Queen's celebrate with great win

Match Report

The Queen's College 1st XV provided the climax to a successful reunion weekend by beating the visiting Grey High School 21-10 in front of a huge crowd of jubilant Old Boys and other Queen's College supporters on the Rec on Saturday afternoon.

The committed Queen's team, playing into a strong wind in the first half, took to the field with all cylinders firing and were quick to open their account when they scored a well-engineered try in the fourth minute of the game. A quick second-phase vase was well worked by centre Leandro Lee, whose reverse pass to Setu Skepe, enabled him to score in the fourth minute.

Grey responded with an easy penalty in the eighth minute as a result of an off-side infringement and went into the lead in the 15th minute when lock Ryan Christie scored, as a result of a good change of direction by Grey, who had numbers on the outside, enabling them to score a good try in the right-hand corner, converted by flyhalf JP Barnard.

The Grey team continued to apply pressure through well coordinated mauling by their forwards, particularly from line-outs, but decisive first-time tackling from the Queenians proved to be the undoing of Grey. Both backlines were guilty of a number of high-risk passes in the difficult gusty conditions, which resulted in little ball getting to the pacey wings.

During this half the Queen's prop Gareth Hartley put in a number of powerful drives, making many valuable "hard yards" on the crash ball and also pulling off numerous thumping tackles on opposition players. Hooker Lisle Clark also had a fine game, securing no fewer than six tightheads, two of which resulted in tries for Queen's. Grey suffered up front after losing a prop through injury. Amongst the backs, flyhalf Lionel Cronjé showed much composure, and his cool head, slick hands and educated boot proved invaluable.

Queen's scored their second try in the 15th minute of the game when the ball was taken through a nnumber of controlled phases. Good work by Hartley and fullback Ramashala, who created the half-gap for Cronjé who scored and converted his own try.  The half-time score 14-10 to Queen's.

With the wind at their backs in the second half, the Queenians took the game to the opposition and had Grey under in all sorts of trouble in the opening exchanges. They were awarded with a try in the fifth minute, scored by Mayibuye Ndwandwa who was able to gather a well-judged grubber form Cronjé.

Playing conditions deteriorated during the latter stages of the second half and neither side was able to gain the upper hand in the wet, windy conditions. During the final quarter of the game, Grey applied pressure but were unable to find their rhythm as the Queenians gave an outstanding display of first-time tackling. This resulted in a disjointed attack from Grey, who were unable to maintain momentum.

The final score was 21-10 to Queen's, who made full use of their opportunities. A fine victory built on very good defence!

Queen's now have a short break before travelling to King William's Town to play Dale College on their reunion, in what is expected to be another riveting schoolboy rugby encounter.

Scorers:

For Queen's:
Tries: Setu Skepe, Lionel Cronjé, Mayibuye Ndwandwa
Cons: Lionel Cronjé 3

For Grey High:
Try: Ryan Christie
Con: JP Barnard
Pen: JP Barnard

By Mike Boy of Queen's.