A Thriller in Queenstown
Queen’s College and Dale College did battle against one another, in an FNB Classic Clash, on Saturday 23 August in Queenstown. The 173rd match between these proud Border Schools was a thriller.
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. Justerino Davids, the Dale flyhalf, was unsuccessful with his first attempt. From the resultant 22m kick-off, the visitors then saw themselves exerting pressure on the Queen’s goal-line. The hosts conceded a turnover at the line out which saw lock Lwazi Poswayo burst through and open the scoring for the visitors. Davids 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 caught Dale offside. Leroy 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 offside. This time Davids’ 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 its own ball from the line out and after patient phase play, right wing, Luzuko Mase, crashed over for his team’s second try. Davids was unsuccessful with the conversion.
The hosts were lucky to claw their way back into the game after Dancan 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 its own territory. Dale then ran in their third try by burly prop, Zimi 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 controlling both possession and territory. Dale was awarded a penalty, but Davids 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 being awarded a penalty. Kuyler increased the Queen’s total after the 40m penalty. Dale almost immediately restored the lead to 10 points when Davids replied with a penalty for the visitors.
Queen’s, spurred on by a partisan crowd, decided to take control of the match. Queen’s managed to win a Dale line out, and after some good handling by Avela Jubase, Yawe 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.
Two minutes later , Queen’s 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 flyhalf Albré 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 upfield 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 Yamkela Nyalambisa, who went crashing over under the posts. Davids 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, Uhuru 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 Poswayo score. The conversion hit the upright and stayed out, 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.
Scorers:
For Queen's:
Tries: Dancan Mureguzi, Jamie Brooks, Avela Jubase, Yawe Penxe, Uhuru Vanda
Con: Leroy Kuyler 2
Pens: Leroy Kuyler 2
For Dale:
Tries: Lwazi Poswayo 2, Luzuko Mase, Zimi Ngqongqwana, Yamkela Nyalambisa,
Con: Justerino Davids
Pens: Justerino Davids 2
Teams
Queen's: 15 Leroy Kuyler, 14 Dancan Mureguzi, 16 Avela Jubase (captain), 12 Juan du Randt, 11 Yaw Penxe, 10 Albré Wagener, 9 Raegan Oranje, 8 Alan Graham Rautenbach, 7 James Roberts, 6 Jamie Brookes, 5 Nick Riding, 4 Johan van Heerden, 3 Qhawe Bula, 2 Uhuru Vanda, 1 Siyavuya Mlwayo
Replacements: 17 Dale Venske, 18 Simphiwe Matanzima, 19 Bonke Matikinca, 20 Justin Kuyler, 21 Mzwandile Fuzani, 22 Mvuyo Tshefuta, 23 Sikhokele Ngozi
Dale: 15 Godknows Mavara, 14 Luzuko Mase, 13 Yamkela Nyalambisa, 12 Siyamthanda Mgubo, 11 Luyolo Khuse, 10 Justerino Davids, 9 Sibusiso Ngcokovane ( captain ), 8 Bunono Sindi, 7 Siyanda Am, 6 Buntu Bonono, 5 Lwazi Poswayo, 4 Johann Loubser, 3 Kuhle Mokhoabane, 2 Sango Mtotywa, 1 Zimi Ngqongqwana
Coaches: Grant Griffith, Barry Hayidakis, Steve Turner
Referee: Wayne Weyer
Results Down the Years
1891: Dale won by 5 goals and 1 try to 1 goal
1926: Queen's won 6-0
1927: Dale won 64-0 and 50-5
1928: Dale won 5-0 and Queen's won 6-3
1929: Draw 8-8 and Dale won 3-0
1930: Queen's won 10-3
1931: Dale won 8-3 and a Draw 0-0
1932: Queen's won 8-0 and 3-0
1933: Draw 3-3 and Dale won 4-3
1934: Dale won 21-8 and a Draw 3-3
1935: Queen's won 12-10 and 6-3
1936: Queen's won 3-0 and 17-5
1937: Queen's won 10-0 and 14-3
1938: Dale won 6-3 and 9-5 and 13-8
1939: Queen's won 6-9 and Dale won 6-3
1940: Queen's won 11-0
1941: Queen's won 16-3 and 9-6
1942: Dale won 3-0 and Queen's won 9-0
1943: Dale won 9-5 and Queen's won 17-5
1944: Queen's won 20-8 and 12-0
1945: Queen's won 15-6 and a Draw 6-6
1946: Dale won 3-0 and 6-3
1947: Queen's won 19-0
1948: Draw 3-3 and Queen's won 6-3
1949: Dale won 17-3 and Queen's won 17-0
1950: Draw 3-3 and Queen's won 9-3
1951: Draw 13-13 and Queen's won 8-3
1952: Draw 3-3 and 3-3
1953: Queen's won 11-6 and Dale won 3-0
1954: Draw 3-3 and Queen's won 16-3
1955: Dale won 11-3
1956: A Draw 6-6 and Queen's won 9-5
1957: Dale won 8-3 and a Draw 6-6
1958: Dale won 19-0 and Queen's won 8-5
1959: Dale won 6-3 and Queen's won 9-8
1960: Dale won 6-0 and 3-0
1961: Queen's won 9-3 and 8-3
1962: Dale won 6-3 and Queen's won 3-0
1963: Dale won 13-3 and 6-3
1964: Draw 14-14 and Dale won 6-3
1965: Dale won 19-11 and 9-0
1966: Queen's won 12-3 and a Draw 8-8
1967: Dale won 3-0 and Queen's won 6-3
1968: Dale won 11-0 and Queen's won 9-8
1969: Draw 6-6 and Queen's won 14-10
1970: Queen's won 12-11 and 20-3
1971: Dale won 17-9 and Queen's won 9-6
1972: Dale won 11-9 and Queen's won 4-3
1973: Queen's won 8-6 and 8-3
1974: Queen's won 10-3 and 13-12
1975: Dale won 21-8 and Queen's won 12-11
1976: Dale won 24-0 and 12-8
1977: Dale won 16-15 and Queen's won 10-7
1978: Dale won 12-10 and Queen's won 18-7
1979: Queen's won 8-4 and 25-0
1980: Queen's won 17-6 and 27-3
1981: Queen's won 7-6 and Dale won 27-3
1982: Queen's won 25-22 and 22-6
1983: Queen's won 9-3 and 18-6
1984: Queen's won 16-6 and 24-3
1985: Queen's won 9-3 and a Draw 12-12
1986: Queen's won 15-13 and 18-7
1987: Dale won 3-0 and 10-6
1988: Queen's won 12-8 and 13-9
1989: Queen's won 3-0 and 16-3
1990: Dale won 33-0 and 22-13
1991: Queen's won 21-7 and 10-3
1992: Queen's won 3-0 and Dale won 21-8
1993: Dale won 12-6 and 15-9
1994: Dale won 19-9 and 18-9
1995: Dale won 22-5 and 20-6
1996: Dale won 15-6 and Queen's won 18-9
1997: Queen's won 16-12 and 31-21
1998: Dale won 8-6 and Queen's won 13-10
1999: Dale won 26-9 and 18-3
2000: Dale won 20-0 and 29-8
2001: Queen's won 27-21 and 15-7
2002: Dale won 13-0 and Queen's won 18-7
2003: Dale won 25-14 and 31-17
2004: Dale won 13-0 and 29-13
2005: Queen's won 17-6 and 23-13
2006: Queen's won 23-13 and 20-10
2007: Queen's won 30-15 and 16-3
2008: Queen's won 19-15
2009: Queen’s won 17-15
2010: Dale won 21-8 and Queen's won 27-18
2011: Dale won 7-3 and 38-31
2012: Dale won 21-18 and Queen's won 28-0
2013: Queen's won 23-10 and 6-0
2014: Dale won 13-12 and Queen's won 35-33
By John Duncan
Queen’s College