The Grey High SA Schools duo Bosch and Vers were phenomenal. Bosch was absolutely world class. It’s been a topsy-turvy first half of the season for Grey but with plenty of big games still to come, they can still make it a campaign to remember. For Queen’s College, it was a tough day at the office but experience was gained by 11 youngsters who are back in the starting line up next year. Like Grey College and a few others, Queen’s are having a nightmare season with injuries. Johan van Heerden broke his leg and is out for the rest of the season to join many others on the sidelines on crutches. As a result Queen’s who were on a roll before this match, looks nothing like the team that went to the KES Festival over Easter.
Report from Queen’s College
Queen’s College took on hosts, Grey High School, in Port Elizabeth on their reunion weekend. The visitors lost the toss and played into a strong wind in the first half. The hosts got off to the best possible start and their right winger, Mohammad Connally, dotted down for the opening score of the match within the first few minutes. The try was converted by Curwin Bosch for a 7-0 lead. Grey after the restart was awarded a short arm penalty and their left wing went crashing over for an unconverted try.
From the next kick off Queen’s was awarded a penalty and Johan Van Heerden opened the scoring for the visitors. Grey managed to increase their lead after a penalty was converted by Bosch from inside his own half. From the restart Queen’s lost talisman, Van Heerden, with a badly broken leg, but this seemed to motivate the visitors who managed to a put some good phases of play together. The Queen’s team was awarded a second penalty and this was converted by Justin Kuyler. Queen’s managed to regain some composure and exerted pressure on the hosts with some good phase play. Just before the halftime break Queen’s missed what was a fairly easy penalty only for the ball to be kicked down the field and Grey to be awarded a penalty. Bosch converted the penalty and Queen’s was down 18-6 at the break.
After the break the hosts came out fired up and opened the scoring after some good forward play at the lineout with the Grey flank scoring. Bosch was successful with the conversion. The hosts took control of the game and Bosch and Keanu Vers combined well to ensure a successful counterattack resulted in a seven pointer by Bosch. The Grey pack then set up a maul which went crashing over the line and Bosch added the extra two points. The final score for the hosts was scored after Bosch chipped a ball ahead and regathered to go under the poles untouched for yet another seven points.
Queen’s fought back in the final couple of minutes and elusive fullback, Yaw Penxa, managed to score just before full time. Kuyler added the extra points and Queen’s lost the game 13-46. The match was played in a very good spirit and the young, inexperienced Queen’s team will take some valuable lessons out of the game. Queen’s will now take stock and refocus for the upcoming match against Hudson Park in Queenstown this coming weekend.
QC really battling with injuries I see well at least the youngster’s get a chance and should help for next year.
Good result for the Under16 team they could be good as first team in 2 years. When I was at GCB we found if a QC age group team came close to us we battled by the time we got to 1st team level with them.
@QC86: Anyway even if you there one day that will be good I should be there all 3 days. Were in Tarka did you get that other Bull.
@Queenian: Music to my ears!
@Queenian: Would love to be there,but with Grant hopping around on one leg can’t make all the days,need to do some hunting,i am 2 years behind with bagging some Kudu bulls .
@Queenian: Mr Mc Ewan I will be overseas then sorry would love to have been there.
Should be good
@rugbyfan: Hey Slater will you be around for Cape Schools Week?
Maybe Rudi will grace us with his presence.
and some biltong
@Ludz: @Playa: Good to see we all at Cape Schools week we will have to pop in at the Brazen Head just down the street the first drink is on me.
@Andre: Not all that bad then. I thought he was in Grade 12. At least he will still have another shot next year. I hope he fully recovers. Queens will need his grunt and physicality next year.
@Queenian: Definitely
@rugbyfan: Yes, he turns 18 in the next month or two, but he is in grade 11 so still a year at school.
U13A score was 37-13 to Grey, Grey have got 4 new boys I believe who would not look out of place in an u15A. Their no.15 was too big, too strong, too quick, made a huge difference in that side. I was almost in tears when Keith kicked that last minute conversion in the u16A game. They rattled Grey early because they got stuck in physically and didn’t allow Grey to dictate matters. Hugely impressed with the spirit of the Queenians on the day
@Queenian: Grey won. Not sure of the score, but Ludz knows. Maybe he’ll post it when he’s done “studying” at 11pm tonight
@Andre: So he still has a year to go after this?
@rugbyfan: He is 17.
@Queenian: I am not to sure what happened in the Under 13A game I did hear somebody speaking about a score of 17-14 to Grey not sure if that was the final score maybe Mike know’s.
@Ludz: You going to be around at Cape Schools week.
@rugbyfan: @Ludz: @Ludz: Anybody know what happened in the Under 13 A game heard somebody say it was very close but they could not tell me who won?
@Andre: How old is the Van Heerden boy.
@Mike: Hey Mike how things sorry don’t get me wrong the Grey Under 14 team to say at best is exceptional and have very good all round players in most positions. And yes if size was not a issue Grey would still have won I think but maybe by 30.
Grey 1st team really seam to be getting into there stride and should get better as the season goes now. Bosch was brilliant.
The spirit with which the boys played gave me peace despite the loss in the end, they pushed hard till the final whistle
Also, all the best to Johan, it must be terrible and an injury like that must be devastating for the young guy. All the best for the recovery ahead.
Grey are normally slow starters to the season and this year hasn’t been any different. Having said that, there is always one game a season that swings things for Grey, and I think Saturday was that game. They went on to the field and took control. Queens obviously never gave up and played with a massive amount of spirit and never gave up but Grey on the day could probably have scored another 2 tries. @rugbyfan: In a score of 80-0 you cannot be suggesting that Grey simply played route one rugby and scored that many points. Surely it can’t just be put down to size comparisons. I wasn’t there to see the u14 match but I’d love to know how many of those 80 points were scored by the backs. That u14 side has been very good throughout the age groups and I know a feature of there’s is how quick that back line is. I agree with your assessment of the u16 game though , very close and Grey can count themselves lucky.
What an unfortunate injury for Johan! I’ve known him since he was 6 or 7 even coached him at primary school.
Will have to go visit his dad with a bottle of medicine. For his dad of course, not him.
@QC86: Ja, that one too!
@rugbyfan: I’ve heard good things about that QC flyhalf. I look forward to seeing more of him. I might just be in KWT in August for the return game.
@Queenian: My parole officer (aka the wife) has given the go ahead. Ticket booked. Now just waiting for the day of departure.
@Playa: We still on for Cape Schools week I hope.
@rugbyfan: Selborne will have the size in the age groups to beat Grey in all 3.
@QC86: Ye hope yours son and co can beat Grey when they here.
@Playa: The QC Under 16A fly half plays a very similar game to the Zim boy who played Dale 1st in 2012
@QC86: Agree all 3 age group games between Grey and Selborne will be massive.
@Playa: What is interesting speaking to the Grey Under 16A coach was that 2 years ago at Under 14 level Grey won 58 nil. So shows you what happens when size even’s out.
@Playa: Ye the Under 14 game between Grey vs Selborne will be epic.
What will be interesting is how this Grey Under 14 team which I am sure will put 50 past Dale will do against Dale/QC at Under 16 level when the size even’s out.
The game on Saturday was just pure brut force against little boys to put it lightly although the amount of skill in the QC Under 14 was far better than Grey I am sure the average weight of the Grey boys was abount 85/90 kgs were the QC boys were like 70/75 just far to bigger a mountain to climb.
@Playa: Ja and the u16 match.
@rugbyfan: Johan must be gutted! My heart goes out to him, and I wish him a speedy and full recovery.
These injuries have really messed with QC’s progress this year. The upside as mentioned is the experience being gained by the young boys who have stepped up. Bodes well for 2016.
Now, I am really eager to see the under 14A game between Grey and Selborne.It could be an epic encounter.
@rugbyfan: Good to see the Under 16’s put up a good fight there is a lot of talent in that age group.
Ye I think all Queens can do now and re-group and try and win most of there remaining games. Injuries like this do not help much but at least the youngster’s will get a lot of exposure and next year with a good group of Under 16’s coming through looks promising.
Well got to the Phillip field just after 8 and watched the whole day, the Under14A game was like David against Goliath but they had no sling. There is just know way such a size difference could be made up by Queens and Grey won by 80 points.
Under 15A game was good and if it was not for a 21 point Blitz by Grey in 10 minutes this game was very even QC who lost this game as Under 14’s in Queenstown by 68 points was very competitive and by next year should be very close.
Under 16A game was the game of the day if Grey who have swept all before them this year thought they were in for a easy game they were in for a big surprise and can count themselves lucky to get a 20 all draw. The Grey team is big/mobile and fast, but were the QC team lacks in size I will say this must be the best ball handling skills I have seen at schoolboy rugby level in years, the little flyhalf must be the best I have seen for years and the overall mobility and skill second to none. If these QC boys grow a bit expect a very good QC team in two years time.
Well the heading could not say it better Bosch was brilliant and Vers was also great, Queens with a team that just seems to get depleted more by the week this was just a bridge to far at the end there were only 9 players who started the season that were on the field. I suppose good experience for the 11/12 Grade 11 on the park. But they were never in it all the injuries also have had a big impact on the the 2nd and 3rd team who also battled.