Historic Overview between Glenwood High School vs Maritzburg College 1921-2011

Jun 7 • School, School Rugby Fixtures, School Rugby Overview • 8497 Views • Comments Off on Historic Overview between Glenwood High School vs Maritzburg College 1921-2011

Maritzburg College will play Glenwood High in Durban on Saturday 9 June, in a Premier Interschools that will be televised LIVE on SuperSport 1, with kick off at 2.30pm.

With a history of supreme schools rivalry, these schools have been playing each other for 90 years. The first match between the two schools was played in 1921, at Glenwood, which was won 5-0 by Glenwood. In the Maritzburg College Reunion encounter in June 2010 Maritzburg College beat Glenwood, on Goldstones, the first time that College had beaten Glenwood since 2006.The biggest victory for College over Glenwood was 61-13 at College in 1995. While the biggest victory for Glenwood over College was 47-10 at College in 2008.

College write about the fixture, “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 and this is reflected in the statistics below. However, Glenwood’s rugby has improved dramatically in recent years and we look forward to a close encounter.”

The Glenwood team is as follows:

1. Matthew Worral-clare, 2. Sanele Pina, 3. Marne Coetzee, 4. Wandi Mazibuko, 5. Sihle Ngxabi, 6. Jaques Meintjes, 7. Rupert Kay, 8. Michael Van Aardt, 9. Mtokosisi Mkhabela, 10. Warren Potgieter, 11. Sphamandla Ngcobo, 12. Akhona Nela, 13. Nkululeko Marwana, 14. Dylan Coulson, 15. Corné Vermaak

Reserves:

16. Kyle Westman, 17. Wayne Vermeulen, 18. Kobus Viljoen, 19. Sebastiano Bracco, 20. Nkululeko Mcuma,21. Derwent Stopforth, 22. Heino Beneke.

The Martizburg College team is as follows:

1. Alex Cahill, 2. Vuyo Khathide, 3. Mvelo Khumalo, 4. Everett Pieterse, 5. Robert Kamhoot, 6. Jacque Conradie, 7. Cameron Christie, 8. Reegan Smith, 9. Josh Rencken, 10. Lukas Booysen 11. Banele Ngwenya, 12. Murray Janse Van Rensburg, 13. Marcel Coetze, 14. Cyle Muil 15.Jesse Kriel.

Reserves:

16. Banele Mhlongo 17. Njabula Gumede, 18. Seko Buthelezi, 19. James Smith, 20. Kelvin Elder, 21. Gareth Orr, 22.Dylan Rogiers.

The following is the record between the First XVs to date (1921-2012)

Played: 159
Maritzburg College won 109
Drawn: 16
Glenwood won 34

Visit the Premier Interschools Facebook page for more info.

Results through the years

These are mostly taken from a history of College rugby, Jimeloyo – Ji! by Skonk Nicholson and Tony Wiblin. Unfortunately the great Skonk will not be at the match this year after his passing in February this year at the age of 92.

1921: Glenwood won 5-0
1923: Glenwood won 14-3
1926: Glenwood won 3-0
1927: Draw 3-3 and College won 10-0
1928: Glenwood won 11-0; Glenwood won 21-0
1929: College won 8-5 and 22-3
1930: College won 9-6 and 18-0
1931: College won 24-0 and drew 8-8
1932: College won 21-6 and 15-6
1933: Glenwood won 4-0; Glenwood won 6-3
1834: College won 27-0 and 24-5
1935: Glenwood won 4-0; College won 15-3
1936: Draw 3-3; College won 12-8
1937: College won 11-6 and 23-0
1938: Glenwood won 11-6; College won 20-5
1939: Draw 0-0 and 8-8
1940: College won 8-6 and 11-8
1941: College won 5-3; Glenwood won 12-11
1942: Glenwood won 7-5 and 16-9
1943: College won 12-0 and draw 6-6
1944: Draw 10-10; Glenwood won 8-3
1945: College won 15-8 and 7-3
1946: College won 19-4; Glenwood won 8-3
1947: College won 8-3; draw 6-6
1948: College won 12-3
1949: College won 6-0 and 8-0
1950: College won 26-3
1951: College won 22-0 and 3-0
1952: College won 12-0 and 22-0
1953: Draw 6-6; College won 8-6
1954: College won 20-8; draw 3-3
1955: College won 13-5
1956: College won 14-0 and 16-0
1957: Draw 6-6
1958: College won 11-3
1959: College won 10-6 and 23-8
1960: College won 11-0 and 18-0
1961: College won 20-0 and 32-0
1962: College won 16-0 and 11-3
1963: College won 30-3 and 24-5
1964: Glenwood won 14-12; College won 33-0
1965: Glenwood won 8-6
1966: Glenwood won 9-3; College won 15-6
1967: College won 11-3; draw 8-8
1968: College won 14-3 and 8-6
1969: College won 31-9; draw 9-9
1970: Glenwood won 12-11; College won  16-3
1971: College won 12-0 and 16-13
1972: College won 37-3; draw 9-9
1973: College won 16-12 and 13-0
1974: College won 22-10 and 9-3
1975: Draw 6-6; Glenwood won 13-10
1976: College won 15-6; Glenwood won 14-4
1977: College won 6-0 and 31-6
1978: College won 28-9 and 27-4
1979: Glenwood won 33-6; College won 7-3
1980: College won 21-12; Glenwood won 10-9
1981: College won 9-7 and 19-10
1982: College won 15-6 and 19-18
1983: Glenwood won 15-7; College won 26-6
1984: College won 20-4 and 13-6
1985 : College won 25-3 and 22-6
1986: College won 29-3; Glenwood won 15-13
1987: College won 22-17 and 48-12
1988: College won 13-7 and 30-9
1989: College won 19-3 and 22-3
1990: College won 28-6 and 6-0
1991: College won 22-16; Glenwood won 16-11
1992: College won 42-9 and 8-0
1993: College won 24-10
1994: College won 35-3
1995: College won 61-13
1996: College won 53-5
1997: College won 48-10
1998: Glenwood won 31-5
1999: College won 16-10
2000: College won 28-16; Glenwood won 24-18
2001: College won 37-12 and 15-6
2002: College won 28-0 and 33-3
2003: College won 30-8
2004: Glenwood won 26-24; College won 21-7
2005: College won 30-7 and 12-5
2006: College won 24-0; Glenwood won 19-14
2007: Glenwood won 19-12
2008: Glenwood won 47-10 and 15-7
2009: Glenwood won 23-11 and 31-0
2010: College won 35-16; Glenwood won 20-13
2011:Glenwood won 31-10 and 31-3

2012: Glenwood 16 vs Maritzburg College 16 (Draw)

Maritzburg College profile

Maritzburg College was founded as the Pietermaritzburg High School in 1863 to accommodate the influx of children arriving at the new city of Pietermaritzburg and its surrounding farmlands within the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. As the school swelled, city architects were commissioned to build a larger classroom and boarding block, which was completed in 1888 and later became known as “Clark House”, honouring the school’s third headmaster, Mr RD Clark (MA (Oxon)), who is often referred to as “the Father of College”. Clark House is a Pietermaritzburg landmark and carries South Africa’s heritage seal, certifying it as a national monument. A similar honour was bestowed on the school’s Victoria Hall, the building of which was commenced in 1897 (Queen Victoria‘s diamond jubilee year) and which served as a British Army hospital from late 1899 until mid-1900 during the Second Boer War.

The school crest is a red shield with a crossed carbine and assegai over the Latin scroll bearing Pro Aris et Focis (For Hearth and Home). Debate has taken place as to the origins of the school’s crest and colours of red, black & white. A popular belief is that they highlight the various skirmishes, battles and wars between the British and the Zulu that took place in the late 19th century, with the colours representing the warring parties (white and black) and the blood that was shed between them (red). As recently as 2005, this issue had not been conclusively settled by the school’s Archives Committee. As an aside, four Old Collegians perished during the famous Battle of Isandhlwana, at which over 1,300 British and colonial troops were slaughtered by the Zulus on 22 January 1879, during the Zulu War. A memorial in honour of those fallen Old Boys was unveiled on the battlefield in 1969.

Rugby at Maritzburg College

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

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

His teams’ record was:

Played Won                      Drew                     Lost

504         403                         49                           52

His teams in the 1950s and early 1960s were particularly successful, at one stage losing only five matches in eleven years!

Skonk’s successors were scarcely less successful. The 1985, 1988 and 1995 teams were unbeaten and four other First XVs lost only one match. Since the turn of the new century, College has often found it difficult to match those statistics. The reasons for this are many: the increasing importance placed on sporting success by schools; the greater spread of talent, often owing to lucrative bursaries offered to promising players; the erosion of the rural core of College boarders; and the greatly strengthened fixture list.

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 therefore built on a very firm and broad foundation.

For many years, Maritzburg College’s rugby has been characterised by the rugged qualities and outstanding support work of its forwards, the hard running and punishing tackling of its backs and an eagerness to move the ball at every reasonable opportunity. Most notable, however, is the fierce determination and spirit typifying College teams and imbuing them with an indomitable will to win.

Maritzburg College’s superbly consistent record, great depth of talent and enviable reputation for a hard but sporting approach to the game have made it, historically, the premier rugby school in KwaZulu-Natal. No one would seriously dispute College’s right to that title.

When a banquet was held in his honour a few years back, Skonk Nicholson was asked to name his College Dream team for the era 1948-1982.

Maritzburg College boys have won 22 South African Schools caps, an achievement surpassed by only one South African school.

SA Schools Representatives

1974 MK Thompson
BV White
1976 PJ Lindsay
1977 PJ Lindsay
1978 DJ Mills
1979 CM Jamieson
1984 JT Stransky
1985 SR Glover
1986 JRD Thomson
1987 BW Catterall*
UH Goedeke
DAG Reed
WG Wilson
1989  CD Mayer
1994 WGA Munn
1995 PJ Dixon*
1996 RC Kelly*
1997 RF Linde
2002 PJ Grant
EA Penzhorn
B Squires

*Captained SA Schools.

Old Boy Joel Stransky (1984) became the darling of South Africa when he won the 1995 Rugby World Cup for his country with a superbly taken drop goal in extra time of the finals.

World Cup Rugby Finals and College Old Boys is no stranger to each other, be it in playing capacity or official’s capacity. A career in rugby refereeing which started when he was a spindly 15-year-old on the backfields of Maritzburg College reached its glorious summit when Old Boy Craig Joubert took charge of the Rugby World Cup final between New Zealand and France in 2011.

List of College Springboks (Test Caps Only)

DebutYear Player
1913 Eddie Shum
1921 Wally Clarkson
1924 Bill Payn
1924 Bertram van der Plank
1928 Phil Nel
1937 George Van Reenen
1960 Keith Oxlee
1962 Ormy Taylor
1969 Andy van der Watt
1993 Joel Stransky
2001 Butch James
2007 Peter Grant

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).

Glenwood High School profile

Formed in 1910 and originally known as the Day Continuation School, the name was changed to the Durban Technical High School in 1916 by which time the school had 150 pupils. Student numbers continued to grow during the First World War and by 1918 there were 267 scholars. In the same year the Natal Provincial Council appointed a commission to investigate the feasibility of expanding the school and the subsequent Coleman-Dukes Report stated that,“…a large increase in the numbersfor which it is exceedingly difficult to find accommodation,” and recommended the allotment of 10 acres of land on the corner of Alan Paton and Bulwer Roads in Glenwood. After much wrangling, the actual occupation of the allotted land and the construction of the school buildings eventually took place and by 1934 the current premises were ready for occupation. On occupying the new premises in Glenwood, the name was changed to Glenwood High School.

In 1939, at the start of World War II there were 490 pupils in the school and during the six years of war, 457 Old Boys served in East Africa, the Western Desert and Italy. Of these, 109 were in the South African or Royal Airforce. Out of the 457 who served, 120 old-boys lost their lives during this war. There is a very poignant picture of the school’s 1st Rugby Team of 1935  where at least 15 of the 18 boys in the photograph volunteered for service in the war and six of those in the photograph were killed. These included Roy Gibson, son of Durban’s Lady in White (Perla Siedle Gibson), and Clement (Neville) McGarr, who was one of the prisoners of war to escape from Stalag Luft III as part of the “Great Escape“.

Rugby at Glenwood

Rugby at Glenwood is the major sporting code. It is a sport that instills values such as 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 the opportunity of experiencing the ultimate team sport.

Glenwood fields thirty teams on a regular basis. This allows boys from all levels and ability to be part of this wonderful game. The sports department endeavors to provide games for all teams, this has allowed Glenwood to embark on tours out the province to play fixtures against some major rugby playing schools in South Africa such as Affies from Pretoria and Grey College from Bloemfontein.

The player base at other schools is diminishing at an alarming rate. Schools, educators and parents owe it to our children to provide them with an environment that will foster a healthy life style and the opportunity to experience a real childhood. Perhaps instead of instilling a win at all cost attitude we should rather emphasize the fun part of playing rugby.

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

 

The first 90 years (1910 to 2000)

Glenwood has produced some really good sides and players over the years, particularly 1954, 1957, 1965, 1972, 1978, 1979, the late 90s and in the past decade. The 1965 side is still considered by most Old Boys and KZN pundits as the best ever produced by Glenwood, playing 14 and winning 14, scoring 283 points while only 50 points were scored against. Seven players represented Natal Schools that year and included great names like 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 2 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. 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. Probably the only schoolboy to represent South Africa at waterpolo while still at school and captain both SA Schools rugby and waterpolo in one year. He was capped 3 times for KZN Schools in 1977, 1978 and 1979. He went on to have a good career with Natal and helped Natal make the 1984 Currie Cup final, playing with greats like Wynand Claasen, Craig Jamieson and Hugh Reece-Edwards.

The next great side came in 1984 where Glenwood had three boys picked for Natal Schools of which one was probably the best backline player ever to play for Glenwood, Dennis Baronet. Seldom has a schoolboy caused so much panic in an opposition backline, carving them to pieces with his speed and guile. He was rewarded in 1985 with an SA Schools cap, Glenwood’s second. From 1985 to 1997 Glenwood produced some average sides who had some great individuals like T. Labuschange and P.Senekal.

The 1992 side could have been Glenwood’s biggest pack of all time with Leyton Pardey the 120kg loose head prop making KZN Schools along with David Terblanche (No8). 1997 was probably the turnaround after the ‘darker’ early to mid 90’s where Glenwood lost more than they won. It heralded the rising of a rugby beast. Victor Tsewu, Nicholas Strauss and Cedric Mzolo kicked started a new generation and one that continues today.

The 2000s

Since 2000, Glenwood has produced 47 KZN Schools Craven Week A team representatives, including 5 SA Schools players (Petros Methula, Shaun Malton, Jayden Hill, Ricky Schnetler & Siyabonga Tom) and 2 SA Academy players (Nteta & Makhabela). This is probably the biggest contribution by any school in KZN with Westville and Maritzburg College 2nd and 3rd respectively. The 2000 side played 37 and only lost 2! Unfortunately Glenwood rise has seen a decline in the rugby standard of their biggest rival, DHS or Horseflies from the across the Berea! In the past Glenwood have battled to beat this great Durban school but in the last decade it’s been pretty one sided. Glenwood have created a great rivalry with Westville and College in the past 5 years and always seem to be fighting out with them for top honours in KZN. Glenwood have won the best performing rugby school award in KZN for the past 4 years and also having the bragging rights of being unbeaten against Westville for the past 4 years. Many an envious parent from opposition schools has claimed Glenwood ‘buying’ players and recruiting players with bursaries. Glenwood have been clever and promoted the school at primary school level and by having a winning 1st team has attracted the best players in the province. Having a Boarding Establishment that can house over 200 boys helps here too. With success brings demand for other provinces schools to play Glenwood. Since five years back, Glenwood has set up home and away traditional fixtures with Affies and Grey Bloem, two of the countries best rugby schools without doubt. Glenwood’s finest rugby hour came in 2006 when they beat the mighty Grey Bloem for the first time on fortress Dixons, 14-10! A great achievement and something that will be remembered for generations to come. Other recent big scalps are wins over Affies, 24-7 at home and 24-10 at Affies, Paul Roos 13-8 & 26-7, Pretoria Boys High 26-9, Bishops 19-11, Boland Landbou 29-10, Maritzburg College 47-10 (on Goldstones), KES 38-3, Waterkloof 14-12 and many more. Since 2000, here are the Glenwood results against local opposition;

  • Vs College – Played (22) – Won (11) – Lost (11) – 50% win rate
  • Vs DHS – Played (16) – Won (10) – Lost (5) – Drawn (1) – 63% win rate
  • Vs Westville – Played (10) – Won (8) – Lost (2) – 80% win rate
  • Vs Michaelhouse – Played (8) – Won (4) – Lost (3) – Drawn (1) – 50% win rate
  • Vs Kearsney – Played (11) – Won (7) – Lost (3) – Drawn (1) – 64% win rate
  • Vs Hilton – Played (7) – Won (4) – Lost (3) – 57% win rate
  • Vs. Northwood – Played (6) – Won (5) – Lost (1) – 83% win rate
  • Total: Played (80) – Won (49) – Lost (28) – Drawn (3) – 61% win rate

List of Glenwood Springboks (Test Caps Only)

DebutYear Player
1921 Wally Clarkson
1937 Mauritz van den Berg
1938 Roger Sherriff
1964 Don Walton
1968 Rodney Gould
1993 John Allan

An interesting fact is that both College and Glenwood claim Wally Clarkson as their own.

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