Queen's find Hudson Park tough

Match Report

Queen's College continued their dominance of schoolboy rugby in the Eastern Cape when they outplayed Hudson Park in East London on Saturday. Despite a determined challenge from a committed Hudson Park side, Queen's outscored their opposition by five tries to two and were full value for their 29-15 victory.

Playing with a swirling wind in their favour in the first half Hudson Park had Queen's under a fair amount of pressure in the first ten minutes and did most of the playing, with very little ball going Queen's way. During this period Queen's did well to absorb the pressure through some hard, first-time tackling, and it was only in the tenth minute that Queen's had their first taste of the ball, when it was taken wide through two or three phases.

Lionel Cronje opened the scoring for Queen's two minutes later when he intercepted a Hudson pass and was able to score in the left corner.

Lock Darryl van der Mescht scored their second try in the 25th minute when the forwards mauled their way over the try-line from a line-out ten metres put.

Hudson scored their first-half points from a penalty by fullback M Njoloza and an interception try scored by centre L Siyo, converted by Njoloza. Although Hudson Park enjoyed a territorial advantage during this half, Queen's looked more threatening with ball in hand./ The half-time score was 10-10.

During the second half, flyhalf Cronje used the wind to good effect, and well-placed kicks kept Queen's on the attack for most of the half. Early in this half, Queen's enjoyed good possession and on one occasion took the ball through no fewer than eight phases but were unable to score, thanks to some fine defending from the home side and also because Queen's were perhaps a little guilty of too much lateral running and dangerous skip-passes in windy conditions.

Another good forward maul from a line-out in the 15th minute, followed by quick second-phase ball, enabled fullback Kholo Ramashala to score after receiving a loop-pass from Cronje.

Hooker Lisle Clark had another good game, and his tighthead in the 21st minute gave Queen's their next try. The ball was simply taken through "quick hands" down the backline with centre Leandro Lee timing his final pass to perfection to allow left wing Sbura Sithole to score.

With only five minutes remaining on the clock, both sides threw caution to the wind and some good rugby followed with each managing to score.

Replacement Hudson Park flank, A Flugel, scored in the 25th minute while lock Mathew Lutge powered his way over the try-line following a short line-out and a twenty-metre run top score his first try for Queen's this season.

The Queen's coaches will be relieved to have this one in the bag, as Hudson Park supporters rate their side who may well go on to record one or two upsets this season.

Queen's play Stirling this weekend and should have little difficulty against a side that has not enjoyed too much success this season.

Scorers:

For Queen's:
Tries: Lionel Cronje, Darryl van der Mescht, Kholo Ramashala, Sbura Sithole, Mathew Lutge
Cons: Lionel Cronje 2

For Hudson Park:
Tries: L Siyo, A Flugel
Cons: M Njoloza
Pen: M Njoloza

By Mike Boy