Big win for Queen's over Selborne
Match Report
The Queen's College 1st XV turned on the charm to record a comprehensive 34-7 victory over the visiting Selborne team on the Rec on Saturday afternoon. While Queen's played with confidence and composure, Selborne struggled to find their rhythm and seldom crossed the advantage line.
Queen's gave a thrilling display of fifteen-man rugby, played at a terrific pace, which enabled them to score five exciting tries.
For Queen's, live-wire flank Murray Weakley opened the scoring in the fifth minute when he was up in support of his backs who had chased and gathered a grubber kick from flyhalf Lionel Cronjé.
Their second try was one of the finest individual efforts seen on the Rec in ages. Fullback Kholo Ramashala received a skip pass from his flyhalf and ran 60 metres, jinking his was past numerous defenders to score a brilliant try, converted by Cronjé
Their third try was scored in the 24th minute when a poor clearance from Selborne was gathered by left wing Sbura Sithole who was able to link with hooker Lisle Clarke before drawing his man and passing to eighthman Mbuyiosa Mnci who scored in the left-hand corner.
It was encouraging to observe the sheer pace with which the Queen's backline ran the ball. In contrast to the Dale game last weekend, the ball was taken through the hands on this occasion, giving the wings more than enough opportunity to show their class. Although Queen's enjoyed a fairly substantial possession advantage in the first half, Selborne are to be complimented on their committed defensive capabilities.
Both packs of forwards maintained good control of their own ball in the tight phases with hooker L Strydom, No.8 L Lusaseni and centre J Williams for Selborne catching the eye. For Queen's Weakley and Mnci showed tremendous improvement.
During the second half Selborne played with more composure, but despite taking the ball through phases on a number of occasions, they were unable to score as a result of good, first-time tackling by the Queenians.
In the 22nd minute, quick second-phase ball from the hardworking Queen's forwards enabled Ramashala to run 50 metres to score his second scintillating try, justifying his selection as Man of the match.
Selborne scored their only points two minutes later through a try scored by flank N Sam, converted by flyhalf L Weyer, who had a good game for Selborne.
With time running out, the Queen's flyhalf Cronjé intercepted a ball on the half-way line and ran 50 metres to score and convert to conclude the scoring for Queen's.
By Mike Boy, Queen's College
