Queen’s in big win over Dale

The Queen’s College 1st XV beat their Dale College counterparts 28-0 this past weekend in an FNB Classic Clash in Queenstown.

Dale came into the match without their two most influential players. Scrumhalf, Akhona Sihunu was in Cape Town on National duty with the SA Schools’ rugby team and flyhalf Luke Masasire was in Australia with the Zimbabwean Under-19 cricket team. Their replacements were not able to control the game with the same precision and confidence and as a result many attacking opportunities were squandered.

Queen’s College were well prepared for this fixture. John Duncan, who is arguably one of the finest schoolboy rugby coaches in the country, got the game plan spot on and ensured that his charges were mentally prepared to get every aspect of the game correct. If his side was brilliant against Cambridge the previous week, then they were sensationally perfect against Dale.

The first half was exceptionally close. Dale threw everything at their hosts, but the Queen’s side, who were Trojan-like on defence, tackled their counterparts backwards, dislodged the ball in the tackle and were ultra-competitive at the breakdown. However, just two Joshua Stander penalties would separate the teams at half-time.

The intensity continued in the second half. Queen’s continued to defend manfully and were rewarded with another Stander penalty in the 42nd minute. Then came the turning point in the game. Stander, whose kicking out of hand was painfully accurate the entire fixture, directed a kick towards the corner flag for the umpteenth time. The ball bounced awkwardly and rolled into the Dale in-goal area. The Dale player, who was covering the ball, turned his back on the chasing Queenians, expecting to guide the ball into touch-in-goal. Left wing, Chumani Mase, who was brilliant for Queen’s all day, chased the kick as though his life depended on it and dived on the ball to score under his opponent’s feet! Stander added the difficult conversion. This happened in the 46th minute and with the score now at 16-0 and with just 24 minutes remaining the fat lady was beginning to warm up.

Queen’s College continued to build on their second half dominance. Stander continued to kick Dale back into their 22 thereby forcing them to run from deep. The Queenians chased these kicks like men possessed and caught their lacklustre opponents with ball in hand on numerous occasions. Justin Hollis scored a sensational try as a result of this pressure. The big lock forward received a pass from JP Smith and ran forty metres, untouched, to score under the poles in the 54th minute. Stander added the conversion. Queen’s would score their final try of the season from a set piece move 10 minutes later with fullback Siphuxolo Zaula having the honours of dotting the ball. Stander missed the tricky conversion, but it didn't matter. The final whistle sounded a few minutes later to give Queen’s College victory.

Scorers:

For Queen's:

Tries: Chumani Mase, Justin Hollis, Siphuxolo Zaula

Cons: Joshua Stander 2

Pens: Joshua Stander 3

Teams

Queen's: 15 Siphuxolo Zaula, 14 Lilitha Jonas, 16 Simon Bolze, 12 Aubrey Ferreira, 11 Chumani Mase, 10 Joshua Stander, 9 Juan-Phillip Smith, 8 Kevin Kaba, 7 Dylan Gibbens, 6 James Snelling, 5 Justin Hollis, 4 Sifundile Tyebileyo,  3 Rowland Catto, 2 Tiaan Bartman, 1 Mandilake Ponco.

Replacements: 17 Teli Batyi, 18 Aston Fortuin, 19 Alan-Graham Rautenbach, 20 Kewan Gibb, 21 Kyle Brown, 22 Khaya Malotana, 23 Dale de Wet.

Coach: John Duncan

Dale: 15 Thabani Mgugudo , 14 Anda Nanto, 13 Somila Jho, 12 Sibanye Bukani, 11 Lloyd Mudzvova, 10 Rocur Julies, 9 Lindokuhle Kenene, 8 Tapiwa Tsomondo, 7 Malwande Mhamhe, 6 Lazurus Chisaya., 5 Tino Zakeyo, 4 Lwanda Mbi,  3 Clement Chirwa, 2 Kwezi Puza, 1 Mihlali Mtongana.

Coach. Grant Griffith

By Hayden Buchholz

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