A Border War
It is not really a war when Dale of King William's Town play Queen's of Queenstown, a match first played in 1891, but it is tense – cheerful but tense. This weekend it happens again, in King William's Town on Dale's emotional day of Reunion.
Reunion Day at the Border schools is a massive occasion, especially for Dale and Queen's predominantly boarding schools where men make friends for life, and where rugby is an ardent affair. Both are teams who will play with intensity with a scoreboard in mind but will also run. This is especially true of Dale whose backs love to run.
This Year's Results
Dale have performed rather better than Queen's, but for last week's last-minute win for the Queenians. In fact till their Grey PE match, you would not have bet on Queen's to come close to beating Dale in King William's Town and on Reunion Weekend – not a price. But Queen's win over Grey came as a jolt, a reality check which said: 'Beware. They are not a bad side after all.'
This year Dale have played 10, losing twice – both times to strong teams, Kearsney and Glenwood who have been on the FNB Top 20 list. Dale have also been on the list or thereabouts while Queen's have not come close. Of their nine matches, Queen's have lost five. The only FNB Top 20 teams they have played are Selborne, who beat them 58-11, and Grey PE whom they beat 29-25 last Saturday.
The only opponents the teams had in common are Grens, a team stronger than usual, and Parktown.
Dale beat Grens 17-0; Queen's lost to Grens 22-15.
Dale beat Parktown 25-0; Queen's beat Parktown 24-18.
Dale beat De Vos Malan, Hudson Park, Graeme, Windhoek Gymnasium, Parktown, Grens, Nico Malan and Stirling.
Queen's beat Kingswood, KES, Parktown and Grey but they lost to Grens, Michaelhouse, Westville, Selborne and Hentie Cilliers.
The record suggests that Dale are the better side, but such records are no guarantee of victory.
Players to Watch
Justerino Davids, the Dale fullback, is one of five players offered a full bursary by the Sharks Academy after the Kearsney Easter Festival.
Jerry Dunquah, the big Queen's left wing, played for Border at the 2013 Craven Week and scored the spectacular last-minute try that beat Grey PE last week.
* One of the pleasing aspects of this historic encounter will be the referee, Jonathan Kaplan, a great referee who set many records in world rugby and is excellent at schools matches. Kaplan will speak at the Old Dalians' breakfast on the morning of the match.
Reunion
The Dale Reunion will start on Thursday and finish, more or less, on Sunday. There will be lots of Old Dalian activities, including a match between the Old Dalian Herons and the Queen's Barbarians on the main field on Saturday.
There is special mention of the teams of 1964 (unbeaten), 1974, 1984, and 2004. The 2004 team has two players who because Springboks – Bandise Maku who was the captain in 2004, and Bjorn Basson – and Mandilakhe Tile who played SA schools.
Naturally the Old Dalians will give the side massive support as will the present Dalians.
Teams
Dale: 15. Justerino Davids, 14. Luzuko Mase, 13. Yamkela Nyalambisa, 12. Siyamthanda Mgubo, 11. Luyolo Khuse, 10. Courtney Winnaar, 9. Sibusiso Ngcokovane (captain), 8. Bunono Sindi , 7. Siyanda Am, 6. Buntu Ponono, 5. Lwazi Poswayo, 4. Johann Loubser, 3. Kuhle Mokhoabane, 2. Sango Mtotywa, 1. Zimi Ngqongqwana
Coaches: G Griffith, B Hayidakis
Queen's: 15. Mvuyo Tshefuta , 14. Sikhokele Ngozi, 16. Avela Jubase (captain), 12. Juan du Randt, 11. Jerry Danquah, 10. Leroy Kuyler, 9. Raegan Oranje, 8. Dancan Mureguzi, 7. Johan van Heerden, 6. James Roberts, 5. Alan-Graham Rautenbach (vice-Captain), 4. Pandelani Mazwayi, 3. Dale Venske, 2. Uhuru Vanda, 1. Siyavuya Mlwayo
Coach: M Basset
Date: Saturday, 17 may 2014
1st XV kick-off: 15.30
Venue: CB Jennings Field, Dale College
Expected weather conditions: Partly cloudy with an 80% chance of rain, a high of 15°C, dropping to 7°C.
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (Western Province Referees' Society)
Rugby Programme
CB Jennings Fields
A Field
08.50: Under-14A
09.50: Under-15A
11.00: Under-16A
12.10: Old Dalian Legends vs Queen's Barbarians 10s
12.50: 3rd XV
14.00: 2nd XV
15.30: 1st XV
B Field
08.45: Under-15B
09.40: Under-16B
10.50: 4th XV
12.00: Under-14B
C Field
08.30: 6th XV
09.40: 5th XV
10.50: Under-15C
12.00: Under-16C
13.10: 7th XV
D Field
08.45: Under-14C
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; Queen's won 28-0
2013: Queen's won 23-10 and 6-0
Photo: Jerry Danquah on his way to scoring a great try
Photographer: Liam Chellew
