Next chapter in ancient Border derby

Dale won 29-19 in Queenstown earlier in the year, so they will be looking to do a rare double in a rivalry that stretches back to 1891 when the two schools first squared off on the rugby field.

Queen's will certainly be out for revenge for that defeat, although matches between the two schools are always played in the best spirit.

The visitors are coming off a comfortable win against Cambridge after a few tough games, while Dale will need to pick themselves up quickly after going down to Hudson Park last week.

Another factor will be the influence that the two English players who are currently at Queen's on exchange from Kirkham Grammar have on the game.

Scrumhalf Connor Deaver and flyhalf Connor Wilkinson will get a taste of one of South Africa's oldest schoolboy rugby derbies when they run out for the Queen's first team in King William's Town.

Queen's coach Murray Basset said that while picking the two exchange students in his team for the big derby was something of a gamble, it is a calculated risk he is willing to take.

"They have a very different set of skills and are technically very good. They are used to a slower game with more kicking whereas we like to play touchline to touchline.

"It has taken them some time to get used to our style and it will be an eye-opener for them but it is a risk I am willing to take," he said.

Although it has been something of a tough season for Queen's with injuries playing a big role, Basset says his side has come a long way and will be hungry for revenge on Saturday.

"We have had lots of injuries and I have used about 33 players this year, but I am happy that the youngsters are starting to understand what first team rugby is about.

"The loss at home is something we will chat about, but you don't really have to motivate them much to play against Dale," he said.

Although the presence of the two English halfbacks may throw a bit of a spanner in the works, Basset pointed out that both teams know each other inside out.

"Most of these boys have been playing each other since they were Under-9 and both teams like to play an open and expansive game so it will probably come down to fitness and the pace of the game," he added.

Dale will be on home turf with all six of their Craven Week players starting, but they have hit a slump in form towards the end of the season and their coach Grant Griffith is hoping they can bounce back.

"It hasn't been the greatest build-up and hopefully all the boys get over their niggles, it will be important to have the senior players available.

"Although we beat them in Queenstown we have battled in the last few games and have not been playing for the full 70 minutes, we have let in some soft tries," he said.

Dale should have six Border Craven Week players at their disposal in SA Schools flank Kwanda Dimaza, hooker Bubele Gongqa, flyhalf Courtney Winaar, wing Luyolo 'Roger' Khuse, flank Siyanda Am and captain Siyamthanda Mgubo.

Regular Queen's flyhalf Bulula Sotyelelwa will be wearing the No.16 jersey of the Queen's outside centre with Kirkham Grammar's Connor Wilkinson at pivot, while Border Craven Week wing Yaw Penxe should provide some spark out wide.

Both teams have beaten Kingswood, Graeme and Cambridge this year and both have lost to SACS, Selborne, Grey PE, Paarl Gim and St Andrews. The only common opponent which did not have the same result was Hudson Park who Queen's beat and Dale lost to last week. 

Teams: 

Dale College: TBC

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.

Coach: Murray Basset

Assistant coach: Dave Bolze

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 29-12 and 13-12

2015: Dale won 29-19