, Prop Andrew Reintges, Flyhalf Corey Rattray, Loosie Matthew King and winger Hloni Thamahane have all represented KZN at the Grant KhomoWeek. 

8th man Craig Glover is the son of former Natal player and College old boy Shaun Glover. Together with Joel Stransky, they formed a formidable halfback pairing for College in the 80s.

The 2015 Squad

Rugby at Glenwood

Rugby is the major sporting code at Glenwood due to its values of integrity, sportsmanship, loyalty, discipline and hard work. Glenwood’s policy of participation in extra mural activities, as well as the passion shown by the boys, enables almost five hundred youngsters to experience the ultimate team sport.

Glenwood fields thirty teams on a regular basis, allowing boys from all levels and abilities to take part. A commitment to providing games for all has allowed Glenwood to embark on tours to play against major rugby playing schools in South Africa including Affies from Pretoria and Bloemfontein’s Grey College.

The School represented South Africa at the Sanix Youth tournament in Japan in 2008 and won top honoursby winning the finals.

The 2008 Sanix Team

The first 90 years (1910 to 2000)

Glenwood has produced some top sides and players over the years. The 1965 team is considered by most Old Boys and KZN pundits as the best ever produced by Glenwood, playing 14 and winning 14, scoring 283 points while conceding only 50. 

Nine players represented Natal Schools that year: Kevin Sclanders(capped 3 times for Natal Schools), Hylton Aylward (capped three times for Natal Schools & captain in 1964 & 1965), Dennis Morrissey (capped 2 times for Natal Schools), R.D Shaw, E Sclanders, A.J Delport, A.R Wallace, D.M Lawson and C.R Chambers. 

1979 saw Glenwood produce their best side since 1965. Although two games were lost by the narrowest of margins, there was little doubt that they were the best side in Natal. They played magnificent rugby, combining superb forward power with intelligent backline play and their margins of victory over some of the best sides in Natal say it all: College 33-6, DHS 32-4, Westville 44-9 and Hilton 53-12. 

Derek La Marque was simply superb, captaining both SA Schools rugby and water polo sides in one year. He was capped 3 times for KZN Schools and went on to have a solid career with Natal, where he made the 1984 Currie Cup final while playing with greats like Wynand Claasen, Craig Jamieson and Hugh Reece-Edwards. 

Glenwood had three boys picked for Natal Schools in 1984, of which one was probably the best backline player ever to play for the school, Dennis Baronet. Seldom has a schoolboy caused so much panic in an opposition backline, carving them to pieces with speed and guile. He was rewarded in 1985 with an SA Schools cap, Glenwood’s second.

The 1992 side arguably contained Glenwood’s biggest pack of all time with Leyton Pardey, the 120kg loose head prop, making KZN Schools along with David Terblanche (No8). 1997, meanwhile, heralded the rise of a rugby beast. Victor Tsewu, Nicholas Strauss and Cedric Mzolo kick-started a new generation of success that continues today.

The 2000s

Glenwood has produced 47 KZN Schools Craven Week A team representatives this century. These include five SA Schools players (PetrosMethula, Shaun Malton, Jayden Hill, Ricky Schnetler and SiyabongaTom) and two SA Academy players (Nteta and Makhabela). 

Glenwood has seen a great rivalry build with Westville and College in recent years, fighting it out for top honours in KZN, while Glenwood has won the best performing rugby school award in KZN four years running. 

With success brings demand for other sides to play Glenwood. The school has set up annual home and away fixtures with Affies and Grey Bloem, two of the country’s best rugby schools, for the last five years. 

Glenwood’s finest rugby hour came in 2006 when they beat the mighty Grey Bloem for the first time. The 14-10 success will be remembered for generations to come. 

Springbok internationals from Glenwood (Test Caps Only)

The 1938 Springbok team vs Great Britain. Roger Sherriff is third from the left in back row. In this team were legendary Boks Danie Craven, Boy Louw, Fanie Louw, Flappie Lochner, Gerrie Brand and EbboBastard.

Current Crop

The 2015 Glenwood squad boasts 13 players with provincial representative colours. Flyhalf Jerome Bossr is an acquisition from Selborne, were he represented Border at the 2014 U-16 Grant Khomoweek. Still U-17 and Grade 11, he will be key to Glenwood’s success over the next two seasons.

Their 8th man and star player is Marco Palvi, who played Grant Khomo in 2013 and KZN Academy in 2014. He is a big ball carrier with his bullocking runs becoming legendary on Dixons.

Winger Ilunga Mukendi represented KZN at the 2014 Craven Week while flanker and captain, Nama Xaba, centre Donovan du Randt and fullback Jaydon Morgan all represented KZN at the Academy week in 2014.

Lock Arnoux Venter, flank Austin Brummer, hooker Conner Botha, prop Reinier van Rooyen, flank Kwenzokuhle Blose and centre Maarten Holtzhausen all have Grant Khomo provincial U-16 colours.

The 2015 Squad

*Thanks to Mornay Bailey for providing team info.

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