14 April 2026
While Glenwood High is no longer the dominant rugby force they were not too long ago, a visit to Dixon’s Field remains a tough challenge. On Saturday, Maritzburg College made the short trip to Durban to face the Green Machine, knowing they would need both accuracy and steel to continue their impressive early-season momentum.
College arrived in Durban buoyed by an excellent showing at the Pretoria Boys’ High 125th Festival, where they claimed commanding wins over Jeppe (35-12) and SACS (24-7). Glenwood, meanwhile, had endured a mixed Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival campaign, but their narrow 14-12 victory over Dr EG Jansen in their last game served as a reminder of their resilience.
History, too, added intrigue.
While the recent trend in the rivalry has favoured the Red, Black, and White, Dixon’s Field has seldom been a comfortable venue for the Pietermaritzburg outfit. As recently as 2023, a strong College side, which won 42-15 on Goldstone’s, was ambushed 27-24 in Durban, underlining the Green Machine’s capacity to rise on home soil.
On this occasion, however, College combined patience with power to turn a narrow halftime deficit into a convincing 33-13 victory.
The opening exchanges suggested that another arm wrestle was in store. Glenwood scrumhalf Vincenzo Loutz, one of their standout performers over Easter, nudged the hosts ahead with an early penalty, but College responded with composure, going over for two tries to build a 12-3 lead.
Glenwood’s reply was as spirited as it was timely. Gradually, they wrestled momentum away from the visitors, forcing College onto the back foot and into their own half. Then, just before the break, they struck decisively. Outside centre Cade Isaacs powered through contact to score, and with Loutz adding the extras and a subsequent penalty, the hosts edged into a 13-12 halftime lead.
It was a reminder of Glenwood’s enduring threat – but also, it revealed one of their issues this season: the ability to sustain a complete performance.
College emerged for the second half with renewed purpose and quickly reasserted control. Driving deep into Glenwood territory, they turned pressure into points when powerful tighthead prop Alanda Ngubane twisted his way over to reclaim the lead.
Scrumhalf Dom du Toit added the conversion to stretch the advantage to 19-13, and from there, College tightened their grip on the contest.
An absorbing battle followed, mostly in the middle of the field, with both sides trading territory in a tense stalemate. Then, a well-judged box kick from Du Toit, aided by a favourable bounce, shifted momentum decisively in College’s favour in the 51st minute.
Lock Sean Jansen carried strongly up to the Glenwood 22, and phase after phase of pressure followed. Only a knock-on over the try line denied the visitors an immediate reward.
Glenwood, however, struggled to relieve the pressure. Pinned deep inside their own 22, they conceded a lineout, and College’s pack went to work. The rolling maul, efficient and clinical, delivered the next blow, with hooker Theo Boshoff finishing from close range.
Du Toit’s reliable boot extended the lead to 13 points, and with it, College’s control of proceedings.
By now, the visitors were playing with confidence and authority. Their forwards dictated terms, while their tactical kicking ensured Glenwood was continually forced to play from deep.
The final act arrived seven minutes from time.
Once more inside the Glenwood 22, College probed patiently. No. 8 Rory Stanton provided the initial incision with a sharp snipe at the defensive line, and when the ball came loose, Boshoff reacted quickest, scooping it up before spinning through contact to secure his second try of the afternoon.
Du Toit added the extras, completing a polished personal display from the tee, and sealing a comprehensive 33-13 win.
For Glenwood, the pattern of their 2026 season persisted: moments of quality interspersed with lapses that prove costly. For College, though, it was another step forward – a composed, clinical performance on a traditionally difficult ground, underlining their credentials as one of the province’s leading contenders.
College ruled on the rugby field, putting together a clean record, with Glenwood’s u16A side giving the visitors a hard workout before succumbing 15-25.
Results
1st: Glenwood 13-33 Maritzburg College
2nd: Glenwood 12-22 Maritzburg College
3rd: Glenwood 5-41 Maritzburg College
4th: Glenwood 0-52 Maritzburg College
5th: Glenwood 5-38 Maritzburg College
6th: Glenwood 5-29 Maritzburg College
7th: Glenwood 7-40 Maritzburg College
8th: Maritzburg College 27-5 Phayiphini High 1st
16A: Glenwood 15-25 Maritzburg College
16B: Glenwood 0-36 Maritzburg College
16C: Glenwood 0-50 Maritzburg College
16D: Glenwood 0-50 Maritzburg College
16E: Maritzburg College 21-29 Mthombo u16A
15A: Glenwood 3-66 Maritzburg College
15B: Glenwood 0-25 Maritzburg College
15C: Glenwood 7-50 Maritzburg College
15D: Glenwood 15-48 Maritzburg College
15E: Glenwood 3-69 Maritzburg College
14A: Glenwood 0-22 Maritzburg College
14B: Glenwood 19-24 Maritzburg College
14C: Glenwood 0-66 Maritzburg College
14D: Glenwood 0-55 Maritzburg College
14E: Glenwood 7-50 Maritzburg College
14F: Glenwood 0-50 Maritzburg College
HOCKEY
While the rugby chips failed to fall their way, Glenwood’s never-say-die character brought them a come-from-behind 2-2 draw with Maritzburg College in the clash of the 1st XIs on the 3 Schools Astro on Friday evening.
College struck twice in the first chukka through Greg Hosking and Sbu Mchunu. But Glenwood would not go away, and they pulled to within a goal in the third chukka, thanks to Lord Makgato, who was introduced after halftime, and made a nuisance of himself, causing the College defence problems. He won a penalty corner, from which the skipper, Murray Wicks, picked out Ezile Makhathini for a deflected goal.
Then, with only two minutes left, Makgato was again in the thick of things, winning a penalty stroke. Wicks took on the responsibility of the crucial shot and converted to make it 2-2. The result and the manner in which it was achieved will be a big boost for Glenwood.
Maritzburg College dominated, winning the remainder of the matches, except one: the u14A game. Glenwood’s u14A side has put together an outstanding season, and they added another scalp to an impressive, ever-growing list with a 2-1 victory.
Results
1st: Glenwood 2-2 Maritzburg College
2nd: Glenwood 0-1 Maritzburg College
3rd: Glenwood 0-5 Maritzburg College
4th: Glenwood 0-4 Maritzburg College
5th: Maritzburg College 1-0 Riverwood
16A: Glenwood 1-4 Maritzburg College
16B: Glenwood 0-11 Maritzburg College
16C: Glenwood 1-5 Maritzburg College
16D: Glenwood 0-12 Maritzburg College
14A: Glenwood 2-1 Maritzburg College
14B: Glenwood 0-15 Maritzburg College
14C: Glenwood 0-9 Maritzburg College
14D: Maritzburg College 2-4 Riverwood
Leave a Reply