Dale pip Queen's

In this match, an FNB Classic Clash, the lead changed twice in the last five minutes.

Depending on your point of view either victory was snatched from the jaws of defeat or defeat was snatched from the jaws of victory.

There had been no score in the second half which the home side, Dale College, led 10-7. In fact there had been no score for 47 minutes of playing time. Dale were attacking on their right when their handling let them down and the ball went astray just inside the Queen's half. Tall, sinewy Yaw Penxe on the Queen's left wing darted forward, bent from his height and snapped up the ball. He sent off, striding down through empty acres, sweeping infield to the posts. Substitute Albre Wagenaar converted. Queen's led 14-10 with five minutes to play.

Dale threw everything into the attack, their concentration and determination absolute. Fullback Courtney Winnaar, playing his 50th match for Dale, put them on the attack and they were close to the Queen's line when Winnaar gave to tall flank Kwanda Dimaza who charged for the line. Challenged he passed to Siyanda Am on his right and the flank scored.

15-14 with two minutes to go.

From a scrum on their 10-metre line Queen's went on the attack. Through 11 phases they went till, the ball was dropped, ?? picked it up and kicked it out to end a thriller on Dale's Graveyard Field.

It was a thrilling ending to the season for both sides. It's a pity that a side lost.

In fact all they lost was a score and that by one point, for in so many ways they had contributed to a great game of rugby, one that set King William's Town abuzz and packed out the famous old ground, the CB Jennings Field, named for the 1937 Springbok whose son, also a Dalian, was  also a Springbok, but often referred to as the The Graveyard as it was there that Dale often buried its opponents.

They did so twice this year,  29-19 and 15-14.

They first played in 1891, making it an old match in South African terms, though not the oldest schools match in South Africa. After that first match there was a gap of 34 years because an unenlightened headmaster would not let Dale play rugby. but it did not take the great school long to build up a tradition that keeps on growing.

It was a lovely day and both sides ran the ball from the very start. Both sides much preferred running to kicking. There were few penalties in this generous match and only one was aimed at goal – and missed. The scoring was constructed by five tries, no penalty goals.

Dale scored first, an ironic try because Queen's who were defending won a Dale line-out but untidily. The ball was loose and Dale footed through. Lock Thabo Msiza accepted a kind bounce and plunged over for a try. 5-0 to Dale after 10 minutes.

It was a lock who scored the first try for Queen's as well. Queen's kicked a penalty put for a five-metre line-out but Dale repelled them and won a scrum for their efforts. They won the scrum and tried to run from near their goal-line. Juan du Randt won a turnover and there was tall lock Lizo Ntwanambi striding and sidestepping and plunging over for a try near the posts. Flank Justin Kuyler converted. Now Queen's led 7-5 after 17 minutes.

The lead lasted little time, for Dale won possession at the kick-off and fullback Winnaar broke and gave to his Zimbabwean left wing Godknows Mavara who knew the way to the line and was over in the right corner. Now Dale led 10-7 after 18 minutes.

After this Queen's had a long period of attack. Captain Raegan Oranje, a scrumhalf playing centre, broke and a penalty took his side to the line. They won the line-out but Dale won a turnover. But Dale passed the ball dead and Queen's had a five-metre scrum. But Queen's stayed attacking but missed a penalty kick at goal. Queen's stayed attacking and outside centre Bulela Sotyelelwa raced over in the right corner but en route his right foot had touched the touchline.

Suck were the fluctuating fortunes of the game.

Queen's turned two kickable penalties into line-outs. Dale kept them out and when Queen's went side, their hands let them down and Dale broke out.

The score remained unchanged till the 65th minute of the match and that thrilling finale that started with Penxe's pick-up and run for the try.

It was a thrilling match.

Scorers:

For Dale:

Tries: Thabo Msiza, Godknows Mavara, Siyanda Am

For Queen's:

Tries: Lizo Ntwanambi, Yaw Penxe

Cons: Justin Kuyler, Albre Wagenaar

Teams

Dale College:  15 Courtney Winnaar, 14 Sibulele Mbana, 13 Jonathan Booysen, 12 Siyamthanda Mgubo (captain), 11 Luyolo Khuse, 10 Siphosethu Dlongodlongo, 9 Siphe Renene, 8 Sihle Diniso, 7 Siyanda Am, 6 Kwanda Dimaza, 5 Solomon Makhubela, 4 Thabiso Msiza, 3 Reezwaan Shahadat, 2 Bubele Gonqa, 1 Hennie Otto

Replacements: 16 Luvo Bazi, 17 Cinga Moni, 18 Ukhanyo Charles, 19 Ngxolwana, 20 Buntu Zatu, 21 Aphelele Fassi, 22 Godknows Mavara

Coaches: Gareth Griffith, Barry Hayidakis

Queen's College: 15 Olwethu Foslag, 14 Raegan Oranje (captain), 16 Bulela Sotyelelwa, 12 Juan du Randt, 11 Yaw Penxe, 10 Connor Wilkinson, 9 Connor Deaver, 8 Mihali Peter, 7 Luyolo Dapula, 6 Justin Kuyler, 5 James Robinson, 4 Lizo Ntwanambi, 3 Qhawe Bula, 2 Gareth Heidtmann, 1 Lukona Masoka.

Replacements: 17 Azisa Ngwane, 18 Sitsaba Moyake, 19 Dean Momsen, 20 Siyamthanda Jwacu, 21 Phumelele Daweti, 22 Albre Wagenaar, 23 Frank van Heerden, 24 Aviwe Mancotywa.

Coaches: Murray Basset, Dave Bolze

Referee: Lusanda Jam (Border Referees' Society)

Assistant referees: Simethanda Nduzul (Border Referees' Society), Wonga Mangaliso (Border Referees' Society)

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

2014: Dale won 13-12 and Queen's won 35-33

2015: Dale won 26-19 and 15-14