Queen’s College First XV Match Report versus Dale College by John Duncan, Queen’s Head of Rugby.
Queen’s College and Dale College did battle against one another, in an FNB Classic Clash, on Saturday the 23rd of August in Queenstown. The 173rd match between these, proud Border Schools,’ proved to be a game of two halves and a tightly contested affair.
For the majority of the first half Dale College controlled the territorial battle and edged out the hosts in the possession stakes. It took all of eight minutes for the visitors to gain an opportunity to open the scoring after Queen’s were ruled to be offside at the breakdown. David’s, the Dale fly half, was unsuccessful with his first attempt. From the resultant 22m kickoff, the visitors then saw themselves exerting pressure on the Queen’s goal line. The hosts conceded a turn over at the line out which saw a Dale forward, bust through and open the scoring for the visitors. David’s was unsuccessful with the conversion.
At the restart Dale were unable to regain possession cleanly and the home team were awarded a scrum. Queen’s managed to recycle the ball through the phases and managed to catch Dale offside’s. Kuyler’s attempt was successful for the hosts. Dale then managed once again to turn over the possession and the Queen’s team was caught off sides. This time David’s penalty extended the visitors score to 8-3. This seemed to motivate the visitors and they played like men possessed and from the kickoff, Dale managed to get the ball back deep inside Queen’s territory. Dale secured their own ball from the line out and after patient phase play, right wing, Mase, crashed over for his teams second try. David’s was unsuccessful with the conversion.
The hosts were lucky to claw their way back into the game after, Mureguzi, kicked the ball ahead and the ball bounced off a Dalian and back into his hands. The Queen’s wing had a lot of work to do as he ran in the first try for the home team from 50m out. Kuyler missed the touch line conversion. For the remainder of the half Queen’s was stuck in their own territory. Dale then ran in their third try by burly prop, Ngqongqwana, on the stroke of half time. The conversion was missed and the visitors had what looked to be an unassailable, 18-8, lead at the break.
The second half started much like the first, with Dale who controlled possession and territory. Dale was awarded a penalty and David’s was unable to extend the lead. Queen’s then found themselves in Dale territory after the 22m kick off and some good defence resulted in the home team been awarded a penalty. Kuyler increased the Queen’s total after the 40m penalty. Dale almost immediately restored the lead to 10 points when David’s replied with a penalty for the visitors.
Queen’s spurred on by a partisan crowd then decided to take control off the match. Queen’s managed to win a Dale line out, and after some good handling by Jubase, Penxe and Kuyler, Jamie Brookes scored the second try for the hosts. Kuyler added the two points for Queen’s and the score was 21-18 in Dale’s favour. Queen’s two minutes later were unlucky not to score, again after Mureguzi made a line break only to be called back for a forward pass. From the resultant scrum, Dale were awarded a free kick and opted to launch an up and under which was well dealt with by Kuyler who unleashed, Mureguzi, down the right wing. The ball was quickly recycled and fly half Wagener found Queen’s captain, Jubase, in space. The captain did well to score for Queen’s after beating several defenders. Queen’s took the lead for the first time in the match 23-21. The hosts failed to deal with the kick off cleanly and Dale was awarded a scrum, however a loose pass from a Dalian resulted in a turn over. Kuyler cleared the ball up field and the Dalian opted to kick the ball back into the hands of Mureguzi, who found his wing partner in space and Penxe scorched down the touchline to score for Queen’s, from his own 22m line.
Dale never a team to lie down immediately replied with a try by, Nyalambisa, who went crashing over under the posts. David’s added the extra two points and with the score at 30-28 to Queen’s, set up an exciting last few minutes. Queen’s then were able to recycle ball deep within Dale territory and with some good inter-play between backs and forwards, Vanda barged his way over for the home side. Queen’s then led the match 35-28 with three minutes to play. Dale, however, would have the last say after some good forward play between the loose-forwards and the locks saw a Dale forward score. The conversion was missed and Queen’s won the game after a great comeback by the home team, 35 -33, to end off the 2014 season on a high.
Playa in my day they only way to get to Dale was to drink, get caught and automatically accepted into Dale. Ha ha. I think it’s a super opportunity for all concerned, I understand one Queenian is playing at Kirkham Grammer.
@Rusty: Oh really!?!?! That’s wonderful for the boys. We definitely haven’t done it at Dale…barring the frowned upon Zim exchange programme of a few years ago that was frowned upon at the time, but seems to be ok with some schools now
Not sure about other schools.
Queens had two lads from a school in UK, sounds like a exchange student type arrangement…and believe one Queenian is now in UK. good experiance for lads on both side of the pond. Not sure if other schools have done that.
@Rusty: Courtney was out with a broken arm, missed the last two games I think. Really unfortunate, and he was sorely missed in the game against Queens.
The cracks in QC rugby opened up after John left, which was the same situation at Dale when Griffy left. These are two guys with an eye for talent, and who know how to bring out the best in their players. For QC, you just need to compare their 2nd term results against their 3rd term results, and for Dale the 2013 vs 2014 results. Haven heard anything about back up from the UK for Qc. Maybe Queenian can shed some light decides to wake up in sleepy Tinarha
Playa also curious about other items..like impact of QC Head of Rugby, will Griffy have a bigger impact …also like QC brining in some back up, from. UK. I did not see the Dale fly half play many games at the end do know why?
Thanks playa
@Rusty: Selborne will rule next year and possibly the year after as well. That will largely depend on the development of the current QC under 15A team and/or whether they manage to hold on to them. Dale should come a close 2nd next year, but will struggle in 2016/17.
Grens and Cambridge not to be overlooked for a spot in the top 3 though.
It seems as Queens seems over the years to start very slow and then improve through the season… Not 100 percent sure, but when they go off to Easter festivals they struggle, perhaps just timing of rugby seasons. Curious what folks think who will be king of the border 2015?