Queen’s go down to PE
Queen’s College took on hosts, Grey High School, in Port Elizabeth on their reunion weekend, which was expected to be a tough task, and so it proved as Grey won 46-13.
The visitors lost the toss and played into a strong wind in the first half. The hosts got off to the best possible start and their right wing, Mohammad Connelly, dotted down for the opening score of the match within the first few minutes. The try was converted by Curwin Bosch for a 7-0 lead. Grey after the restart was awarded a short-arm penalty and their left wing went crashing over for an unconverted try.
From the next kick-off Queen’s was awarded a penalty and Johan van Heerden opened the scoring for the visitors. Grey managed to increase their lead after a penalty was converted by Bosch from inside his own half.
From the restart Queen’s lost talisman, Van Heerden, with a badly broken leg, but this seemed to motivate the visitors who managed to a put some good phases of play together. The Queen’s team was awarded a second penalty and this was converted by Justin Kuyler. Queen’s managed to regain some composure and exerted pressure on the hosts with some good phase play. Just before the half-time break Queen’s missed what was a fairly easy penalty only for the ball to be kicked down the field and Grey to be awarded a penalty. Bosch converted the penalty and Queen’s was down 18-6 at the break.
After the break the hosts came out fired up and opened the scoring after some good forward play at the line-out with the Grey flank scoring. Bosch was successful with the conversion. The hosts took control of the game and Bosch and Keanu Vers combined well to ensure a successful counterattack resulted in a seven pointer by Bosch. The Grey pack then set up a maul which went crashing over the line and Bosch added the extra two points. The final score for the hosts was scored after Bosch chipped a ball ahead and regathered to go under the poles untouched for yet another seven points.
Queen’s fought back in the final couple of minutes and elusive fullback, Yaw Penxe, managed to score just before full time. Kuyler added the extra points and Queen’s lost the game 13-46.
The match was played in a very good spirit and the young, inexperienced Queen’s team will take some valuable lessons out of the game. Queen’s will now take stock and refocus for the upcoming match against Hudson Park in Queenstown this coming weekend.
By John Duncan
