Queen's beat Aliwal North & Burgersdorp

Match Report

Queen's College of Queenstown, again a strong side this year, pulled off a double victory on Wednesday when they beat Aliwal North and Burgersdorp.

The following report is from Queen's.

In an inter-schools triangular involving Queen's, Burgersdorp and Aliwal North in Burgersdorp on Wednesday evening (12 April), the Queen's 1st XV secured a hard-fought victory over Aliwal North by 33-3.

The Queen's 2nd XV pulled off an emphatic 24-14 victory over Burgersdorp 1st XV in a game where the Queenians displayed tremendous grit and determination to outscore their more fancied opponents.

In the first team game, both Queen's and Aliwal struggled to find their rhythm and very few enterprising passages of play were evident, particularly during the first half. Although Queen's enjoyed greater possession, poor decision-making and finishing prevented them from playing constructive rugby. A tight Aliwal defence also stopped Queen's from rounding off potential try-scoring opportunities. The game was also characterised by far too much niggle and off-the-ball infringements which resulted in numerous stoppages.

In the dying moments of the first half S Socikwa capitalised on an error by the Aliwal scrumhalf and did well to kick and chase to score for Queen's,. The half-time score was 7-3 to Queen's.

Despite a good try early in the second half, scored by flyhalf Lionel Cronjé, the game continued to drag along at an unconvincing pace with little constructive rugby to show. It was only in the final ten minutes that Queen's managed to out some respectability back into the game, by playing the kind of rugby with which they have been associated. They reverted to the basics and as a result provide good, quick, second-phase ball for their backs, who responded with three excellent tries. Lionel Cronjé scored twice (taking his tally of tries to three) while right wing Mayibuye Ndwandwa put in a powerful 70-metre run to score in the closing moments of the game.

The final score, a deserving 33-3 to Queen's.

Queen's will be hard at work during the next week, ironing out errors and working on their game plan, as they prepare for the crucial REUNION match against traditional rivals, Grey High from Port Elizabeth, in what promises to be a "clash of the titans" on the Rec next Saturday afternoon.

By Mike Boy