Match Report: Queen’s beats Cambridge 34-7

By John Duncan – Queen’s College Head of Rugby

Queen’s College travelled to East London to do battle against Cambridge in East London. The hosts, who have had an impressive run, would have fancied their chances against Queen’s but it was not to be in this tightly contested affair.

Cambridge played with a gentle breeze at their backs, and after Queen’s failing to take the kick off cleanly, immediately applied pressure by attacking the Queen’s try line only for the ball to be kicked dead in goal. The opening ten minutes of the match was characterized by good defence and attacking forays by both teams.
Queen’s were however to strike the first blow after Cambridge infringed and Queen’s opted to kick the ball and set up the lineout 5m from the hosts try line. Queen’s having successfully won the lineout let themselves down with some inaccurate passing but, in the process caught Cambridge off sides and Leroy Kuyler slotted the penalty for a 3-0 lead after 10 minutes.

Cambridge then started a period of territorial dominance and applied pressure on the Queen’s line. A good maul and some enterprising play by the hosts saw them being awarded a penalty in the 15th minute; unfortunately the kick by Ludwe Badiyana sailed past the left of the posts. Cambridge continued to keep the visitors in their half and were unsuccessful with a drop kick in the 28th minute.

The visitors through their resolute defence soaked up a lot of pressure and Rautenbach managed to turn the ball over at a ruck and pass to Roberts who played fullback Kuyler on the blindside. Kuyler then grubbered the ball ahead and regained possession and managed to score underneath the poles for the visitors first try. Kuyler added the extra two points for a 10-0 lead.

The visitors once again failed to take the kick off cleanly, but scrambled to secure possession. Queen’s were awarded a penalty from the breakdown and chose to set up a lineout in Cambridge territory. Queen’s won the lineout cleanly and applied pressure on the Cambridge defence. Mureguzi managed to break through the defensive line but failed to pass to his support players to finish off a possible try scoring opportunity. Just before halftime Queen’s managed to score a great try after the forwards secured good lineout ball and the backs attacked space. Jubase scored the try after Kuyler drew the last Cambridge defender. Kuyler added the two points to secure a 17-0 lead at the break.

Queen’s restarted the game much the same way they finished off the first half by winning the kick off back and immediately applying pressure on the host’s line. Only resolute defence from the hosts saw them keep Queen’s out in the first couple of minutes. Queen’s continued to attack and unfortunately kicked the ball dead in goal; however a mistake from Cambridge saw them kick the restart directly into touch. Queens’s then opted for the line out but was penalized for obstruction. Cambridge opted to run the penalty and made good ground into the visitors 22m but Queen’s turned over possession and Kuyler using the wind returned the ball into the Cambridge 22m area, Mureguzi who chased the kick managed to wrestle the ball away from the last defender and score underneath the posts. Kuyler added the extra two points for a 24-0 lead.

Queen’s were then awarded a penalty in the 43rd minute and Kuyler added the three points to the visitors tally. A poor restart from Cambridge, saw them under pressure and Queen’s were unlucky not to be awarded a try after the officials were inconclusive about whether a try had been scored after a kick into the in goal area. Queen’s were awarded a 5m scrum but a lack of concentration saw the hosts capitalize on this error and managed to turn the ball over and start attacking the Queen’s defensive lines. Poor discipline on defense saw Cambridge awarded a series of penalties which eventually led to captain ,Lusanda Badiyana, crashing over for the hosts only try. Cambridge was successful with the conversion.

The last points of the game came in the 55th minute with Oranje collecting an overthrow from the Cambridge lineout and crashing over the whitewash. Kuyler added the extra two points for a 34 -7 lead. Both teams attacked and defended valiantly in the last ten minutes but a lack of accuracy from both sides saw Queen’s run out victors 34-7.

Queen’s look forward to playing host to a FNB Classic Clash against traditional rivals Dale College from King Williams Town this coming weekend.