29 July 2025
Reece-Edwards Field played host to another tight chapter in the long-standing rivalry between Northwood and Glenwood on Saturday, and for much of the contest, it appeared as if the Green Machine would turn the tables after falling short in the first encounter earlier this year.
But, when it mattered most, the Knights found their composure, showed their character, and finished with a flourish to clinch a 19-11 victory, and with it, a second successive season’s sweep of their Durban rivals.
It was a win forged not in flair, but in grit. Northwood spent long stretches on the back foot, and it was Glenwood who brought more cohesion and urgency in the early exchanges. Within the opening five minutes, they had their reward.
A pinpoint cross kick hung tantalisingly inside the 22. Northwood’s Savio Stevens climbed high, but Glenwood winger Sthabiso Dube, with the momentum of a clean run onto the ball, soared above him to collect it in full flight and crash over for an eye-catching five-pointer.
The remainder of the half saw Glenwood continuing to probe and ask questions, with centre and captain Lizwe Mtetwa at the heart of their forward momentum. The Knights, though, defended with discipline and determination, turning away multiple raids to keep the visitors to a 5-0 advantage at the break.
Early in the second stanza, Glenwood stretched their lead via the boot of Joshua Kopp, who landed two penalties to make it 11-0. With time ticking away, and Northwood struggling to click into gear after a disrupted preparation period, the result looked to be heading one way.
But the turning point arrived almost immediately after Kopp’s second three-pointer. From the restart, Northwood earned a penalty and kicked to the corner. It was a calculated move, one they had trained for, said coach Jacques Deen.
“That’s our game plan. We spend a lot of time on restarts and kicking to contest,” he said afterwards.
Glenwood’s defence, meanwhile, began to show signs of fraying. A series of penalties culminated in a yellow card for collapsing a maul. Northwood squandered the first opportunity that followed, missing their lineout, but soon forced a five-metre scrum after trapping Glenwood behind their try line.
From the base of a ruck, scrumhalf Jed Mun-Gavin spotted a half-gap and darted over to finally get the home side on the board with 15 minutes to play.
Then came the decisive blow. With just four minutes remaining and Glenwood down to 14 after a red card for a tip tackle, Northwood earned another penalty five metres out. Replacement scrumhalf Ludi van der Walt resisted calls to go quickly, kicked to the corner, and moments later twisted over the line for the go-ahead try. He converted it himself to edge Northwood in front, 12-11.
There was still time for one more. As Glenwood pushed desperately, a turnover saw the Knights counter, and Hleleni Mpendulo (see feature photo) added the final flourish, diving over to seal the result. Van der Walt again slotted the conversion as the full-time whistle sounded.
“It wasn’t pretty, but a win’s a win,” Deen summed up. “Good teams find a way to win.”
And that’s exactly what the Knights did.
RESULTS
1st: Northwood 19-11 Glenwood
2nd: Northwood 23-14 Glenwood
3rd: Northwood 22-5 Glenwood
4th: Northwood 17-5 Glenwood
5th: Northwood 34-10 Glenwood
16A: Northwood 20-12 Glenwood
16B: Northwood 5-0 Glenwood
16C: Northwood 24-12 Glenwood
16D: Northwood 26-17 Glenwood
15A: Northwood 10-11 Glenwood
15B: Northwood 8-17 Glenwood
15C: Northwood 24-7 Glenwood
15D: Northwood 17-12 Glenwood
14A: Northwood 28-7 Glenwood
14B: Northwood 22-10 Glenwood
14C: Northwood 19-5 Glenwood
14D: Northwood 0-5 Glenwood
HOCKEY
Glenwood’s 1st XI has put together a much better season in 2025 than in 2024. They’ve taken a big leap forward. Only once all season long did they lose their way and that was against Northwood towards the end of May, when the Knights turned a 3-1 lead into an 8-1 rout.
It was different at Northwood in their second meeting. Although the Knights won again, it was tightly contested game, finishing 4-2 in the hosts’ favour.
Further evidence of Glenwood’s improvements was seen in the age group A-games, with the u16A match finishing 1-1, while Glenwood won the u14A contest 3-1. Northwood’s strength in depth stood out as they comfortably won the B-team clashes.
RESULTS
1st: Northwood 4-2 Glenwood
2nd: Northwood 4-0 Glenwood
16A: Northwood 1-1 Glenwood
16B: Northwood 4-0 Glenwood
14A: Northwood 1-3 Glenwood
14B: Northwood 10-0 Glenwood
See KZN football wrap for Northwood vs Clifton College football results.
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